In the heart of Brussels, in the Sablon district, stands the historic building of the Royal Conservatory, a prestigious institution founded in 1832, just two years after the country's independence. For several decades, news reports have highlighted the dire condition of this majestic building, designed by eclecticist architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar. Fortunately, it has been undergoing renovation since the summer of 2024—a promise of renewal that will allow it to regain its former splendor.

What is less known is that inside this building lies the largest music library in Belgium and one of the most important in Europe. Internationally renowned for its collections spanning over 6,000 meters of shelving, from medieval music to the 21st century, it preserves extraordinary documents linked to figures such as Mozart, Rossini, La Malibran, Schubert, Telemann, C.P.E. Bach, and Farinelli. It also houses extensive collections related to Belgian heritage, as well as a manuscript containing excerpts from the first opera in history.

This lecture invites you to explore the treasures of this library, as well as its eventful history from Belgium’s independence to the present day. It will also be an opportunity to reflect on the challenges faced in our troubled times by a heritage institution of European significance such as this one.

Biography

Hugo Rodriguez is the curator of the library of the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles (French-speaking institution). He has previously worked at the Royal Library of Belgium (KBR) and the Museum of Musical Instruments (MIM). He holds a doctorate in musicology from the Université libre de Bruxelles, where he teaches, and is the author of a PhD on the question of meaning in music, viewed from the perspective of history, philosophy, and cognitive science. He is also conducting research into comedy in music and Belgian musical life. He was one of the curators of the exhibition Toots 100: The Sound of a Belgian Legend and has co-organised other projects (symposiums, conferences, concerts and publications) to mark the centenary of the birth of Toots Thielemans.