Alice van Leuven & Işil Bengi, piano

2026-01-11/Piano’s Maene-Paterskerk Rekem (België)/11 uur

Duo Alisil

Alice van Leuven, viool

Işil Bengi, piano

‘Homeland’

Frederic Mompou                               Pastorale, Lento “issu de deux mélodies”

Bedřich Smetana                                 From my homeland

Ahmet Adnan Saygun                           Demet Suite opus 33

César Franck                                        Mélancolie

Peteris Vasks                                       Little Summer Music

George Enescu                                    Sonata no. 3 opus 25

The duo ALISIL explores the feeling of connection to a culture, a country, a history. Nostalgia and exuberant romantic melodies alternate with rhythmic folk dances; it is music that comes straight from the heart and goes straight to the heart, taking the audience into the composer’s world. An emotional journey that starts in Spain with Federico Mompou and continues into Turkey with Ahmet Adnan Saygun, through Bohemia with Bedřich Smetana, the Baltic region with contemporary composer Pēteris Vasks and the Balkans with Georges Enescu, not forgetting a little gem from near us, César Franck’s Mélancolie. The music sometimes highlights the landscape and nature of these regions, sometimes the folk beliefs of their inhabitants. It is an immersion in each specific culture that requires no knowledge of language, because it appeals to the universality of music, which is at the same time so specific to each composer.

Alice Van Leuven was recognised as one of Klara Radio’s ‘Twintigers’ in 2021 and has since made a name for herself as both a soloist and chamber musician, with performances in Belgium and internationally. Despite her young age, Alice has already performed at many prestigious international music festivals, including Yellow Barn (USA), Pacific Music Festival (JP), Festival Resonances, Klara Festival, Festival of Flanders and others across Europe. Since 2024, she has taught at both the Brussels Conservatory and the LUCA School of Arts in Leuven.

Turkish/Belgian pianist Işıl Bengi is a tireless artist who has developed a unique personality thanks to her curiosity about the richness of cultural diversity, her living interest in different styles and piano techniques, as well as her sensitivity. She can be defined as a refined elegance meeting an original wild nature, making her a finished artist with true integrity and deep emotional power. Her concert activities include both solo recitals and chamber music in various concert halls in England, Poland, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium, Turkey, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Greece, Japan; in venues such as Bozar, Wigmore Hall, Flagey, Bijloke, Palais des Beaux Arts Charleroi, Amuz, Radio Suisse Romande, concert hall Cemal Resit Rey…

Tickets             € 24,-/till age 27 € 12,50