Shagan, of Bulgarian descent, inherits his sense of rhythm from his grandfather. In Russia, he gains recognition as a rapper and contemporary dancer, but his quest for new sounds takes him even further. The Chinese guzheng and the shakuhachi flute introduce him to new sonic landscapes. The guzheng, a distant relative of instruments like the Russian gusli, the Buryat-Mongolian yatga, the Japanese koto, the Korean gayageum, and other Asian zithers, becomes a central element in his music. Vladislav Shagan pushes the traditional boundaries of the guzheng in unexpected ways, blending it virtuously with throat singing, percussion, flutes, and various other instruments. His repertoire gracefully straddles the line between East and West, balancing beauty and power, tenderness and strength, delicate melodies and deep, resonant vibrations, with the ancient guzheng at the heart of it all.

Shagan: guzheng, shakuhachi, flutes, vocals, percussion

A concert at Isabelle & Bart’s

// For the past 20 years, Isabelle has been hosting intimate concerts in her living room. It all started with a Finnish music performance as part of the Living Room Music Festival. Isabelle and Bart are both passionate about music and semi-professional musicians (vocals, double bass, bass guitar, chromatic accordion). A beautiful collection of instruments fills their home, including a grand piano. Their house, built in 1920 by architect J. Van Den Eng, features touches of Art Deco. Some of the stained glass windows have been restored by the renowned Majerus workshop in Etterbeek.