Star violinist Janine Jansen's Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival is celebrating its sixth anniversary. What began six years ago as an experiment is now a permanent part of Utrecht's cultural life. For almost a whole week wonderful chamber music can be heard, played by Janine Jansen and her international musical friends. Janine looks forward to the festival all the rest of the year. 'It's one big rush of adrenaline.'

New Year's Eve is quiet. One day earlier than the rest of us Janine Jansen (30) is already done in, worn out, empty; but at the same time full of all the encounters of the past days. It is now an established tradition that her year ends with the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival that she herself founded. Christmas Day: rehearsals. Then five days of music from early in the morning until deep in the night. Staying in a hotel with all the musicians and their families. From rehearsal to concert and back again. 'It's one big rush of adrenaline. Every year I'm sad when it's over and everyone has gone home. Then I have to wait another year.'

The atmosphere is what counts
Winter is the time for chamber music, in Janine Jansen's view. But most events in this area take place in the summer. So she began her own festival in Vredenburg, in 2003 mainly in the small hall, and since then in many locations, for a large and loyal public. Sometimes musicians and festival visitors walk together from one concert to another. This has become a little more difficult since last year, because a number of concerts are taking place in the concert building Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn, a temporary concert hall especially built for the time being because of the renovation of the internationally acclaimed Vredenburg Music Centre. Janine: 'The red box, I call it. The building is really enormous! It was a bit of a shock when I first saw it. But what counts are the inside and the atmosphere. We musicians have to create that, we proved it last year and I'm confident that we can do it this year again.'

All friends together
Besides, the festival makes a virtue of necessity. The series Hidden Treasures, by young musicians, is taking place in corners you wouldn't normally have easy access to. The St. Eloyen Hospital for instance, formerly the hospice of the Utrecht metalworkers' guild, the Paushuize, and the Maltezerhuis, which is still used by the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem a.k.a the Order of Malta. 'It's understandable if people come to look as well as listen. The concerts take on quite an exclusive character; sometimes there's only room for fifty people. You're sitting right up next to the musicians.'
This is typical of the relaxed character of the Utrecht International Chamber Music Festival. 'There's a sense that we are all friends together. It's free and easy; it doesn't feel all dressed up. The audience doesn't come to admire the musicians but to join with them in creating the atmosphere.

Intense experiences
Janine Jansen works on the festival all year. She doesn't deal in themes. That's not really my thing. Of course I bear in mind whether pieces go together to some extent, but that's all. I'm guided by my feelings. I pick out pieces I'd like to hear myself, and people I'd like to invite. Or else they come to me with a request. All through the year I meet musicians in all sorts of countries and work with them. These are often intense experiences and I want to share them with you here in the Netherlands. So I invite them. The festival has a strongly personal character. That's its strength. As friends we form a very close group.'

Vrouwkje Tuinman