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{{Short description|Music college in Brussels, Belgium}}
{{Unreferenced|date=August 2019}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
{{More footnotes|date=June 2023}}
}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox university
{{Infobox university
| name = Royal Conservatory of Brussels
| name = Royal Conservatory of Brussels
| native_name = Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel<br/>Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles
| native_name = {{unbulleted list|{{native name|fr|Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles}}|{{native name|nl|Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel}}}}
| image_name = File:Ehb-building-conservatory.jpg
| image_name = Ehb-building-conservatory.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 250px
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| caption = Royal Conservatory of Brussels
| caption = Royal Conservatory of Brussels
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| motto_lang =
| motto_lang =
| mottoeng =
| mottoeng =
| established =
| established = 1813
| closed =
| closed =
| type = Public Higher School of Arts (French-speaking entity)<br />School of Arts under [[Erasmushogeschool Brussel|Erasmus University College]] (Dutch-speaking entity)
| type =
| affiliation = [[Wallonie-Bruxelles Enseignement|WBE]] (French-speaking entity)<br />[[Erasmushogeschool Brussel|EhB]] (Dutch-speaking entity)
| affiliation =
| endowment =
| endowment =
| officer_in_charge =
| officer_in_charge =
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| principal =
| principal =
| dean =
| dean =
| director = [[Peter Swinnen]] (Flemish entity) <br> [[Frédéric de Roos]] (French entity)
| director = [[Jan d’Haene]] (Flemish entity)<br />[[Olivia Wahnon da Oliveira]] (French entity)
| head_label =
| head_label =
| head =
| head =
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| mascot =
| mascot =
| affiliations =
| affiliations =
| website = {{URL|www.kcb.be/en}} (Flemish entity) <br> {{URL|http://www.conservatoire.be}} (French entity)
| website = {{URL|www.kcb.be/en}} (Flemish entity)<br />{{URL|http://www.conservatoire.be}} (French entity)
| logo = [[File:Royal Conservatory of Brussels logo.jpg|200px|alt=]] [[File:Royal Conservatory of Brussels French Entity.jpg|200px|alt=]]
| logo = [[File:Royal Conservatory of Brussels logo.jpg|200px|alt=]] [[File:Royal Conservatory of Brussels French Entity.jpg|200px|alt=]]
| footnotes =
| footnotes =
}}
}}


Starting its activities in 1813, the '''Royal Conservatory of Brussels''' (French: '''Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles''', Dutch: '''Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel''') received its official name in 1832. Providing performing [[music]] and drama courses, the institution became renowned partly because of the international reputation of its successive directors such as [[François-Joseph Fétis]], [[François-Auguste Gevaert]], [[Edgar Tinel]], [[Joseph Jongen]] or [[Marcel Poot]], but more because it has been attended by many of the top musicians, actors and artists in Belgium such as [[Arthur Grumiaux]], [[José van Dam|José Van Dam]], [[Sigiswald Kuijken]], [[Josse De Pauw]], Luk van Mello and [[Luk De Konink]]. [[Adolphe Sax]], inventor of the [[saxophone]], also studied at the Brussels Conservatory.
The '''Royal Conservatory of Brussels''' ({{langx|fr|Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles}}, {{langx|nl|Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel}}) is a historic [[music school|conservatory]] in [[Brussels]], Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Providing performing [[music]] and drama courses, the institution became renowned partly because of the international reputation of its successive directors such as [[François-Joseph Fétis]], [[François-Auguste Gevaert]], [[Edgar Tinel]], [[Joseph Jongen]] and [[Marcel Poot]], but more because it has been attended by many of the top musicians, actors and artists in Belgium such as [[Arthur Grumiaux]], [[José van Dam|José Van Dam]], [[Sigiswald Kuijken]], [[Josse De Pauw]], Luk van Mello and [[Luk De Konink]]. [[Adolphe Sax]], inventor of the [[saxophone]], also studied at the Brussels Conservatory.


In 1967, the institution split into two separate entities: the '''Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel''', which teaches in [[Dutch language|Dutch]], and the '''Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles''', which continued teaching in [[French language|French]]. The former entity became a School of Arts of [[Erasmushogeschool Brussel|Erasmus University College]] alongside film school [https://www.ritcs.be/en RITCS], and associated with [[Vrije Universiteit Brussel]] it also offers Ph.D. degrees in the Arts through [http://www.kunstenplatformbrussel.be/en/ Art Platform Brussels]. Since 2009, the latter entity has been associated with the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Visuels [[La Cambre]] and the [[Institut National Supérieur des Arts du Spectacle]] (INSAS), forming ARTes, an organisation that embraces the three aforementioned art schools of the French Community of Belgium in Brussels.
In 1967, the institution split into two separate entities: the '''{{lang|nl|Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel|italic=no}}''', which teaches in [[Dutch language|Dutch]], and the '''{{lang|fr|Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles|italic=no}}''', which continued teaching in [[French language|French]]. While the French-speaking entity remained an independent public institution of higher education (''École supérieure des arts''), the Flemish entity integrated into the newly created [[Erasmushogeschool Brussel|Erasmus University College]] as one of its Schools of Arts.


== Building ==
==Building==
The current Royal Conservatory building consists of three wings arranged around a courtyard and is the work of architect [[Jean-Pierre Cluysenaer]], built to his designs between 1872 and 1876.
The current Royal Conservatory building consists of three wings arranged around a courtyard and is the work of architect [[Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar]], built to his designs between 1872 and 1876.


The style is [[Renaissance Revival architecture|neo-Renaissance]], influenced by the [[Lescot Wing]] of the [[Musée du Louvre|Louvre]]. The decorative program of the facade is very elaborate, with five separate [[pediment]] sculptures (''Instrumental Music'' by [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège|Liège]] sculptor [[:fr:Adolphe Fassin|Adolphe Fassin]], ''Orchestration'' by [[Charles van der Stappen]], ''Composition'' by [[Antwerp]] sculptor Frans Deckers, ''Performing Arts'' by [[Antoine-Félix Bouré]], and ''Poetry'' by [[Tournai]] sculptor Barthélemy Frison) and other incidental work including garlands, [[caryatid]]s, [[Arecaceae|palm trees]] and musical instruments by sculptors Georges Houtstont, [[Paul de Vigne]], Antoine-Joseph Van Rasbourgh, Auguste Braekevelt, and [[:fr:Égide Mélot|Égide Mélot]].
The style is [[Renaissance Revival architecture|neo-Renaissance]], influenced by the [[Lescot Wing]] of the [[Musée du Louvre|Louvre]]. The decoration of the facade is very elaborate, with five separate [[pediment]] sculptures (''Instrumental Music'' by the [[Prince-Bishopric of Liège|Liège]] sculptor [[:fr:Adolphe Fassin|Adolphe Fassin]], ''Orchestration'' by [[Charles van der Stappen]], ''Composition'' by the [[Antwerp]] sculptor [[Frans Deckers]], ''Performing Arts'' by [[Antoine-Félix Bouré]], and ''Poetry'' by the [[Tournai]] sculptor Barthélemy Frison) and other incidental work including garlands, [[caryatid]]s, [[Arecaceae|palm trees]] and musical instruments by the sculptors [[:fr:Georges Houtstont|Georges Houtstont]], [[Paul de Vigne]], [[:nl:Antoine van Rasbourg|Antoine van Rasbourg]], [[:nl:Auguste Braekevelt|Auguste Braekevelt]], and [[:fr:Égide Mélot|Égide Mélot]].


== Auxiliary activities ==
==Auxiliary activities==


=== Concerts ===
===Concerts===
Each year a variety of regular student concerts and performances is organised by the Conservatory, boasting over hundred events and enhanced by two festivals.
Each year a variety of regular student concerts and performances is organised by the Conservatory, boasting over hundred events and enhanced by two festivals.


The right wing of the Conservatory contains a 600 seats ornate concert hall in Napoleon-III style with exceptional acoustic qualities, equipped with a [[Aristide Cavaillé-Coll|Cavaillé-Coll]] organ.
The right wing of the Conservatory contains a 600 seats ornate concert hall in [[Second Empire style|Napoleon III style]] with exceptional acoustic qualities, equipped with a [[Aristide Cavaillé-Coll|Cavaillé-Coll]] organ.
[[File:Wiki - Salle de concert du CRB 1.jpg|left|thumb|280x280px|Concert hall of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels (''Library of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels'', B-Bc, SLZ)]]


[[File:Wiki - Salle de concert du CRB 1.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Concert hall of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels]]
=== Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) ===

Founded in 1877 to provide students with a practical education about ancien instruments, the Conservatory museum, currently referred to as the [[Musical Instrument Museum (Brussels)|Musical Instrument Museum]] (MIM) of Brussels displays over 8.000 ancient instruments acquired by [[François-Joseph Fétis|Fétis]], rare pieces from the initial collection, from the various funds or from new acquisitions. Since 2000, the museum, one of the most important ones of its kind, is located in the prestigious Art Nouveau building conceived in 1899 by the Belgian architect [[Paul Saintenoy]] for Old England.
===Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)===
{{Main|Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels}}

Founded in 1877 to provide students with a practical education about ancien instruments, the Conservatory museum, currently referred to as the [[Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels|Musical Instrument Museum]] (MIM) of Brussels displays over 8,000 ancient instruments acquired by the celebrated [[Musicology|musicologist]] [[François-Joseph Fétis]], rare pieces from the initial collection, from the various funds or from new acquisitions.{{sfn|Damscrhroder|1990|p=85}}{{sfn|State|2015|p=166}} Since 2000, the museum, one of the most important ones of its kind, is located in the prestigious [[Art Nouveau]] building conceived in 1899 by the architect [[Paul Saintenoy]] for the former [[Old England (department store)|Old England]] [[department store]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Old England – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural |url=https://monument.heritage.brussels/fr/Bruxelles_Pentagone/Rue_Montagne_de_la_Cour/2/30622 |access-date=2022-11-24 |website=monument.heritage.brussels |language=fr}}</ref>

===Library===
Initially created with a pedagogic aim, the Conservatory library hosts about 250,000 {{Citation needed|reason=Where does this number come from? Their online catalog only lists about 82000 items.|date=December 2017}} references, representing a scientific instrument of international resonance.

[[File:CRB - Bibliothèque.jpg|thumb|upright|200px|Library of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, {{circa|1960}}]]


=== Library ===
Initially created with a pedagogic aim, the Conservatory library hosts about 250.000 {{Citation needed|reason=Where does this number come from? Their online catalog only lists about 82000 items.|date=December 2017}} references, representing a scientific instrument of international resonance.
[[File:CRB - Bibliothèque.jpg|thumb|Library of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, ca. 1960 (B-BC, ICO-98022-3)|350x350px]]
It primarily consists of works about music (including more than 1200 musical or musicological periodicals), as well as of autograph, printed or digitized (scanned) scores. There is also an important collection of more than 8.000 libretti of Italian, French or German operas from the XVIIe and XVIIIe s., lute and guitar tablatures, several thousands of handwritten letters of musicians, iconographic documents (over 9.000 pieces), concert programmes and various types of recordings (magnetic tapes, video, 78 and 33 rpm vinyl, CD, etc.).
It primarily consists of works about music (including more than 1200 musical or musicological periodicals), as well as of autograph, printed or digitized (scanned) scores. There is also an important collection of more than 8.000 libretti of Italian, French or German operas from the XVIIe and XVIIIe s., lute and guitar tablatures, several thousands of handwritten letters of musicians, iconographic documents (over 9.000 pieces), concert programmes and various types of recordings (magnetic tapes, video, 78 and 33 rpm vinyl, CD, etc.).


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* the Joseph Jongen collection.
* the Joseph Jongen collection.


The library is open to the general public. In 2015, the library acquired the score collection of CeBeDeM (Belgian Centre for Music Documentation). In doing so it also took over the latter's objectives in promoting Belgian contemporary music worldwide.
The library is open to the general public. In 2015, the library acquired the score collection of CeBeDeM (Belgian Centre for Music Documentation). In doing so it also took over the latter's objectives in promoting Belgian contemporary music worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CeBeDeM collection |url=https://www.conservatoire.be/en/library/collections-en/fonds-cebedem-collection/ |access-date=2024-02-15 |website=Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles |language=en}}</ref>


== Personalities linked to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels ==
==Personalities linked to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels==
[[File:Bruxelles à travers les âges (1884) (14783631813).jpg|thumb|[[François-Joseph Fétis|François-Auguste Fétis]], first director of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels]]


=== Directors ===
===Directors===
[[File:Bruxelles à travers les âges (1884) (14783631813).jpg|thumb|[[François-Joseph Fétis]], first director of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels]]
* 1833-1871: [[François-Joseph Fétis]]

* 1871–1908: [[François-Auguste Gevaert]]
* 1833–1871: [[François-Joseph Fétis]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Henri|first=Vanhulst|title=Fétis directeur du Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles|journal=Revue Belge de Musicologie|volume=62|language=fr|year=2008|pages=127–133}}</ref>
* 1871–1908: [[François-Auguste Gevaert]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Henri|first=Vanhulst|title=Gevaert directeur du Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles|journal=Revue Belge de Musicologie|volume=65|language=fr|year=2011|pages=9–19}}</ref>
* 1908–1912: [[Edgar Tinel]]
* 1908–1912: [[Edgar Tinel]]
* 1912–1925: [[Léon Du Bois]]
* 1912–1925: [[Léon Du Bois]]
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* 1949–1966: [[Marcel Poot]]
* 1949–1966: [[Marcel Poot]]


==== Directors of the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles ====
====Directors of the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles====
* 1966–1973: [[:fr:Camille Schmit|Camille Schmit]] (in French)
* 1966–1973: [[:fr:Camille Schmit|Camille Schmit]] (in French)
* 1974–1987: [[:fr:Éric Feldbusch|Éric Feldbusch]] (in French)
* 1974–1987: [[:fr:Éric Feldbusch|Éric Feldbusch]] (in French)
* 1987–2002: [[:fr:Jean Baily|Jean Baily]] (in French)
* 1987–2002: [[:fr:Jean Baily|Jean Baily]] (in French)
* 2003–present: Frédéric de Roos
* 2003–2023: [[:fr:Frédéric de Roos|Frédéric de Roos]] (in French)
* 2023–present: Olivia Wahnon de Oliveira


==== Directors of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel ====
====Directors of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel====
* 1966-1994: [[:nl:Kamiel D'Hooghe|Kamiel D'Hooghe]] (in Dutch)
* 1966–1994: [[:nl:Kamiel D'Hooghe|Kamiel D'Hooghe]] (in Dutch)
* 1994-2004: [[:nl:Arie Van Lysebeth|Arie Van Lysebeth]] (in Dutch)
* 1994–2004: [[:nl:Arie Van Lysebeth|Arie Van Lysebeth]] (in Dutch)
* 2004-2008: Rafael D'Haene
* 2004–2008: Rafael D'haene
* 2008–2017: Peter Swinnen
* 2008–2017: Peter Swinnen
* 2017–present: Kathleen Coessens
* 2017–2021: Kathleen Coessens
*2021–present: Jan D'haene


=== Notable faculty ===
===Notable faculty===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Charles Auguste de Bériot|Charles-Auguste de Bériot]], violin
* [[Daniel Blumenthal (pianist)|Daniel Blumenthal]] (piano)
* [[Daniel Blumenthal (pianist)|Daniel Blumenthal]] (piano)
* [[Boyan Vodenitcharov]] (piano)
* [[Igor Oistrach]] (violin)
* [[Barthold Kuijken]] (baroque)
* [[Kasia Glowicka|Katarina Glowicka, computer music]]
* [[:nl:Luc Devos|Luc Devos]] (piano)
* [[:nl:Jan Michiels|Jan Michiels]] (piano)
* [[Lola Bobesco]] (violin)
* [[Lola Bobesco]] (violin)
* [[:nl:Yossif Ivanov|Yossif Ivanov]] (violin)
* [[Adrien François Servais]] (cello)
* [[Paul Dombrecht]] (hobo)
* [[:nl:Philippe Pierlot (violinist)|Philippe Pierlot]] (baroque)
* [[Norbert Nozy]] ([[brass band]])
* [[André Souris]] (direction, composition)
* [[:nl:Jacques Leduc (componist)|Jacques Leduc]] (direction, composition)
* [[Charles Auguste de Bériot|Charles-Auguste de Bériot]], violin
* [[François Daneels]], saxophone
* [[François Daneels]], saxophone
* [[:nl:Luc Devos|Luc Devos]] (piano)
* [[Paul Dombrecht]] (oboe)
* [[François Fernandez]] (baroque)
* [[Bernard Foccroulle|Bernard Foccroule]], organ
* [[Bernard Foccroulle|Bernard Foccroule]], organ
* [[Julien Ghyoros]], direction
* [[Julien Ghyoros]], direction
* [[Kasia Glowicka|Katarina Glowicka, computer music]]
* [[Philippe Graffin]], violin
* [[:nl:Yossif Ivanov|Yossif Ivanov]] (violin)
* [[Barthold Kuijken]] (baroque)
* [[:nl:Jacques Leduc (componist)|Jacques Leduc]] (direction, composition)
* [[Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens]], organ
* [[Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens]], organ
* [[:nl:Jean Louël|Jean Louël]], piano
* [[:nl:Jean Louël|Jean Louël]], piano
* [[:nl:Jan Michiels|Jan Michiels]] (piano)
* [[Norbert Nozy]] ([[brass band]])
* [[Igor Oistrach]] (violin)
* [[:nl:Philippe Pierlot (violinist)|Philippe Pierlot]] (baroque)
* [[Marie Pleyel]], piano
* [[Marie Pleyel]], piano
* [[Eliane Reyes]], piano
* [[Eliane Reyes]], piano
* [[Adolphe Samuel]], composition
* [[Adolphe Samuel]], composition
* [[Adrien François Servais]] (cello)
* [[André Souris]] (direction, composition)
* [[Annelies Van Parys]], form analysis
* [[Henri Vieuxtemps]], violin
* [[Henri Vieuxtemps]], violin
* [[Boyan Vodenitcharov]] (piano)
* [[Henryk Wieniawski]], violin
* [[Henryk Wieniawski]], violin
* [[Eugène Ysaÿe]], violin
* [[Eugène Ysaÿe]], violin
* [[Zygmund Kowalsky]] (violin)
* [[Juliusz Zarębski]], piano
* [[Yuzuko Horigome]] (violin)
* [[Valery Oistrach]] (violin)
* [[Viviane Spanoghe]] (chamber music)
* [[Erik Robberecht]] (chamber music)
* [[Alain Gervreau]] (baroque)
* [[François Fernandez]] (baroque)
* [[Bart Coen]] (baroque)
* [[Bruno Castellucci]], jazz percussion
* [[Ernest Van Dijck]], lyrical art
* [[Annelies Van Parys]], form analysis
* [[Jules Zarembski]], piano
* [[Philippe Graffin]], violin
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


===Notable alumni===
===Notable alumni===
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}
* [[Isaac Albéniz]]
* [[Elie Apper]]
* [[Elie Apper]]
* [[Isaac Albéniz]]
* [[Atar Arad]]
* [[Atar Arad]]
* [[Oskar Back]]
* [[Peter Benoit]]
* [[Peter Benoit]]
* [[Oskar Back]]
* [[Fabrizio Cassol]]
* [[Fabrizio Cassol]]
* [[Claire Chevallier]]
* [[Claire Chevallier]]
* [[Alain Crépin]]
* [[Alain Crépin]]
* [[François Daneels]]
* [[François Daneels]]
* [[Lara Fabian]]
* [[Gianfranco Pappalardo Fiumara]]
* [[John Giordano (conductor)|John Giordano]]
* [[John Giordano (conductor)|John Giordano]]
* [[Edwin Grasse]]
* [[Edwin Grasse]]
* [[Mansoor Hosseini]]
* [[Mansoor Hosseini]]
* [[Albert Huybrechts]]
* [[Anthony Jennings (musician)|Anthony Jennings]]<ref>{{Cite Grove |author=J.M. Thomson|title=Jennings, Anthony|doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42592|date=20 January 2001}}</ref>
* [[Désiré Magnus]]
* [[Désiré Magnus]]
* [[Alma Moodie]]
* [[Alma Moodie]]
* [[Norbert H. J. Nozy]]
* [[Norbert H. J. Nozy]]
* [[Gianfranco Pappalardo Fiumara]]
*[[Anthony Jennings]]<ref>{{Cite Grove |author=J.M. Thomson|title=Jennings, Anthony|doi=10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42592|date=20 January 2001}}</ref>
* [[André Rieu]]
* [[André Rieu]]
* Elsa Ruegger
* [[Charlotte Ruegger]]
* [[Elsa Ruegger]]
* Noël Samyn ([[:fr:Noël Samyn|fr]])
* Noël Samyn ([[:fr:Noël Samyn|fr]])
* [[Adolphe Sax]]
* [[Adolphe Sax]]
*[[Celia Torra]]
* [[Celia Torra]]
* [[José van Dam]]
* [[José van Dam]]
* [[Eugène Ysaÿe]]
* [[Carl Verbraeken]]
* [[Carl Verbraeken]]
* [[Aimee Wiele]]
* [[Aimée Van de Wiele]]
* [[Alfred Wotquenne]]
* [[Alfred Wotquenne]]
* [[Eugène Ysaÿe]]
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


==References==
==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{cite book|last=Damscrhroder|first=David|title=Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker|publisher=Pendragon Press|year=1990|location=Stuyvesant, NY|isbn=0-918728-99-1}}
* {{cite encyclopedia|first=Paul F.|last=State|title=Historical dictionary of Brussels|edition=2nd|location=Lanham, MD|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2015|isbn=978-0-8108-7921-8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fj19CAAAQBAJ&pg=PA166}}


==External links==
==External links==
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* [http://catalog.b-bc.org Royal Conservatory of Brussels library catalog]
* [http://catalog.b-bc.org Royal Conservatory of Brussels library catalog]
* [http://www.cebedem.be/en CeBeDeM]
* [http://www.cebedem.be/en CeBeDeM]
* [http://telemann.omeka.net/exhibits/show/georg-philipp-teleman Virtual exhibition : La collection de manuscrits de Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) à la Bibliothèque des Conservatoires royaux de Bruxelles] (French only)
* [http://telemann.omeka.net/exhibits/show/georg-philipp-teleman Virtual exhibition: La collection de manuscrits de Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) à la Bibliothèque des Conservatoires royaux de Bruxelles] (French only)


{{coord|50.8390|4.3558|type:edu_region:BE|display=title}}
{{coord|50.8390|4.3558|type:edu_region:BE|display=title}}
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[[Category:Royal Conservatory of Brussels| ]]
[[Category:Royal Conservatory of Brussels| ]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1813]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1813]]
[[Category:1813 establishments in the Southern Netherlands]]
[[Category:1813 establishments in Europe]]
[[Category:19th-century establishments in the Southern Netherlands]]
[[Category:Arts organizations established in the 1810s]]
[[Category:Arts organizations established in the 1810s]]
[[Category:Drama schools in Belgium]]
[[Category:Drama schools in Belgium]]

Latest revision as of 10:55, 17 December 2024

Royal Conservatory of Brussels
  • Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles (French)
  • Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel (Dutch)
Royal Conservatory of Brussels
TypePublic Higher School of Arts (French-speaking entity)
School of Arts under Erasmus University College (Dutch-speaking entity)
Established1813
AffiliationWBE (French-speaking entity)
EhB (Dutch-speaking entity)
DirectorJan d’Haene (Flemish entity)
Olivia Wahnon da Oliveira (French entity)
Location
Brussels
,
Belgium
Websitewww.kcb.be/en (Flemish entity)
www.conservatoire.be (French entity)

The Royal Conservatory of Brussels (French: Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, Dutch: Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel) is a historic conservatory in Brussels, Belgium. Starting its activities in 1813, it received its official name in 1832. Providing performing music and drama courses, the institution became renowned partly because of the international reputation of its successive directors such as François-Joseph Fétis, François-Auguste Gevaert, Edgar Tinel, Joseph Jongen and Marcel Poot, but more because it has been attended by many of the top musicians, actors and artists in Belgium such as Arthur Grumiaux, José Van Dam, Sigiswald Kuijken, Josse De Pauw, Luk van Mello and Luk De Konink. Adolphe Sax, inventor of the saxophone, also studied at the Brussels Conservatory.

In 1967, the institution split into two separate entities: the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel, which teaches in Dutch, and the Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles, which continued teaching in French. While the French-speaking entity remained an independent public institution of higher education (École supérieure des arts), the Flemish entity integrated into the newly created Erasmus University College as one of its Schools of Arts.

Building

[edit]

The current Royal Conservatory building consists of three wings arranged around a courtyard and is the work of architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar, built to his designs between 1872 and 1876.

The style is neo-Renaissance, influenced by the Lescot Wing of the Louvre. The decoration of the facade is very elaborate, with five separate pediment sculptures (Instrumental Music by the Liège sculptor Adolphe Fassin, Orchestration by Charles van der Stappen, Composition by the Antwerp sculptor Frans Deckers, Performing Arts by Antoine-Félix Bouré, and Poetry by the Tournai sculptor Barthélemy Frison) and other incidental work including garlands, caryatids, palm trees and musical instruments by the sculptors Georges Houtstont, Paul de Vigne, Antoine van Rasbourg, Auguste Braekevelt, and Égide Mélot.

Auxiliary activities

[edit]

Concerts

[edit]

Each year a variety of regular student concerts and performances is organised by the Conservatory, boasting over hundred events and enhanced by two festivals.

The right wing of the Conservatory contains a 600 seats ornate concert hall in Napoleon III style with exceptional acoustic qualities, equipped with a Cavaillé-Coll organ.

Concert hall of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels

Musical Instrument Museum (MIM)

[edit]
Main article: Musical Instrument Museum, Brussels

Founded in 1877 to provide students with a practical education about ancien instruments, the Conservatory museum, currently referred to as the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) of Brussels displays over 8,000 ancient instruments acquired by the celebrated musicologist François-Joseph Fétis, rare pieces from the initial collection, from the various funds or from new acquisitions.[1][2] Since 2000, the museum, one of the most important ones of its kind, is located in the prestigious Art Nouveau building conceived in 1899 by the architect Paul Saintenoy for the former Old England department store.[3]

Library

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Initially created with a pedagogic aim, the Conservatory library hosts about 250,000 [citation needed] references, representing a scientific instrument of international resonance.

Library of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, c. 1960

It primarily consists of works about music (including more than 1200 musical or musicological periodicals), as well as of autograph, printed or digitized (scanned) scores. There is also an important collection of more than 8.000 libretti of Italian, French or German operas from the XVIIe and XVIIIe s., lute and guitar tablatures, several thousands of handwritten letters of musicians, iconographic documents (over 9.000 pieces), concert programmes and various types of recordings (magnetic tapes, video, 78 and 33 rpm vinyl, CD, etc.).

Next to the core collections, the library possesses several subcollections of historical importance, together forming an extensive patrimony:

The library is open to the general public. In 2015, the library acquired the score collection of CeBeDeM (Belgian Centre for Music Documentation). In doing so it also took over the latter's objectives in promoting Belgian contemporary music worldwide.[4]

Personalities linked to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels

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Directors

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François-Joseph Fétis, first director of the Royal Conservatory of Brussels

Directors of the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles

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Directors of the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel

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  • 1966–1994: Kamiel D'Hooghe (in Dutch)
  • 1994–2004: Arie Van Lysebeth (in Dutch)
  • 2004–2008: Rafael D'haene
  • 2008–2017: Peter Swinnen
  • 2017–2021: Kathleen Coessens
  • 2021–present: Jan D'haene

Notable faculty

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Notable alumni

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Damscrhroder 1990, p. 85.
  2. ^ State 2015, p. 166.
  3. ^ "Old England – Inventaire du patrimoine architectural". monument.heritage.brussels (in French). Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  4. ^ "CeBeDeM collection". Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  5. ^ Henri, Vanhulst (2008). "Fétis directeur du Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles". Revue Belge de Musicologie (in French). 62: 127–133.
  6. ^ Henri, Vanhulst (2011). "Gevaert directeur du Conservatoire royal de Bruxelles". Revue Belge de Musicologie (in French). 65: 9–19.
  7. ^ J.M. Thomson (20 January 2001). "Jennings, Anthony". Grove Music Online (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.42592. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0.

Bibliography

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