Korneel Alsteens

Instrument: oboe, first soloist
With Flanders Symphony Orchestra since: 2004

Who is your favourite composer and why?

Without any doubt Leoš Janáček. I got to know his music where it was composed, in his homeland of Moravia, when I was part of the Young Janáček Philharmonic there. His music is a wonderful mix between the romantic style and a very expressive, colourful, original and certainly for its time progressive language with an enormous individuality and distinctiveness. Very modern and at the same time traditional, because it is laced with typical folk melodies and rhythms from the Czech Republic.

What is your fondest memory of Flanders Symphony Orchestra?

During the twenty years that I have been part of this orchestra, I have experienced countless wonderful concerts and beautiful tours. So many memories from which I find it hard to choose. But the orchestra is by all means a place where I feel good and where I can continue to express myself artistically in a pleasant and heartwarming way.

What do you always bring to rehearsal?

A box full of reeds that I hope will do as well on stage as they do in my study.

What was your most memorable concert with Flanders Symphony Orchestra?

Of the many great concerts we played, our performance at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in August 2013 will always stay with me. The programme included two of my favourite works: Brahms' First Symphony and his Violin concerto. A lot of work for me as an oboist and a gang of ‘fans’ in the iconic hall.