The Fuga Libera label was launched in the spring of 2004. It is placed under the artistic direction of the Belgian musicologist Michel Stockhem.

Its repertoire stretches from late baroque to contemporary music, and it is supported by eminent actors of the European musical life. The ensembles of Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie Opera house (orchestra and choirs), the Belgian National Orchestra/Walter Weller, Il Fondamento/Paul Dombrecht, the Danel Quartet, United Instruments of Lucilin, Oxalys, Het Collectief, Alice Ader, the Queen Elisabeth College of Music, the Ensemble Dolce & Tempesta/Stefano Demicheli, European Camerata and an array of new names all contribute to a catalogue that is beyond doubt Brussel’s, and Europe’s capital most dynamic. The overall aim is to express the vitality of musical life in Belgium, but also to draw artists from all regions of Europe, from Naples to St. Petersburg, into its fertile ground.  

 Fuga Libera CD’s are published in luxurious digipak®, with a graphical signature by Michel Debacker. They systematically include a thorough musicological presentation. The label is distributed in more than 25 countries, with great attention to quality and long-term relations with top-notch distributors. It is no surprise that our activity is regularly rewarded by the specialised press (Diapason d’Or, Choc du Monde de la Musique, Disc des Monats/Toccata, Disco Excepcional/Scherzo, Joker/Crescendo, Coup de Cœur/Piano Le Magazine…).  

The Fuga Libera Catalogue also presents a growing collection of publications mixing classical music with other music genres such as jazz or world music. They are recorded with the same demanding criteria as classical music and enjoy much acclaim since the very inception.

The artistic director

Michel Stockhem studied the piano, the organ and scriptures at the Uccle Academy and at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels. He was then trained as a musicologist at the ULB (Brussels) and published several works before devoting himself to artistic productions. He was successively a director at the Liège Philharmonic Orchestra from 1996 to 1999 and artistic director of the Cypres label from 1999 to 2004 when he founded the Fuga Libera label. Since 1999, he also the publisher the Ricercar label. Simultaneously, he is, since 1992, a professor of history of music at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels.