From its home port of Bruges, string orchestra BRYGGEN boldly sets course for the North, along the routes of the Hanseatic League, all the way to Scandinavia and the Baltic. In search of new sounds and connection to the wide world around. With united/unified forces, now moving against the current, then harmoniously bathing in the tranquillity of immeasurably deep fjords.
BRYGGEN is a fresh and dynamic string orchestra for whom innovation is key, whether in terms of repertoire or performance. Every BRYGGEN concert is an experience, both for the audience and the performers. Founded by artistic director Jolente De Maeyer, the ensemble explores the soundscape of Scandinavia and the Baltic, complemented with keyworks from 20th and 21st century postmodern music.
BRYGGEN strongly believes in the power of the string orchestra and in the added value that playing music in a smaller group offers in terms of sound, interaction, communication and focus. The ensemble works without a conductor and makes every effort to bring contemporary music to the heart of the audience not only through their ears but also through their eyes. The symbiosis between text, music, image and performance is therefore in the DNA of the projects that BRYGGEN carefully develops alongside narrators, actors, writers, directors, choreographers, dancers, choir, performance artists and more. For BRYGGEN, the future is very diverse.
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PRESS REVIEWS
‘Bryggen’s interpretation is a bit like allowing yourself a moment of meditation, free, in the sun and under an open sky.’
crescendo, 22 July 2022
PROJECTS 2025/26/27 – A SELECTION
Programs and Projects upon request.
October – December 2025, February – April 2026 and upon request
Max Richter Four Seasons Recomposed with dance: four seasons changed
four seasons changed reimagines Max Richter’s iconic music Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons as a choreographed reflection on change as a powerful, yet vulnerable mode of living. BRYGGEN string ensemble not only plays but moves throughout the performance in endlessly varying patterns. Alongside the musicians, a solitary dancer weaves between the strings, both acting as a counterpart and highlighting the emotional structure of the composition.
WEATHER
A treat for the eyes and ears: heavenly sounds accompanied by stunning visuals in a unique 360° sound experience. A musical and visual journey in a unique setting. BRYGGEN brings the cult piece Weather (1997) by Michael Gordon to life as a musical tour de force. This is combined with soundscapes by sound artist Chris Watson and visuals by Spanish filmmaker Carlos Casas, creating a musical tour de force.
Award-winning sound recording engineer Chris Watson has worked on some of the BBC’s most beloved documentaries, including David Attenborough’s Frozen Planet and The Life of Birds. For this project, Chris revisited his extensive archive to create an immersive sound installation that accompanies the hour-long performance by the string orchestra.
Upon request
Waltz with Bashir
Anyone who has already seen Waltz with Bashir on the big screen knows what an overwhelming experience the film is. With his unique, animated documentary, director Ari Folman is rooting in his own past and memories of the Lebanese civil war. Through conversations with his army comrades, the horrors of the time very gradually seep back in. Waltz with Bashir pushed the boundaries of genre, winning film award after film award: a Golden Globe, a César, and also… a European Film Award for Max Richter’s haunting soundtrack. Rightly so, because with his rarefied strings and rich synthesizer soundscapes, the British composer pumped every frame full of emotion.
© Waltz with Bashir /
Sony Pictures Classics
Tales from the Woods – Nordic Folk
In Scandinavia, traditional music goes hand in hand with classical music. Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg knew like no other how to incorporate folk music into his scores like no other. The Danish String Quartet played a CD full of arrangements of their beloved Scandinavian folk music ‘Wood Works’, for ‘four simple instruments made of wood’. BRYGGEN performs these folk, Norwegian melodies in their version for string ensemble.
E. Grieg: Holberg Suite
A. Pärt: Summa
P. Vasks: Lonely Angel for violin and strings
E. Grieg: The Last Spring
Wood Works selection traditional (arr. Danish String Quartet)
