The Belgian adaptation of the Dead Ladies Show, inspired by the original Berlin performances, is a vibrant series of café chantant events celebrating remarkable yet overlooked women from history. At each Dead Ladies Show, these extraordinary figures—and many more—are given the spotlight they deserve.

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In every edition, three presenters—whether authors, actors, scientists, or artists—share their passion for their chosen woman, guiding the audience through her life, work, and accomplishments. Between and following these three lecture-performances, pianist Lies Colman, accompanied by a different singer at each show, pays tribute to two musical grandes dames of the past. The signature "Dead Ladies Song" was composed by Annelies Van Parys, with lyrics by Gaea Schoeters and translated by Rona Kennedy.

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During the Dead Ladies Marathon, held on November 10 and 11, 2024, at Concertgebouw Brugge, the first ten shows were performed back-to-back. Ten shows also meant ten unique interpretations of the Dead Ladies Song...

 

How do the musicians approach each new score, knowing they can add their own creative touches? What impact do the lyrics, the audience, and the historical subjects have on their artistic vision? And how does a pianist navigate through these diverse renditions, adapting to the rhythmic, harmonic, and melodic variations of each version?