This event is by registration only
We will officially open the new 2025 BrIAS programme on sustainable Robotics, AI and Automation on the 21.1.2025.
Programme
17:00 Welcome speeches, BrIAS directors and university authorities
17:15 Introduction to the 2025 BrIAS theme
17:30 Aperitif
18:00 Concert
18:35 Cocktail dinner
Concert Programme
BACH Sonate n°3 for violin and harpsichord en mi M, BWV 1016
This sonata for violin and keyboard in E major is the third in a cycle of six sonatas written by Johann-Sebastian Bach in Köthen between 1718 and 1722.
These works, renowned for their rich melodic content, are marked by the constant interplay and inventiveness of both instruments. The piece follows the structure of a four-movement sonata (slow-fast-slow-fast) and adheres to the pattern of the sonata da chiesa tradition established by Corelli. These sonatas exemplify the melodic genius and extraordinary inventiveness of a Bach in his thirties, who had already achieved a brilliant synthesis of diverse influences, including the strict German counterpoint and the fluid, pure lyricism of Italian composers.
DEBUSSY Sonate for violin and piano, (CD 148)
Composed between 1916 and 1917, this sonata is the final major work by Claude Debussy, who was gravely ill at the time and would pass away a year later in 1918. As a product of the First World War era, it stands out as one of the composer’s most fragmented, whimsical, melancholic, and modernist pieces. Structured in three movements, Debussy described it himself as being "full of a joyous tumult." The Hautrive piano (a Brussels-Based belgian brand) likely dating from the 1930s or 1940s, brings a soft tone that closely approximates the sounds Debussy might have heard on pianos of his time (with only about a decade separating the composition of the sonata and the crafting of this instrument!).
Piano: Simon Vaskou
Born in Grenoble, France, in 1994, Simon Vaskou began playing piano at age 4 and pursued advanced studies at prestigious institutions, earning a Master of Arts with distinction from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel in 2020. He has performed in renowned venues across Europe, participated in masterclasses with leading pianists, and is a laureate of international competitions, including the 2024 "Sviatoslav Richter" International Piano Competition (2nd Prize). In addition to his performance career, he obtained a Master’s degree in Music Pedagogy in 2023 and currently teaches at academies in the Brussels-Capital Region. Simon continues to excel as both a performer and educator, dedicated to advancing his artistry and inspiring future musicians.
Violin: Julien Olive
Born in France, Julien Olive began studying violin at the CRR of Bordeaux and earned his Master’s degree in 2020 from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Brussel under Naaman Sluchin. He has worked with esteemed musicians such as Miriam Fried and Marina Chiche and performed with ensembles like the Brussels Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra, and the Opéra de Rouen Normandie. Julien has collaborated with renowned conductors, including François Xavier Roth and Sir Roger Norrington, and has performed in cities across Europe, including Berlin, Vienna, and Paris.