A baroque gem as a contemporary concert hall

In a lively city district in the centre of Antwerp lies AMUZ, a unique concert hall housed in the former St. Augustine Church. The building combines impressive seventeenth-century baroque with beautiful contemporary architecture. The current concert hall of AMUZ was once the monastery church of the Augustinian Fathers. It was built between 1615 and 1618 under the direction of Wenzel Coebergher, court architect of the Archdukes Albrecht and Isabella. Four hundred years after the inauguration of the St. Augustine Church, Jan Fabre created an art installation that adds a surprising accent to the historical heritage. Discover the heart of AMUZ in this book, which harmoniously unites past and present. Five specialists – Bart Demuyt & Elise Simoens, Paul Huvenne, Joris Scheers and Ben van Beneden – take you back to the Baroque of the past and present: from the altarpieces of Peter Paul Rubens, Anthony van Dyck and Jacob Jordaens to the new altarpieces by Jan Fabre. Relive 25 years of music in this Baroque gem and immerse yourself in the repurposing of historical heritage in Antwerp, Flanders and the world. The full-page photos by Koen van Damme vividly highlight the splendor of this monument. With a foreword by Minister Sven Gatz, Alderman Caroline Bastiaens and Chairman Philip Heylen BART DEMUYT is the general and artistic director of AMUZ (Festival of Flanders – Antwerp), an international music centre where cultural, educational and scientific activities take place.