Koenraad Hofman
bass
Instrument: bass, first soloist
With Flanders Symphony Orchestra since: 2003
What is your most memorable concert with Flanders Symphony Orchestra?
I will never forget Brahms' Fourth Symphony with conductor Seikyo Kim. And being on stage together with my wife as the singer in Mahler's Lied von der Erde was very special to me.
Who is your favourite composer?
That is a very difficult question, but if I have to choose I will go for Johannes Brahms. His symphonies, piano concertos, violin concerto, requiem, but also certainly his chamber and piano music show such deep sensitivity and inner strength that I am always blown away when I hear or play his music.
But as I write this down, I already feel uneasy that I am selling Mahler, Janáček, R. Strauss, Ravel, Vaughan Williams, Sibelius and so many others short.
What do you do besides being a musician at Flanders Symphony Orchestra?
I teach double bass and chamber music at the Royal Brussels Conservatory, and I am double bassist and artistic coordinator of the Oxalys ensemble. Time for hobbies is unfortunately limited, but I spend the little time I have restoring my vintage car, tasting whisky and playing squash.
Do you have a ritual before going on stage?
Not really, but in the bass group it is a ritual to bring a chocolate waffle for our colleagues during long rehearsals.
