For the festive opening of Flanders Festival Ghent in St Bavo’s Cathedral we’ll be welcoming Sweden’s most innovative ensemble. Our festival theme ‘time’ is woven into their name. O/Modernt (Swedish for On-Modern) is a unique concept originating from the brain of violist, conductor and artistic director Hugo Ticciati. They have borrowed their motto from composer John Cage: Invent the past, revise the future and they always combine the old and the new in a surprising way.

For this concert O/Modernt is bringing along the brilliant Scottish percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie. They are playing a clever programme of music that reflects upon time. Such as Paul Smadbeck’s evocative Rhythm Song for solo marimba, and Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3. With its constant repetition of the same rhythmic motif, this is one of the oldest loop stations ever. The pièce de résistance will be the Symphony No. 3 from the grand master of minimal music, Philip Glass. Welcome!