{"id":13052,"date":"2026-10-28T21:23:24","date_gmt":"2026-10-28T20:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/nieuws\/baroque-music-is-in-fact-the-pop-music-of-the-eighteenth-century\/"},"modified":"2026-10-30T11:30:44","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T10:30:44","slug":"alegria-musical-ensemble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/nieuws\/alegria-musical-ensemble\/","title":{"rendered":"Baroque music is, in fact, the pop music of the eighteenth century"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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From piano lessons to his own ensemble<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mannu\u2019s journey into the Baroque began by chance. He was six when he learnt to play the piano, and nine when his piano teacher \u2013 who had founded a Baroque ensemble himself \u2013 asked him to sing as a boy soloist in the St Matthew Passion. \u201cI agreed, and somehow it really got to me, even though I was only nine. It was captivating and complex too. I couldn\u2019t quite put my finger on why at the time, but it struck a chord. Since then, Bach has never really left me.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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During the concerts, he also became fascinated by the instruments in the orchestra, particularly the keyboard instruments such as the organ and the harpsichord. \u201cI would always try them out carefully, as I\u2019d already learnt a little piano by then. That\u2019s where the seed was sown for me to go on to build instruments myself. For me, building and performing are two sides of the same interest: understanding how music is made – on the one hand, the analysis, but also the emotion and its expression.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Almost fifty years ago, as a young lad of seventeen, he took his place in front of an ensemble as a conductor for the first time. At first, he was hesitant and cautious. Twenty years later, in 1997, he founded his own company: Alegr\u00eda Musical Ensemble.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What makes Baroque music so special to him? \u201cFor me, there\u2019s something very direct about Baroque music. It\u2019s both highly structured and mathematically organized, but also very expressive.\u201d He freely calls it \u201cthe pop music of the eighteenth century\u201d: rhythmic, emotional, captivating.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cAs a performer, I feel as though I am in dialogue with the composer. I feel as though I am close to him. I can then ask myself: Why is there an accent here? Why is there dissonance here? Why does that line go up or down? And, after unravelling all that, to arrive at a feeling, an expression.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Professional music enthusiasts<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Alegr\u00eda consists of a choir of passionate music lovers and a professional Baroque orchestra. \u201cI draw a distinction between professionals and professionalism,\u201d says Mannu. \u201cProfessionalism is an attitude I expect from everyone. The professional musicians bring their technical skill and expertise to the table, and naturally I can work more quickly with them. But it is not a mark of quality. It is not a case of merely amateurs<\/em> versus professionals. We create the productions together, and everyone has a responsibility in that. That is a unique balance and a formula that is not all that common in the choral landscape in Flanders.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Mannu loves being a conductor. He sums up the reason for this briefly: people\u2019s enthusiasm. \u201cI see people who devote their free time to our project, who learn their parts and keep working with me to find ways to improve.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The same goes for working with the orchestra, of course.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u201cIt\u2019s about bringing together the energy of all those people \u2013 both professionally and from the heart \u2013 and using that to create a professional product together.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cAt a certain point, everything comes together and exceeds the sum of the individual voices. I consider it an enormous privilege to be able to guide that process.\u201d That is the moment that gives him the greatest sense of fulfilment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cBeing able to do what I love, knowing that it inspires people and that they\u2019re happy with the result. That\u2019s brilliant. And actually, it\u2019s an ongoing process. Long before the concert itself, preparations are already in full swing: not just musically, but also in terms of logistics and organisation.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Warm, bright and lively<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mannu describes the sound and atmosphere of Alegr\u00eda as \u201cwarm\u201d. \u201cBoth in our interaction with people and in the sound itself. But it\u2019s also clear, and certainly full of energy. I think we excel at energetic music. It suits us well.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What happens between the musicians is at least as important. \u201cThe most important thing about an ensemble is the chemistry that comes from listening to one another,\u201d says Mannu. \u201cThat creates a kind of homogeneity, without it becoming anonymous: a single sound, in all its diversity.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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In addition, the orchestra plays on period instruments. \u201cThese produce a warmer, more intimate and more transparent sound than modern instruments,\u201d he explains. \u201cFrom a physics perspective, everything sounds just a little bit softer: a Baroque trumpet without valves, a wooden traverso instead of a modern cross flute, violins with gut strings instead of metal strings. That makes the sound more intimate.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\u201cThe most important thing about an ensemble is the chemistry that comes from listening to one another. This creates a kind of homogeneity, without it becoming anonymous: a single sound, in all its diversity.\u201d\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Before the doors open<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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According to Mannu, there is no secret formula that guarantees a concert will go well. \u201cNo, I don\u2019t always wear the same socks,\u201d he laughs, \u201cbut there is a specific atmosphere before every concert. It\u2019s a mix of concentration and practical hustle and bustle: making sure we\u2019ve got everything ready on time, that the audience can get in on time, going over a few passages one last time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cWe do have a practical routine. There\u2019s always a \u2018raccord\u2019, as musicians call it: we meet well in advance, sing and play a bit to warm up, and have a sandwich together. That creates a sense of connection, and the excitement and energy build naturally as we approach the moment the doors open.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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An evening filled with Bach<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The programme brings together Bach\u2019s Magnificat<\/em> and two Christmas cantatas: exuberant at times, with timpani and trumpets, yet also very delicate and intimate.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Magnificat<\/em> performed by Alegr\u00eda is actually Bach\u2019s second version of the work. He originally wrote it for the Christmas liturgy, with four additional \u2018Christmas interpolations\u2019 inserted throughout. These are short passages \u2013 two in German and two in Latin \u2013 which were inserted only at Christmas. When Bach later revised it, he omitted them. For this concert, Alegr\u00eda has deliberately reinserted them to bring the work\u2019s Christmas context back to life.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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They will also perform two Christmas cantatas written for this period: Gloria in Excelsis Deo<\/em> (BWV 191) for Christmas Day, and Ich freue mich in dir<\/em> (BWV 133) for the third day of Christmas.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cIt is very much a Christmas story,\u201d says Mannu, \u201ceven though we\u2019re not performing the Christmas Oratorio.\u201d The story begins small, and then takes on a meaning that grows: joy, hope and wonder \u2013 themes that often recur in Bach\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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For him, the Magnificat<\/em> also contains a message: the idea that the world could be different, and that we ourselves can play a part in that, that we have an impact on the direction the world is taking. \u201cSo it\u2019s not just a historic or museum piece, not just something from 1723. It\u2019s relevant today, too. That\u2019s what Christmas is all about.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Wings and goosebumps<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Mannu himself is particularly looking forward to the opening bars of the Magnificat: \u201cThe orchestra launches straight into it, then the choir joins in. It really gives us wings.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Further on in the piece, there is a moment that he already knows will move him: \u201cIn the Suscepit Isra\u00ebl<\/em>, the women\u2019s voices blend so simply and tenderly, accompanied by an almost weightless melody. At the words \u2018recordatus misericordiae suae\u2019 \u2013 mindful of his mercy \u2013 I already know I\u2019ll get goosebumps.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Not sure whether Baroque music is your thing? Mannu has a simple piece of advice: \u201cDon\u2019t decide in advance whether you\u2019ll like it. Just come along and let yourself be carried away by the sound and energy \u2013 Bach will do the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Music and purpose as bridges<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It was no coincidence that UCSIA found common ground with this concert. \u201cWe\u2019re both building bridges,\u201d says Mannu, \u201cUCSIA through knowledge and spirituality, and we through music. In both cases, it\u2019s about coming together: you step out of your own world and make room for something else.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The musicians are playing music from the past today. The audience comes from different backgrounds and holds a variety of beliefs. But we connect. We come together. We make room for something different.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Bach wrote these works from a particular spiritual perspective, a conviction. \u201cBut you certainly don\u2019t have to think or believe the same way to listen to or perform his music. You can do so from a completely different perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\u201cI don\u2019t mean to downplay Bach\u2019s spirituality. It is important. And for me, it helps me to get closer to it. But I don\u2019t think it\u2019s at all a necessity to be moved by his music.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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The repertoire is about joy, hope and anticipation. \u201cThat\u2019s 18th-century, but just as much 21st-century, of course.\u201d These are feelings we\u2019re all familiar with. They build a bridge between people from different worlds and eras, each of whom is moved in their own way by the same music. \u201cYou can\u2019t force that. There\u2019s no guarantee it will work, but it\u2019s an opportunity to open yourself up to it and experience it. I believe it can make quite a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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This concert is, without question, a must for anyone who loves Bach, but equally so for those who know Bach only by name. Mannu is thinking in particular of people who, during the busy month of December, want to slow down a little and share something with others: \u201cHearing Bach live, with a choir and orchestra, is very different from listening to a CD at home. I hope that afterwards, people will not just feel that they have heard some music, but that they have experienced something.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Will you be there?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Would you like to enjoy this concert? Subscribers to our newsletter get a 10% discount on their tickets (\u20ac26 instead of \u20ac29). The discount link will appear in the November newsletter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Concert \"Gloria in Excelsis\"<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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J.S. Bach: Magnificat & kerstcantates
by Alegr\u00eda Musical Ensemble conducted by Mannu Wuyts, with soloists Jana Pieters (soprano), Rob Cuppens (altus), Michiel Haspeslagh (tenor), and Thomas Vandenabeele (bas)<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Time and location<\/strong>
Saturday 19 December 2026, 20.00 CET
Pius X Church, Groenenborgerlaan 214, Wilrijk-Antwerp<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tickets<\/strong>
\u20ac 29, presale until December via www.alegria-online.be<\/a>, via email to kaarten@alegria-online.be<\/a>, or by telephone: 0486 27 91 95.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Discount for UCSIA subscribers<\/strong>
Subscribers to our newsletter receive a 10% discount (\u20ac26 instead of \u20ac29). You\u2019ll find the discount link in the November newsletter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the UCSIA newsletter!<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A jubilant Magnificat, timpani and trumpets, and Bach\u2019s serene Christmas cantatas: on 19 December, the Antwerp-based Baroque ensemble Alegr\u00eda is presenting a Christmas concert that requires absolutely no knowledge of classical music. \u201cJust let the music carry you away,\u201d says conductor Mannu Wuyts, \u201cand Bach will do the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

We spoke to Mannu about his love of Baroque music, his ensemble Alegr\u00eda and the Christmas concert \u2018Gloria in Excelsis\u2019.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":13051,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,56],"tags":[],"topic":[31],"class_list":["post-13052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-partners","topic-religion-and-society"],"yoast_head":"\nBaroque music is, in fact, the pop music of the eighteenth century - UCSIA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"On 19 December, the Antwerp-based Baroque ensemble Alegr\u00eda will be performing a dazzling Christmas concert featuring the works of Bach. 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Read the interview with conductor Mannu Wuyts.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/en\/nieuws\/alegria-musical-ensemble\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UCSIA\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-28T20:23:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-30T10:30:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ucsia.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Nieuwsitem-Alegria-1-webheader-UCSIA-podcaststudio-c-Art-n-Decay-1-1.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marijke\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marijke\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Marijke\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e184d94651d64d474cb5fef8f0a18fd5\"},\"headline\":\"Baroque music is, in fact, the pop music of the eighteenth century\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-28T20:23:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-30T10:30:44+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1776,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/Nieuwsitem-Alegria-1-webheader-UCSIA-podcaststudio-c-Art-n-Decay-1-1.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\",\"Partners\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/\",\"name\":\"Baroque music is, in fact, the pop music of the eighteenth century - UCSIA\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/nieuws\\\/alegria-musical-ensemble\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/Nieuwsitem-Alegria-1-webheader-UCSIA-podcaststudio-c-Art-n-Decay-1-1.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-28T20:23:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-30T10:30:44+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.ucsia.org\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e184d94651d64d474cb5fef8f0a18fd5\"},\"description\":\"On 19 December, the Antwerp-based Baroque ensemble Alegr\u00eda will be performing a dazzling Christmas concert featuring the works of Bach. 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