WEDNESDAY MORNING ENSEMBLE @ Bozar
On Sunday February 8 WEDNESDAY MORNING ENSEMBLE presents a semi-acoustic contemporary reinterpretation of the Scherzo from Béla Bartók’s Mikrokosmos during the Bartok Marathon at Bozar, enriched and brought to life anew in a contemporary guise, in collaboration with guest musician Dries Verheyen (baritone saxophone).
What if Bartók were alive today? How would he experience our accelerated, fragmented world? Would he find pleasure in our present society—or friction? Would Bela dance, joke, observe, or resist?
This performance treats the Scherzo as the musical core of the piece, inspired by the historical work and its original intentions. By integrating electronics, voice, percussion, and spoken text, the ensemble illuminates textures, rhythms, and expressive possibilities that unfold in a semi-acoustic setting, creating a dialogue between Bartók’s musical language and contemporary society. The reinterpretation respects the original material while situating it in today’s context, highlighting a contemporary, “expanded” perspective on Bartók’s music.
About the Ensemble
Operating in Brussels, WEDNESDAY MORNING ENSEMBLE works at the intersection of contemporary classical music, sound art, and performance. The ensemble engages with current social and cultural developments—at times playful, humorous, and critically engaged— creating space for reflection, dialogue, and artistic exploration. Their artistic approach draws on influences such as Philip Glass, Laurie Anderson, Nils Frahm, Suzanne Ciani, the Fluxus movement, Kae Tempest, Hozier, Fennesz, and Charlie Chaplin, combining minimalism, electronics, spoken word, theatrical awareness, and a sense of wit and playfulness.
Members
Naomi Van Neygen — voice, electronics, text
Miguel van den Bedem — synth, electronics
Thomas van Walle — percussion, electronics
Jonathan Nyakarashi — declamation, text
Guest Musician
Dries Verheyen — baritone saxophone
Practical
Béla Bartók – Mikrokosmos (Scherzo) Expanded
Date: 8 February 2026
Location: BOZAR Brussels, zaal TERARKEN
Performance times: 13:45 – 14:15
Special Thanks
This performance is made possible with the support of BOZAR and VZW KAOS.
