Tsubeden Performing with Lim Yunchan and Seoul Philharmonic on Inaugural Stage: "Will Create a Chameleon-like Orchestra"

Conductor Yap Van Tsubeden to Assume Seoul Philharmonic Music Director Post in January Next Year
Performing Famous Repertoire with Top Artists Including Classical Masters
Introducing Four Major Goals Including Korean Conductor Training and Overseas Tours
Annual Mahler Symphony Performances and Full Recording Project Planned

"Seoul is a city filled not only with music but also with art. In the future, through collaboration with various institutions such as opera, ballet, and music schools, we will present stages that further strengthen Seoul's strengths."

Artistic Director Yap Pan Tsubeden explaining plans after inauguration at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra press conference.
[Photo by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]

Japp van Zweden (63), the world-renowned conductor who will lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra starting next year, revealed his vision and plans for the next five years, including the leap of Seoul as an arts city and various programs, at a press conference held on the morning of the 20th at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

Appointed as music director last September, he performed five times with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, including special performances, before his inauguration in January next year, playing Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 and Brahms' Symphony No. 1. Music Director Zweden said, "A great orchestra is like a chameleon that skillfully performs pieces with various colors," adding, "The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra already qualifies as a world-class orchestra, but the journey of proving excellent performance every week, every hour, every minute will be one we will take together."

He summarized his five-year plan into four points: ▲ collaboration with opera, ballet, educational institutions, and artists ▲ improvement of performance quality ▲ nurturing talented young musicians and conductors ▲ recording albums. He elaborated, "Every year, we plan to participate in an opera production with Seoul's opera house and hold open auditions to select young conductors to stand on stage."

Son Eun-kyung, CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, said, "Starting with Zweden's appointment, we are preparing tours in Asia next year, the United States in 2025, and Europe in 2026," adding, "Also, beginning with the performance and recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 1 in January next year, we plan to record all Mahler symphonies, at least two pieces each year for five years."

Son Eun-kyung, CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, stated, "With the appointment of conductor Tzveden, we are preparing for tours in Asia next year, the United States in 2025, and Europe in 2026." She added, "Starting with the performance and recording of Mahler's Symphony No. 1 at the end of January next year, we plan to record all of Mahler's symphonies over five years, recording at least two symphonies each year."
[Photo by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]

Director Zweden emphasized that overseas tours are important for the orchestra to gain international fame. Previously, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for collaboration with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Regarding the complete recording of Mahler's symphonies, he shared special sentiments, saying, "This piece has grown with me. No. 1 is the most difficult among Mahler's symphonies and is the foundation and basis of Mahler's symphonies, a piece that can showcase the orchestra's capabilities."

He previously received acclaim for recording the complete Bruckner symphonies with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Wagner's 'Ring Cycle' with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. The complete recording of Mahler's symphonies with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will offer the audience a feeling of embarking on a "musical safari."

Zweden will present Mahler's Symphony No. 1 'Titan' at his inaugural concerts as artistic director on January 25-26 at the Seoul Arts Center and Lotte Concert Hall. Pianist Yunchan Lim will join the stage to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 'Emperor' as a soloist. He introduced Lim, saying, "He is already a big star loved in the United States and Europe," and "This young performer will become a great pianist in the future."

Emphasizing collaboration with opera, ballet, music colleges, and young conductors, Director Zweden said, "Premiering works by Korean emerging composers is also very important for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra," adding, "I met Jung Jae-il, the music director of the Netflix drama 'Squid Game,' and asked him to compose a piece for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra." Although Jung initially declined, saying, "I am neither a classical music major nor a professional composer," Zweden persuaded him by saying it did not matter, and explained, "We plan to perform the commissioned work by him in 2025."

Since 2018, Zweden has led the New York Philharmonic and said, "Last year, we performed 19 world premieres at the New York Philharmonic," adding, "I want to premiere various works with diverse Korean composers at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra as well."

The artistic director of the Swedish Ballet emphasized, based on his experience working with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra since last year, that "I have confirmed that the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra possesses competitiveness comparable to any orchestra in the world," and stressed, "It is important that the orchestra delivers the best performance at every concert, not just occasionally."
[Photo by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]

Zweden will stand on the podium seven times out of 36 performances in the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's season next year. Starting with Mahler's Symphony No. 1, he will conduct Mozart's Symphony No. 40, Wagner's 'Die Walk?re' Act 1 concert version, Bruckner's Symphony No. 7, among others.

Based on his experience with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra since last year, he said, "I confirmed that the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra has competitiveness comparable to any orchestra in the world," emphasizing, "It is important that the orchestra does not just occasionally perform well but delivers the best performance every time."

Additionally, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra plans to perform various programs with conductors Kim Eun-sun, Tugan Sokhiev, Vasily Petrenko, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, as well as pianists Son Yeol-eum, Stephen Hough, violinists Christian Tetzlaff, Augustin Hadelich, Ray Chen, Clara Jumi Kang, among others. Before the official inauguration, Zweden will collaborate with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on January 23-24 for Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5, on the 30th for Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5, and next month on the 21-22 for Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 'Choral.'

Zweden, born in the Netherlands, was appointed the youngest concertmaster of the Amsterdam Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra at the age of 19 as a violinist. He began conducting at 36 and has served as chief conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Since 2012, he has concurrently served as music director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and has been the artistic director of the New York Philharmonic since 2018. Gustavo Dudamel is scheduled to succeed him as artistic director of the New York Philharmonic in 2026.

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