Emmanuel Durlet Foundation vzw

The “Emmanuel Durlet Foundation vzw.” was founded on 29th November 1976. Its objective is to promote the works of Emmanuel Durlet and to spread information about the career and activities of this great artist.

Durlet D

Since its formation, the Foundation has published more than 130 works of Emmanuel Durlet and two long playing records (sold out). In 1992 a CD with the pianoconcerto’s “Medieval Scenes” by Emmanuel Durlet and “Symphonic Poems” for Piano and Orchestra by Peter Benoit (in the piano version of Durlet). In 1996 a CD with piano works of Emmanuel Durlet performed by Luc Devos. In 1996 a second CD with piano works performed by Maria Parshina. In 2005 a CD with piano works of Chopin and Durlet, performed by Kiyotaka Izumi. In 2008 a CD with 18th century Flemish composers for the harpsichord in a transcription for piano by Emmanuel Durlet.

In September and October 2014 two CD with works by Emmanuel Durlet were published: The first CD with the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Violin : Eliot Lawson, accompanied by the “Euregio Youth Orchestra” directed by Hans Casteleyn as well as the Concerto for Piano and Orchestra “Medieval Scenes” performed by Emmanuel Durlet himself (historical recording, 1960), accompanied by the “BRT-Filharmonisch Orkest” unter the direction of Daniel Sternefeld. The second CD with the Sonata for Piano and Violin, the work for Cello and Piano and various piano works, not yet on CD, among the “19 Old-Flemish Melodies and Dances” and the “Paraphrase on ‘Mijn Moederspraak’ (My Mother Tongue) of Peter Benoit”. Piano: Kiyotaka Izumi. Violin: Eliot Lawson. Cello: David Cohen. A third CD in March 2015 with piano works Emmanuel Durlet composed for Young Players.
Piano: Kiyotaka Izumi

Since 1979 the Foundation also contributed actively to the promotion of the triennial “International Emmanuel Durlet Prize for Piano”, organized by the “Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen” (former Royal Flemish Conservatoire of Music). This prize was founded in 1978 at the initiative of Juliane Castro, former pupil of Emmanuel Durlet.

These activities, also supported by the “Cantabile Piano Competition for the Youth”, enables the Foundation to promote and stimulate the performance of the works of Emmanuel Durlet all over the world. More than 200 Belgian Music Academies and 80 Belgian and foreign Conservatoires of Music make use of the works and Etudes of Emmanuel Durlet to form young pianists.

Board of Directors

Luc Leblanc

Luc Leblanc

president

During my life I had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of a fantastic pianist. He seemed to be a laureate of the Emmanuel Durlet Piano Competition. Slowly I could know him better rand better. He spoke about Emmanuel Durlet and of his charming daughter Andrea. She founded in 1976 the Emmanuel Durlet Foundation with the noble aim to let know at the general public his personality and his work. And then what to do? Since the year 2017 I make part of the board of directors of the Durlet Foundation and meanwhile I learned to know it completely. As president I discovered a great challenge and this pleases me, especially because I can depend on fantastic fellow-partners whom you can discover a little bit further on.
Andrea Durlet

Andrea Durlet

secretary

On the 29th of November 1976 I founded the “Emmanuel Durlet Foundation VZW” (non-profit association), after talking with my father and noted his meanings about.
Willy Clijmans became President attended by 14 members-founders. I took this initiative because it was spiteful and unjust that the wonderful compositions of my father were not performed anymore. As from then all his original works, 8 CDs were published and many recitals were organized thanks to the devotion of our best musicians. During 25 years (as from 1979 until 2005) I collaborated intensively for the organization of the “International Piano Competition Emmanuel Durlet” in the Royal Flemish Conservatoire of Music in Antwerp. To them who helped me and supported me, from all my heart my sincere thanks !

Jan Peeters

Jan Peeters

treasurer

It was in 1976, when I finished my studies, that I got acquanted with Andrea Durler in the office were I was engaged.. This is 43 years ago. A few months later Emmanuel Durlet, her father, died. Afterwards we didn’t see each other anymore during 20 years until we met again during a theater performance and we promised to keep contact. Our friendship is forever. As music lover, with preference for the piano, I was invited to make part of the direction of the Emmanuel Durlet Foundation, a good opportunity to learn and listen to the music of Durlet. The orchestral works for violin and piano, next to the magnificent piano compositions, surprised me the most. I consider my engagement as a member of the direction committee as a great honour and enjoy completely the heartfelt and active presence of Andrea Durlet who knows the almost persons in the classical Flemish music world and is now still busy with the music of her father.
Christophe De Backer

Christophe De Backer

webmaster

When I was young I would walk five hundred miles to go to school. Little did I know that my daily walk to school brought me to the Durlet family home. Durlet was only a recognition plaque on the wall…

Untill one day, I heard through the grapevine, that the Emmanuel Durlet Foundation vzw was looking for someone to help with the site. Durlet, hardly rings a bell with many music lovers and yet I knew that name from my childhood. What started as a whisper slowly turned into a new friendship. And now as, webmaster and member of Durlet’s board of directors, I have the change to take Durlet to the digital age and give him the recognition he deserves. Together with the new board members we can handle everything.

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin.

Polina Chernova

Polina Chernova

board member

A few years ago I assisted to a recital given by the pianist Kiyotaka Izumi where I heard piano miniatures from – for me – an unknown composer, Emmanuel Durlet. His works made a great impression on me : in the middle of the 20th century, when you should expect that all possible melodies already are written, when many composers break with the classical tradition, Emmanuel Durlet blow new life in traditional forms. He knew how to find the inspiration for a personal, recognizable music language. Since then I started myself to perform works of Durlet, and I made a good acqaintance with his daughter Andrea. When I received the demand to be a member of the direction of the Durlet Foundation to support the foundation, I accepted this with pleasure.
Kiyotaka Izumi

Kiyotaka Izumi

board member

During the year 2002 I had the great happiness and joy to perform piano works by Emmanuel Durlet as to make also the acquantance of his youngest daughter, Andrea. The transparency and poetic colours of his sound in his piano works seduced me immediately. Melancholic and melodic lines by Chopin, colourful and finest harmonies by Debussy, this is the music of Durlet what always facinates the audiences. His daughter, Andrea, makes all her life, with passion, the promotion of her father. I have a great respect for her work. I shall be happy to support her. It is also a great honour for me to promote the music of Durlet.

Eliot Lawson

Eliot Lawson

board member

I remember Andrea Durlet vividly, the composer Emmanuel Durlet youngest daughter, from my childhood memories with fondness. She was always so sweet and loving, transmitting great and positive energy. When I was a young boy I started playing the violin and Andrea followed my musical path with great interest. Many years later, Andrea approached me with a violin concerto written by her father. This surprised me tremendously. Even though I was aware of her father being a great pianist and composer, I had never thought of him as a composer for the violin. Again many years later, I recorded all the violin music Emmanuel Durlet ever wrote! I am a huge fan of Emmanuel Durlet (and his daughter Andrea) and my main objective, in joining the board of the Emmanuel Durlet foundation, is to spread Durlet’s music all over the world. It is too good to be missed!