Gyeonggi Philharmonic Anthology Series 'Beethoven Violin Concerto · Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4'

Performances at Gyeonggi Art Center on the 7th and at Seoul Arts Center on the 8th

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra will perform the Anthology Series Special 'Beethoven & Mendelssohn' on the 7th and 8th. On the 7th, the concert will be held at 8 PM at the Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater, and on the 8th, at 5 PM at the Seoul Arts Center (Symphony Festival).

The Gyeonggi Philharmonic will perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto and Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 'Italian'.

Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 4 'Italian' is a work that Mendelssohn began composing in 1831 at the age of 21 while staying in Rome, Italy, and completed in 1833 in Berlin. It captures the bright and lively impressions from his travels in Italy, including Venice, Florence, and Rome. The radiant sun, blue sea, and fresh breeze of Italy are vividly felt. It is one of the most beloved pieces among Mendelssohn's symphonies. It became even more famous after being featured in the Japanese drama 'Nodame Cantabile.' At its premiere, British media praised it as "a brilliant work full of inspiration." Listening to the introduction of the first movement, which starts immediately with fast and brilliant music without a slow introduction, and the fourth movement with the swirling rhythm of the 13th-century Italian dance 'Saltarello,' naturally evokes the bright Italian sun. The conductor for this performance, Massimo Zanetti, is also originally from Italy.

In the first part of the concert, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, Beethoven's Violin Concerto will be performed in collaboration with violinist Choi Yae-eun. Choi Yae-eun previously collaborated with the Gyeonggi Philharmonic in 2018 under the baton of Jaap van Zweden, music director of the New York Philharmonic, and will perform again under the direction of Massimo Zanetti. Beethoven's 'Violin Concerto in D major,' which Choi will perform, is Beethoven's only solo concerto for a string instrument. Completed in 1806, it is a masterpiece that holds the top position in the lineage of 19th-century violin concertos, including those by Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, and Sibelius. With its flawless structure, symphonic grandeur, and sculptural beauty, it is regarded by violinists as "the last violin concerto to be performed." The first movement's cadenza, which Beethoven left unwritten, allows performers to showcase their musicality and individuality.

Choi Yae-eun has received continuous support from the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation since her childhood solo recital at the Kumho Young Artist Concert. In 2005, she was selected as a scholarship student of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation and moved to Munich, Germany, to study. In 2007, she was chosen as a 'Rising Star' by the League of American Orchestras, and in 2013, she received the European Cultural Foundation Newcomer Award. She has performed with the New York Philharmonic conducted by Alan Gilbert in 2009, and has shared the stage with world-renowned conductors such as Andr? Previn and Vladimir Ashkenazy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.