DISCOVER OUR ORCHESTRA’S FAVOURITE SUMMER TUNES!
Head to our website or app for weekly summer picks from our musicians and staff. From our flutist to our communications staff member – get a glimpse into their personal favourites.
New selections every Friday, from mid-July to the end of August!
Summer Sounds #1 · Jill Jeschek
solo piccolo at Brussels Philharmonic
I'm Jill, solo piccolo of the Brussels Philharmonic since 2017. Playing the smallest instrument yet rising above the orchestra is a challenge that I absolutely love. From fierce, military fragments in a Shostakovich (sorry dear colleagues sitting next to me!) to melancholic melodies by Bartók, or playful bits in Rossini, there's a whole world of emotion packed into that little piccolo.
And its size is just perfect to take it on my hiking trips. I already played Vivaldi in the mountains of Corsica!
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playlist: Jill's favourite summer tunes
I play…
All kinds of flutes! In the classical flute family, I play the standard flute, the piccolo, and the alto flute—and on rare occasions, the bass flute, which is always a lot of fun.
A big interest of mine is traditional music and flutes from other countries such as the Bulgarian Kaval and the Romanian/Moldavian caval (traditional flutes). I would also love to learn the fluier, which is like the piccolo of Romanian traditional music.
I listen to...
Well, you probably guessed it: I am into traditional music from other countries, especially the Balkan area. In classical music, I love the impressionist period with Ravel and Debussy - we flutists are lucky to have so many beautiful pieces and solos in the orchestra repertoire of impressionism. As a piccolo player, I adore playing symphonies by Shostakovich and Mahler. And lastly, growing up in Leipzig makes the music of Bach feel like home to me.
One genre I’m currently discovering is jazz. I’m really excited about improvisation!
your ideal summer tunes?
For me, summer is travel time - my playlist will invite you on a trip to Eastern Europe, with music from Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, and more. Their music always gives me so much energy and reminds me of the Eastern European festivities and hospitality, and the kind people I met there.
any guilty pleasures?
I am a big fan of film music, especially John Williams. Playing the soundtrack of Star Wars or E.T. can be really moving. It gives me goosebumps every time!
summer plans?
No summer without hiking! This year we will go to the Austrian Alps and it'll be my daughter's first time in the mountains. I’m so looking forward to it. Maybe she will take her first steps there, between the goats and cows?
Afterwards, we will spend some time in Italy to visit the family of my colleague Justine, who plays in the violin section. Good food, Italian village festivities and Aperol Spritz, what more do you want?
