Playing historical instruments in an orchestra is an excellent chance for a musician to develop the basic skills needed: there one learns the art of strict but flexible timing, intonation which is precise yet corrected in every moment, and the art of paying attention at all times.
Playing in an orchestra on period instruments is embarking on a unique musical experience. The musician gets to cultivate an art of timing that is both rigorous and lively, paying constant attention to intonation — constantly precise and adjusted in the moment — and engaging in a collective listening experience of great intensity. Every movement, every breath, every nuance becomes an integral part of a delicate and vibrant balance.
Because the orchestra itself has evolved over the centuries, we offer several ensemble sessions of varying configurations throughout the academic year. The ensembles are put together based on the availability of instruments and instrumentalists, and on the musical projects, allowing us to explore different ways in which the orchestra has sounded throughout history.
Repertoires from the 17th to the 19th century are approached with rigour and with a great spirit of inquiry. The choice of ensemble sizes, instruments, and students’ areas of specialisation give rise to a different sound experience in each session, and in which historical knowledge directly informs musical creativity.
Venues where such collective experiences are possible are not always easy to find. At the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, students find a unique space in which to engage with this demanding, stimulating, and profoundly formative practice: a living laboratory where history of music is rediscovered through the energy of the present.