The Elfurenmis XXL – the High Mass of the year

For the 27th edition of Elfurenmis, we are pulling out all the stops and going full monty with an extended, almost symphonic ensemble. Exceptionally for this High Mass, the house band consisting of Andy Willems, Bert Peyffers and Louise van den Heuvel will be joined by none other than Casco Phil, who will perform at De VELINX no fewer than three times this season.

And fittingly for All Souls Day, we will reflect on death.

Uus Knops, psychiatrist and Flanders' leading voice on grief, brings her thoughts to the altar. Since her first book, written after the loss of her brother, she has published several works on mourning and letting go. Her love for language and storytelling, and her belief in the power of vulnerability, are central in her writing. Uus is a sought-after speaker, but her contribution to a changing mourning culture goes beyond words. Together with Veronique Sneyaert she designed the trOostjuweel, and she is the driving force behind the Onumenten, circular memorial spaces that invite open grieving and remembrance. Uus has a deep affinity with art and culture and embraces projects that bridge the gap with mental well-being. Entirely Elfurenmis-worthy.

Noémie Schellens, soprano and actress, grew up as the youngest of five in an art-loving family. As a child she was fascinated by the power of cinema, by Callas while helping her father cook, by the devotion of her singing violin teacher, by travel and theatre. She graduated with highest distinction in Vocal Performance at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and continued her training as a light lyric soprano with Udo Reinemann in France and Charlotte Margiono in the Netherlands. In Paris she received the prestigious Médaille de Vermeil from the Académie des Arts Sciences et Lettres. Noémie works with orchestras and ensembles both in Belgium and abroad. She is also a creator and actress, and actively engages in cross-genre collaborations across all her disciplines.

And then there is Casco Phil. Do these outstanding musicians still need an introduction? Alongside conductor Benjamin Haemhouts, they are practically part of the De VELINX family. Together with Uus and Noémie, they will lift this extraordinary edition of Elfurenmis to even greater heights.

Elfurenmis is a co-production by De VELINX and B Classic.