Mathias Coppens (1988) is a Belgian pianist-composer who navigates a wide range of musical landscapes. In his kaleidoscopic concert works, he searches for a balance between avant-garde experimentation, drama, and simple stillness. He has composed for renowned ballet companies such as the Birmingham Royal Ballet and the English National Ballet. His music theatre work Faust in collaboration with Arsenaal/Lazarus, DE MAAN en deCompagnie is touring extensively throughout Flanders, and his orchestral music was featured at the opening of the KMSKA in Antwerp. His music for contemporary dance has been described as “vivid” (The Independent), “original” (Broadway World UK), “unexpectedly lyrical” (The American), and “soulful” (Seeing Dance).

 

Coppens’ compositions explore the artistic possibilities of cutting-edge technology, as demonstrated in the interactive performance ‘Minerals’ for BRYGGEN Bruges Strings and deSingel. As a film composer, he wrote the music for the documentary ‘Colliding Forces’, where principal dancers from five world-renowned ballet companies came together in London to perform to his compositions.

 

His music has been performed by orchestras such as Brussels Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Flanders and ensembles like Bl!ndman, HERMESensemble, Asko-Schönberg, I Solisti, Mosa Trio, Desguin Quartet, Ryelandt Trio, Kugoni Trio, CASCO Phil, the Kaleidoscope Chamber Collective and others. Coppens stands out through his search for new concert formats and his sensitivity to emotional layering and imagination in his work. He is also active as a pianist and co-artistic director within deCompagnie with which he has realized groundbreaking productions. He is passionate about teaching composition at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. Finally he is the director of the festivals Lunalia and Musica Divina, both part of the Festival of Flanders.