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CLUB CLASSICS
What happens when a full symphony orchestra takes on some of the biggest dance anthems of all time?
On 13 March 2026, Club Classics transformed Antwerp’s Lotto Arena into a meeting point between two seemingly different musical worlds. At the heart of it all was the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra, bringing a completely new dimension to tracks that have filled clubs and dancefloors for decades.
From dancefloor to symphony orchestra
Under the baton of Alexandra Arrieche, and together with drummer and musical director Michael Schack, the orchestra traded the traditional concert hall for pounding beats, electronic sounds and an arena ready to dance.
Tracks such as Born Slippy, Silence, Better Off Alone, L’Amour Toujours, One More Time, Sandstorm, Universal Nation, Toca’s Miracle and The Man With The Red Face were given the full live treatment.
Music originally built around synthesizers, samples and electronic beats was reimagined for orchestra, live band and vocalists. Strings, brass and percussion became part of the unmistakable sound of some of dance music’s biggest classics.
The result was not simply an orchestra performing covers of dance tracks. Club Classics was created as a genuine crossover between both worlds, preserving the energy of the originals while adding the power, scale and emotion of a live symphony orchestra.
For the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra, Club Classics is another example of just how versatile a modern orchestra can be.
Over the years, the orchestra has become known for crossing musical boundaries and bringing symphonic music into new settings. With Club Classics, that philosophy reaches the world of electronic music.
Fast tempos, repetitive structures and the precision of electronic productions create a completely different challenge from traditional symphonic repertoire. Bringing dozens of musicians together with electronic beats, a live band and vocalists requires every element to work as one.
And when it does, the orchestra does more than accompany the music, it becomes part of the club experience.
Club Classics returns in 2027
After its first edition in 2026, the story continues. On 13 March 2027, Club Classics returns to the Lotto Arena, once again featuring the Antwerp Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Alexandra Arrieche.
Another night where strings meet synthesizers, orchestral power meets electronic beats, and a symphony orchestra proves that classical instruments feel just as at home on the dancefloor.