[In Ryu Taehyung's Guest Seat] With Indomitable Will, Once Again, a Melody of Hope... Breathing Life into Hearts Weary from COVID-19

Published 13 Jan.2022 09:32(KST)

World-Renowned Masters and Prestigious Orchestras Visiting Korea
Quenching the Thirst for Performances Blocked by COVID-19

Christian Zimerman Returns to Korea After 3 Years in February
Metropolitan Orchestra's First Performance in June

A Carefully Prepared Classical Stage by the Performance World
Hoping It Won't Vanish Like a Mirage Due to COVID-19

Violinist Clara Jumi Kang.

Everyone around the world shares the frustration of the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the performing arts sector has suffered especially severe damage. Performances that were painstakingly prepared vanished without a trace in an instant, a catastrophic disaster.

Nevertheless, those working in the classical music performance scene are determined to rise again and sing songs of hope. As they diligently prepare their concerts, hopeful and anxious eyes intersect, wishing for the safe execution of these performances. Let’s take a look at the notable ensembles and performers set to appear on stages across Korea this year, categorized by genre.

First, let’s look at orchestras, often considered the pinnacle of classical music performances. From late April to early May, the Orchestre National de Metz from France will tour Seoul, Daejeon, Daegu, and other cities nationwide. David Reiland, who was appointed chief conductor of the Korean Symphony Orchestra this year, will conduct, with violinist Yang In-mo and organist Olivier Vernet as soloists. In May, the Russian National Orchestra, led by the charismatic pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnev, will visit, featuring the highly popular pianist Sunwook Yekwon.

David Ryalland Korean Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director

In June, the Metropolitan Orchestra, conducted by Yannick N?zet-S?guin, will hold its first concert in Korea. Leading performers from the Met Opera, including star mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, will also join the tour.

In July, the New York Philharmonic, led by Jaap van Zweden, who previously delivered a mesmerizing performance with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, will perform in Korea. On July 5 and 6, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rafael Payare, will appear before Korean fans. On the 6th, violinist Hilary Hahn, known for her unwavering balanced performances, will be the soloist.

Also in July, the G?rzenich Orchestra Cologne, led by conductor Fran?ois-Xavier Roth, who has recently made a strong impression on classical fans with bold interpretations, will make its third visit to Korea. The highly popular violinist Clara Jumi Kang will present a grand and elegant performance.

In September, Paavo J?rvi will return to Korea after three years with the Estonian Festival Orchestra, which he founded. They plan to perform works by Sibelius and Tchaikovsky with heartfelt ensemble playing alongside their homeland orchestra.

Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra will visit Korea with conductor Long Yu to commemorate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. On September 28, they will share the stage with Van Cliburn Competition winner Zhang Haochen, and on October 1, with violinist Song Ji-won and soprano Lee Myung-joo.

One of the biggest highlights is the visit of the London Symphony Orchestra and its music director Simon Rattle in October. The Sibelius performance they gave during their 2018 visit was something different ? it felt like the piece was deconstructed and then reassembled. The muted quietness emphasized by Rattle throughout heightened the effect of forte passages like a light shining more clearly after darkness. It was a “silent scream” that demonstrated Rattle’s much greater control over the London Symphony compared to the Berlin Philharmonic. Anticipation is high for Bruckner’s Symphony No. 7, which will recreate the emotional impact of the Symphony No. 9 previously performed by Haitink and the LSO, and for Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody, featuring soloist Cho Seong-jin.

On October 19, the Philharmonia Orchestra, led by Santtu-Matias Rouvali, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Violinist Hilary Hahn will once again be the soloist.

The Linz Bruckner Orchestra, conducted by chief conductor Markus Poschner, will visit Korea on October 26 and 27. Especially notable is the performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 on the first day, a fantastic repertoire rarely seen in Korea.

In November, the Berlin Deutsche Symphony Orchestra will appear on the Seoul stage for the second time in 26 years since 1996. Music director Robin Ticciati will conduct, with pianist Emmanuel Ax as soloist.

Also in November, the European Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Kirill Karabits, will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concertos No. 4 and 3, among others, with soloist Kim Sun-wook.

In December, the prestigious Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra from Germany will visit Korea with Zubin Mehta. The highly popular pianist Cho Seong-jin will also perform with them.

National Orchestra of Strasbourg, France.

The Orchestre National de Strasbourg from France will tour Seoul and three other cities in December.

Next, let’s look at piano performances. In February, Christian Zimmermann will visit Korea for the first time in three years, and Chinese pianist Lang Lang is scheduled to perform. In April, the sensual and charming pianist Khatia Buniatishvili will hold a solo recital. Also in April, 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition winner Alexander Kantorov and in May, 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition winner Dmitry Masleyev will each hold solo recitals. The first visit of Maurizio Pollini in May is expected to attract much attention from fans. Kim Sun-wook’s piano recital and Robert Levin’s solo recital will also take place in May.

In June, Beethoven specialist Rudolf Buchbinder will visit with the Lucerne Festival Strings to perform the complete Beethoven piano concertos. Pianists Jan Lisiecki, familiar from DG recordings, and Chinese piano star Yuja Wang will also brighten June.

In July, Montreal Competition winner Kim Su-yeon will hold a solo recital; in August, Chopin specialist Dang Thai Son will visit; and in September, Paul Lewis, recognized for his authoritative interpretations of Schubert, will perform. October will feature Baek Geon-woo’s Granados Goyescas recital, and November will see Igor Levit’s piano recital, which is highly anticipated. Levit previously gave an impressive collaboration with the Bavarian State Opera Orchestra conducted by Kirill Petrenko, and his first solo recital, originally scheduled for 2020, has been postponed until now. True to his reputation for recording the complete Beethoven piano sonatas, his program will consist solely of Beethoven piano sonatas.

Also in November, the historic first solo recital of Maria Jo?o Pires, revered as a great female pianist, will excite fans. She plans to perform her specialties, Chopin and Schubert.

Eliso Virsaladze, a master who canceled a planned 2021 recital due to health issues, will also visit in November. In December, Eric Lu, winner of the Leeds Competition, will hold a solo recital.

Next, let’s look at violinists’ concerts. In February, violinist Cho Jin-joo and the Apassionato Ensemble, conducted by Mathieu Herzog, will tour Korea. In March, Nicola Benedetti and the Scottish Ensemble will perform Vivaldi concertos and Schoenberg’s Verkl?rte Nacht. Violinist Kim Bom-so-ri, who gained popularity in Europe including Poland after placing second in the Wieniawski Competition, will visit with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra for performances.

In October, you can see the fresh performance of Daniel Lozakovich, who signed the youngest recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon at age 16 in 2016. This will be his first recital since collaborating with the Mariinsky Orchestra in Tongyeong in 2017. In November, the distinctive master Augustin Dumay will perform works by Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Schumann in a solo recital. Isaac Perlman will also perform in November, and in December, violinist Julia Fischer, known as a favorite among concertgoers, will perform Bach’s unaccompanied sonatas and partitas.

Cellist Mischa Maisky, who will perform in May, is a familiar artist to everyone. Additionally, the Vision String Quartet, regarded as a prestigious young string quartet, will make its first visit to Korea in October. In vocal music, soprano Park Hye-sang, who released a DG album in February, will hold a recital, and in May and June, you can see Jonas Kaufmann, currently considered the best tenor. In December, Ian Bostridge and his close collaborator Julius Drake will hold a duo concert. Also, in September, a recital featuring outstanding oboist Fran?ois Leleux and pianist Emmanuel Strosser is highly anticipated.

We sincerely hope that these carefully prepared stages by performance professionals will not vanish like a mirage but will appear before us in reality. This is the hope that classical music lovers place on 2022.