Oor-Sprong: episode 3
composer Daan Janssens has put the final notes on paper and, in this last podcast episode, reflects on how he approached the work — with nods to illustrious predecessors and to his own musical language
DISCOVER THE FINAL EPISODE
The Making of the Violin Concerto by Daan Janssens
Following the previous video series Mission: Timpani, Mission: Bass and Mission: Harp, we now present Mission: Violin. At the request of Brussels Philharmonic, Daan Janssens is writing a new concerto for violin, orchestra and surround electronics, with principal second violin Samuel Nemtanu as soloist.
The world premiere of the violin concerto took place on 30 January at Flagey, followed by a second performance on 31 January at Concertgebouw Brugge.
Watch all episodes below.
Mission: Violin
Daan Janssens is writing a new violin concerto for Samuel Nemtanu, principal second violin. Mission: Violin follows their collaboration, from the first sketches to the world premiere at Flagey, with surround electronics forming an essential sonic universe around the orchestra.
Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look and discover how composer and soloist push, shape, and inspire each other in our new video and podcast series.
discover more#3
Episode 3: the big moment — the day of the world premiere. We follow Samuel and Daan as everything finally falls into place: years of exchange, endless conversations, rehearsals—and, of course, the violin concerto itself. Samuel feels like he’s “standing at the bow of a ship, in the middle of a storm.” Then comes the last note, and the relief. “I’m very happy,” Daan says. “There was so much trust. I trusted you, and you trusted me.” What started as an idea is now performed for the very first time in a full concert hall. Experience this intense day up close in the third and final episode of Mission: Violin.
#2
Episode 2: we follow Daan and Samuel to Liège, to the Centre Henri Pousseur for electronic music. Orchestra, electronics and violin: how do you turn them into a single, coherent whole? “It feels like a craft,” says Samuel. “I have to make those electronic sounds my own.” In Liège, we hear them experiment, fine-tune and adjust — until everything clicks into place.
#1
Episode 1: Samuel and Daan meet in a Flagey studio for a first read-through. Samuel plays excerpts; Daan listens and offers feedback—together they refine the score. They talk about their shared path and years-long exchange, but most of all you see how their way of making music together has grown into something personal.
discover more
An upside-down world without demogorgon
past, present and … a parallel world—the three pillars of Daan Janssens’s Violin Concerto
through the lens: Fasten Seat Belts!
Step back into the evening of Fasten Seat Belts! performed on 30 January 2026, captured by photographer Wouter Van Vaerenbergh.
mission: timpani
Gert François, timpanist with Brussels Philharmonic, spent years collaborating with composer Wim Henderickx on the concept for a timpani concerto. After Wim’s sudden passing, this extraordinary work was brought to life posthumously.
Follow Gert François, Diederik Glorieux, and the team behind this concerto in our new video and podcast series.
MISSION: HARP
Eline Groslot, solo harpist of Brussels Philharmonic, is an advocate of her instrument and it's repertoire. When American composer Geoffrey Gordon read her blog, he decided to compose a brand new harp concerto for Eline...
Follow Eline Groslot and composer Geoffrey Gordon in our brand new documentary series.
mission: bass
Brussels Philharmonic bassist, Thomas Fiorini realizes his dream: a bass guitar concerto. Together with visionary composer Robert Groslot, Thomas helps to pave the way for the bass guitar in contemporary classical music.
Watch the documentary about the creation process from score to album recording and world premiere on 22 April at Flagey, Brussels.
