Practical
Friday, 11 April, 2025 up to and including Saturday, 3 May, 2025
- 19:00 until 22:00
€12 - €170 | With discount for VUB students, staff and alumni
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel and La Monnaie invite you to I Grotteschi – a unique opera performance packed with drama, desire, and bizarre characters.
Who is Monteverdi?
Claudio Monteverdi was a musical rebel before it was cool. Back in the 17th century, he helped create a whole new genre: opera. Think Greek tragedies, but with music that grabs you by the heart.
From his early work about Orpheus trying to rescue his beloved from the underworld, to the dramatic homecoming of Odysseus in Il ritorno d’Ulisse... Monteverdi knew better than anyone how to turn human longing into unforgettable music. And in L’incoronazione di Poppea, he takes the drama up another notch: how far would you go to seize power?
So what’s I Grotteschi?
Director Rafael R. Villalobos took the most thrilling scenes from Monteverdi’s trilogy and turned them into a bold, gripping new production. A smaller cast, grotesque characters, and a storyline that feels both timeless and surprisingly familiar: a family entangled in power, passion, and intrigue. Think Game of Thrones, but with a baroque twist.
And the music? Absolutely top-notch, thanks to conductor Leonardo García-Alarcón and his Cappella Mediterranea ensemble.
Ready to dive into a musical rollercoaster about love, power and identity? Don’t wait – get your tickets now!
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But first check out the discounts 👇:
Discounts and extras for the VUB community
Students and other people under 30 enjoy discounts of up to 65%, but if you book a ticket for the performance on May 2, you’ll also get access to the exclusive Young Opera Afterparty Deluxe. Think: dancing through the theatre to the sounds of theorbo players and DJ Abel Baeck (No Label), transforming into your most grotesque self with help from our make-up artists and masks, and celebrating art with hundreds of young opera lovers – all at the biggest baroque bash of the year. Just make sure to sign up for Young Opera in advance (it’s free!).
Other VUB’ers get 25% off. Use the discount code VUBMONTEVERDI at checkout. This discount cannot be combined with other discounts (such as the one for young people under 30).
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