The 'Magical World' Encountered Through Bruckner's Melodies

Austrian Prestigious Ensemble 'Bruckner Orchestra Linz' First Visit to Korea
Principal Conductor Poschner: "We Will Continue to Seek the Truth in Bruckner's Works"

Markus Poschner, Principal Conductor of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz (BOL). Photo by Reinhard Winkler

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "I want to invite Korean audiences to the magical world, a world full of joy and energy in Bruckner's music."

The Bruckner Orchestra Linz (BOL), a prestigious orchestra representing Central Europe, will hold its first concert in Korea.

BOL is an orchestra representing Linz, the third largest city in Austria and the hometown of composer Anton Bruckner (1824?1896). It is the main orchestra of the Bruckner International Festival held annually in September and October. For this Korea visit, Markus Poschner (51), the German-born chief conductor who has led the orchestra since 2017, will take the podium.

At an online press conference on the 19th, Poschner said, "I have heard a lot from my Korean friends, and I am excited and looking forward to this visit."

At this concert in Korea, BOL will perform Bruckner's Symphony No. 5. With a performance time exceeding 80 minutes, Symphony No. 5 is a grand work that is rarely performed live in Korea, drawing great interest from classical music fans.

Pianist Jo Jaehyuk. Photo by In Arts Production

Poschner described Symphony No. 5 as "a piece full of joy, power, and technique," adding, "It is a masterpiece that reflects Bruckner's positive mindset and passion when he composed it."

Although the symphony is a work created with ample time, he said it does not require prior knowledge: "Just close your eyes, open your ears, and you can enjoy exploring another world guided by Bruckner."

At the concert on the 27th at Lotte Concert Hall, BOL will perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1. Pianist Jo Jaehyuk, who will be the soloist, said, "Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 is a piece full of Beethoven's humor," "It is like an opera; the second movement is Beethoven in a blissfully lovely and happy time, and the third movement is a piece full of physical, slapstick-like humor."

Poschner agreed with this assessment, saying, "(I) enjoy collaborating with local musicians and believe it is important to share ideas and cultures together," adding, "Even if the language is different, at the moment of performance, we feel the same heart and the same pulse."

He also elaborated that Beethoven was an interesting person but transformed into a more solemn figure in his later years, then said, "I want to say that Piano Concerto No. 1 is, in a word, his sense of humor."

Poschner stated, "Continuing the effort to find the truth contained in Bruckner's music is my mission," defining, "Bruckner's symphonies, despite being nearly 200 years old, still hold great significance today."

He continued, "I believe every work has a meaning hidden behind the score," and expressed his ambition, "I will continue to strive to find the truth in Bruckner's masterpieces in my own way."

The concerts will be held on the 26th and 27th at Seoul Arts Center and Lotte Concert Hall, respectively.

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