Created by Michel Keustermans, the Cetra d’Orfeo (The Lyre of Orpheus) is an ancient music ensemble whose originality resides in their programmes and the lively manner in which they are presented to the public (young and less young…), making the music accessible to all. This ensemble has been recognized as an official cultural player of the French Community of Belgium. It is composed of a loyal group of artists specialised in interpretations of works from the 15th to the 18th century. The ongoing renewal of their essentially eclectic programming leads the group to be invited regularly to many festivals of Belgium, France, Italy, England, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Austria, Turkey, India, and North and South America.
As well as the traditional baroque music, their concerts and shows focus on different sets of themes that often bring together several artistic disciplines: shows that involves dancers with the choreographer Lieven Baert, actors, jugglers, puppeteers, poetry, painting, illustrations drawn as a live performance.
In 2012, they were invited to play for the official visit of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde in Istanbul.
During the year 2013, La Cetra d’Orfeo has been invited by Edificio at the Solvay Library for 23 concerts, under the Patronage of Her Majesty the Queen.
In November 2014, they have been invited for the 20th Istanbul Baroque Festival, in a programme with European and Ottoman baroque music and dance.
In 2015 & 2016, they performed in Romania (Bucarest & Baroque Cluj Festival), Latvia (Rundale Castle), Portugal (Rota das Artes, Lisboa), France, Hungary (Baroque Festival Budapest).
In order to celebrate his 25th anniversary, La Cetra d’Orfeo created a festival (25 concerts January-May 2019) in prestigious venues in Brussels, with more than 150 artists, that ends Die Schöpfung by Joseph Haydn, on period instruments.
They edited various CD’s under the labels of Cypres, Pavane, Arsis, Avanti-Classics, Eole etc…
La Cetra d’Orfeo,
it’s ancient music for everyone.
In 25 years,
100,000 spectators
650 concerts
50 productions
15 countries
and a conductor still passionate!
La Cetra d’Orfeo bénéficie du soutien de la Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles, Direction Générale de la Culture, de la Province du Brabant Wallon, de la Région Wallonne, de la Cocof, de Wallonie-Bruxelles-International et de la Fevis.
