Gyeonggi Philharmonic to Perform Strauss' 'Alpine Symphony' on 27-28... Conducted by Choi Su-yeol

100th Anniversary of Ligeti's Birth Commemorated with 'Atmosph?res' Performance
Pianist Son Minsu Collaborates on 'Paganini Variations'

The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra announced on the 9th that it will perform 'Gyeonggi Phil Masterpiece Series VII - Strauss Alpine Symphony' conducted by Choi Soo-yeol on the 27th and 28th at the Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater and Lotte Concert Hall.

Conductor Choi Suyeol ⓒ Park Jaehyung [Photo by Gyeonggi Arts Center]

Choi Soo-yeol, artistic director of the Busan Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra and principal guest conductor of the Korean Chamber Orchestra, will present Richard Strauss's Alpine Symphony together with the Gyeonggi Phil.

The Alpine Symphony is a work composed based on Strauss's childhood experience living in Garmisch in the Alps. It captures 22 scenes of the Alpine mountain range from dawn to dusk.

It is a large-scale ensemble featuring over 100 performers, including 20 horns, 6 trumpets, 6 trombones, glockenspiel, celesta, organ, and more. Various special instruments such as the wind machine that creates the sound of wind, thunder sheet that expresses thunder, and cowbells are employed to vividly reproduce the sounds of nature.

In the first part, the audience will be greeted by Ligeti's 'Atmosph?res,' performed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Hungarian composer Gy?rgy Ligeti's birth.

'Atmosph?res,' meaning atmosphere, creates a sensation as if countless stars are floating in outer space. The piece is characterized by densely overlapping individual melodies to form a massive sound layer, a single sound mass. The performance on the 28th at Lotte Concert Hall coincides with the composer's birthday.

Following this, pianist Son Min-su will perform Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' as a soloist. Son Min-su is also known as the teacher of Lim Yoon-chan, the youngest-ever winner of the 16th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition last year.

Pianist Son Minsu ⓒJino Park [Photo provided by Gyeonggi Arts Center]

This piece, newly arranged by Rachmaninoff using Paganini's 'Caprice' theme, is filled with dazzling colors, devilish technique, and sparkling wit more than his other works. Although beloved for its complex technique and rich orchestral colors, it is notorious as a difficult piece for performers. Pianist Son Min-su, who delivers both intensity and elegance, is highly anticipated for his performance.

Conductor Choi Soo-yeol explained, "The Alpine Symphony is a symphonic poem genre piece performed continuously without pause, and in terms of 'one flow,' it is related to Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.'"

He added, "Placing the Alpine Symphony, which showcases the sounds of nature, in the latter half, and Ligeti's Atmosph?res, which allows one to feel the sounds of the universe, in the first half will create an interesting structure. Also, the concise and resolute beginning of the rhapsody after the ambiguous and tumultuous sound mass can provide the audience with a musical contrast experience."

The performances will be held at 5 p.m. on the 27th at the Gyeonggi Arts Center Grand Theater and at 5 p.m. on the 28th at Lotte Concert Hall.

Gyeonggi Philharmonic Strauss Poster. [Photo by Gyeonggi Art Center]

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