STRINGS

Our new season is ready… and we can no longer wait to share the first concert with you. Due to the cessation of the operations of Kunstenplek De Graaf, the launch of our 2026–2027 season is a bit later than planned. At the same time, it also means the beginning of a new chapter for CloseOpera. From this season on, we welcome you to a beautiful new location; of course, we will never leave Ghent completely: Villa Park Ter Beuken Groendreef 8, 9160 Lokeren Een atmospheric historic building that perfectly matches the intimate concert experience of CloseOpera. Moreover, the location is particularly easily accessible: • Within walking distance of Lokeren station (only a fifteen-minute train ride from Ghent) • Ample free parking • A characterful historical setting in which music comes into its own And how can we open this new chapter more beautifully than with STRINGS. Folk songs are much more than simple melodies. They carry stories, memories, and traditions with them. They tell who we are, where we come from, and what connects us to each other. Sopraan Chia Fen Wu and harpist Maja Dvoracek take you on a musical journey through cultures and continents. Van Ravels Cinq mélodies populaires grecques and De Falla's fiery Siete canciones populares españolas to Britten's refined folk song arrangements. In addition, folk songs from China, Taiwan, the Uyghur tradition, and Japan will also be heard. A colorful program in which identity, origin, and tradition are central. STRINGS Saturday, September 12, 2026 8:00 PM Villa Park Ter Beuken Groendreef 8, 9160 Lokeren Met: • Chia Fen Wu – soprano • Maja Dvoracek – harp Tickets are available from August 20, 2026. Reserve from then via: https://close-opera.wordpress.com/tickets Soon we will also be pleased to present the rest of our IDENTITY season to you. We look forward to welcoming you again in a new place, with the same proximity, the same artistic ambition, and the same love for opera and vocal music. See you in Lokeren!