Lecture–Recital Eugène Ysaÿe by Joanna Staruch - Smolec
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Lecture – Recital Eugène Ysaÿe: Violinistic Gesture and the Art of Musical Co Creation
By Joanna Staruch - Smolec
Small concert hall
This lecture–recital explores the violinistic gestures of Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931) at the intersection of artistic practice and scientific inquiry. Drawing on a recently defended doctoral thesis (doctorat en art et sciences de l’art, ULB/CrB), it revisits Ysaÿe’s legacy through the material traces of his performance practice, notably early recordings (Columbia, 1912–1914) and annotated scores, considered within their historical and organological context.
Central to the project is Ysaÿe’s distinctive approach to musical performance, as revealed in his private notes entitled Observations (1897), whereby the performer acts as a co-creator rather than a neutral transmitter of the score. This perspective also extends to his practice of ‘adaptation’, understood not merely as transcription or arrangement, but as a creative reworking of musical material situated between interpretation and composition.
On this basis, the lecture–recital develops an approach to violinistic gesture as a meaningful shaping of musical material, combining analytical insight with practical experimentation. These ideas are brought to life through the interpretation of selected works fro violin and piano, illustrating the expressive and technical dimensions of Ysaÿe’s style and demonstrating how such historically grounded research can inform contemporary musical practices.
This event is part of the Polyphonic Performance Spaces research festival. More info on: https://www.kcb.be/en/pps2026
By Joanna Staruch - Smolec
Small concert hall
This lecture–recital explores the violinistic gestures of Eugène Ysaÿe (1858–1931) at the intersection of artistic practice and scientific inquiry. Drawing on a recently defended doctoral thesis (doctorat en art et sciences de l’art, ULB/CrB), it revisits Ysaÿe’s legacy through the material traces of his performance practice, notably early recordings (Columbia, 1912–1914) and annotated scores, considered within their historical and organological context.
Central to the project is Ysaÿe’s distinctive approach to musical performance, as revealed in his private notes entitled Observations (1897), whereby the performer acts as a co-creator rather than a neutral transmitter of the score. This perspective also extends to his practice of ‘adaptation’, understood not merely as transcription or arrangement, but as a creative reworking of musical material situated between interpretation and composition.
On this basis, the lecture–recital develops an approach to violinistic gesture as a meaningful shaping of musical material, combining analytical insight with practical experimentation. These ideas are brought to life through the interpretation of selected works fro violin and piano, illustrating the expressive and technical dimensions of Ysaÿe’s style and demonstrating how such historically grounded research can inform contemporary musical practices.
This event is part of the Polyphonic Performance Spaces research festival. More info on: https://www.kcb.be/en/pps2026
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Where is it happening?
Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, Kleine Zavel 5, 1000 Brussel, België, Ixelles, Belgium
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherBrussels Arts Platform
