Les Voix Intimes will soon celebrate a quarter-century of existence. When the festival was founded in 2002, the art of the quartet no longer enjoyed the enthusiasm it had generated in Belgium during the 1920s, mainly thanks to the famous Pro Arte Quartet. However, a revival was emerging across Europe, supported by the boldness of an informed audience, the vastness of the repertoire, and the activity of young ensembles freshly launched in their careers.
Following the example of festivals in Pays de Fayence and Luberon, the Heidelberg String Quartet Week, the quartet season at Wigmore Hall, and the prestigious Amsterdam and Paris Quartet Biennales, Les Voix Intimes contributed to this revival.
Through its diligent presence at international competitions, Proquartetto asbl, the festival's parent organization, identifies promising young ensembles such as the Ebène, Modigliani, Parker, and Voce Quartets. Once little-known when Les Voix Intimes first showcased their talent to the Tournai audience, these quartets now perform in the world's most prestigious venues.
Overcoming the material difficulties inherent in organizing any high-caliber cultural project, the Voix Intimes festival has stayed afloat, striking a balance between excellence and conviviality. Today, the festival is considered one of Belgium's essential chamber music events.
© B. Lestarquit / Tournai House of Culture
© B. Lestarquit / A. Huybrechts
© B. Lestarquit