Chapel concert / Duo Leora: Emma Wills & Fleur Strijbos

For the second Chapel Concert this summer, we welcome Duo Leora: soprano Fleur Strijbos and guitarist Emma Wills, two exceptionally talented young Belgian musicians who found each other musically in a shared love for poetry, color and imagination. In the intimate and inspiring atmosphere of the chapel, they bring their program Gracias a la vida, a musical journey along Spanish and Latin American masterpieces by, among others, Joaquín Rodrigo, Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla, Fernando Obradors and Violeta Parra. Here, love – in all its facets – is central: from playful lightness and dreaminess to passionate intensity and even tragedy. What makes Wat Gracias a la vida special is the unique musical dialogue between both artists – an intimate and striking interpretation that touches and surprises the audience. The result promises to be a warm, personal and deeply lived-in concert experience. Duo Leora was created after Fleur Strijbos and Emma Wills met each other musically during the Walden Festival van Klara in 2024. Their voices – one vocal, the other instrumental on guitar – turned out to complement each other seamlessly. With their debut program Gracias a la vida, they immediately enthralled a sold-out Citizens’ Garden in Brussels. With the name “Leora”, derived from the Hebrew and Greek for “light”, they bring classical music with a fresh flair: expressive, playful and lived-in. Sopraan Fleur Strijbos studied at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen and perfected her education at the Mozarteum Salzburg. Since 2023, she has been Artist in Residence at the Muziekkapel Koningin Elisabeth. In 2024, she was selected for De Twintigers van Klara and also awarded as Young Talent by Flanders LiedFest, Festival van Vlaanderen and Prima La Musica. She has already performed in halls such as Flagey, Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, De Munt and the Koninklijk Paleis van Brussel. Within her recital practice, she regularly works together with other musicians in various ensembles, including Duo Leora. Emma Wills is a Belgian concert guitarist with international recognition and is considered one of the most versatile and promising guitarists of her generation. During her recitals, she switches fluently between baroque guitar, romantic guitar and classical guitar, and lets different centuries of music enter into dialogue with each other in one concert. In 2025, she made her solo debut in the Henry Le Boeufzaal of BOZAR within the series Concert Croissant and her solo album Serenades of Spain was released worldwide. Previously, she was selected for De Twintigers van Klara and received recognition as a laureate of Vocatio for her work on the revival of the historical romantic guitar. Practical info » Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 10:30 AM and at 2:30 PM » In de Sint-Gertrudis Chapel » Price: € 28 (upper nave standing) / € 48 (parterre) Program 10:30 AM / 2:30 PM » The castle team welcomes you warmly with a refined glass of champagne from Huis Vossen to festively start the concert. 11:00 AM / 3:00 PM » Intro by Prof. Jeroen D’hoe composer, pianist and musicologist » Concert 12:00 PM / 4:00 PM » Champagnebar van Huis Vossen