Brussels' opera house La Monnaie/De Munt has been crowned 'Best Opera House' of 2024 in the OPER! AWARDS, an international opera prize. The venue was lauded for inviting openness that brings both artists and audiences together.
The Belgian capital will be home to the best opera house in the world for the coming year, the jury of the OPER! AWARDS announced in Berlin on Tuesday. The iconic music venue is located on Place de la Monnaie, near Grand Place in the city centre.
"The Brussels opera house La Monnaie/De Munt, under its general and artistic director Peter de Caluwe, radiates enormous appeal and inviting openness, encouraging artists to creative top performances and drawing in audiences," Jury Chair of the OPER! AWARDS, Ulrich Ruhnke, said.
"Its programme and the sophistication and aesthetics of its productions regularly set standards, while making opera accessible to younger generations. Its activities are also embedded within a comprehensive mission to be a modern opera house able to reach out to society, affirming the values of sustainability and a welcoming culture."
De Caluwe has been leading La Monnaie/De Munt for almost 20 years, and this marks his last season. "He has done so at a consistently high level and with undiminished creativity – setting an exceptional record in the international opera business and worthy of an award."
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La Monnaie/De Munt will receive the OPER! AWARD 2025 on 21 February 2025 during a gala at the Brussels-based opera house. The winners of the awards' 19 other categories will be named and honoured in person at the same event.
The OPER! AWARDS are Germany's only publicly awarded international opera prize. Last year's winner of the 'Best Opera House' was the Dutch National Opera Amsterdam.
