Legends convene: Esa-Pekka Salonen, Krystian Zimerman, New York Philharmonic return to Seoul
NY Phil in Seoul after 11 years and Zimerman at the Arts Center after 22 years
After 11 years, the New York Philharmonic returns to Seoul. And after 22 years, pianist Krystian Zimerman finally steps back onto the stage of the Seoul Arts Center. These two long-awaited returns will be joined by Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, making for one of the most anticipated events in Korea's classical music calendar this year.
From June 26 to 28, audiences will witness performances that span from Beethoven's transcendence to Berlioz's hallucinatory vision, as these musical giants gather for a rare collaboration.
Founded in 1842 and shaped by towering figures like Mahler and Bernstein, the New York Philharmonic now enters a new era under incoming music director Gustavo Dudamel, set to take the helm in 2026. In the meantime, the ensemble is led on this tour by Finnish conductor-composer Salonen, renowned for his architectural precision and intellectual clarity.
The orchestra is not only a familiar name among classical music fans, but also a symbol of cultural diplomacy, having made international headlines in 2008 with its historic performance in Pyongyang, North Korea.
Adding to the rarity is the return of Zimerman, widely regarded as one of the greatest living pianists. Known for his perfectionism, Zimerman last performed at the Seoul Arts Center in 2003 in his Korea debut recital and since then has limited his Seoul appearances to Lotte Concert Hall.
His reunion with the New York Philharmonic, nearly 30 years after their last collaboration in 1996, is all the more symbolic given Zimerman's 2009 protest against US military policy, after which he vowed not to perform in the US -- a pledge he has upheld.
The June 27 program opens with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, featuring Zimerman at the keyboard, followed by Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica.' The following evening shifts toward the French Impressionists and Romantics, as Salonen leads the orchestra through Ravel's "Mother Goose" suite, Debussy's 'La Mer' and Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique.'
Art Center Incheon will host the same Beethoven program on June 26.
Tickets range from 100,000 won ($72.55) to 530,000 won for June 27 and from 90,000 to 480,000 won for June 26 and 28.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
NY Phil's return to Korea brings long-awaited reunions
NY Phil reunites with Zimerman after 30 years and with Korean audiences after 11 years; Zimerman reunites with Salonen after seven years The names New York Philharmonic, conductor-composer Esa-Pekka Salonen and celebrated pianist Krystian Zimerman alone are enough to capture the attention of classical music lovers. But look more closely, and this week's performances reveal something deeper: a series of long-awaited reunions between artists, between orchestra and soloist, and between the ensemble and its Korean audience. From Thursday to Saturday, the New York Philharmonic will take the stage before Korean audiences for the first time in 11 years. Kim Yong-kwan, CEO of Mast Media and the concert series organizer, recalled during a press conference on Wednesday that when considering a potential collaborator for the New York Philharmonic, Zimerman came to mind immediately. In 2009, Zimerman vowed not to perform in the US in protest against American military policies — a pledge he continues to keep. When Kim approached the orchestra about the possibility of working with Zimerman, who last performed with them nearly 30 years ago, their response was one of disbelief: 'too good to be true.' When Kim reached out to Zimerman, the pianist showed immediate interest. Upon learning that Finnish maestro Esa-Pekka Salonen, also a composer and one of the most respected figures in contemporary classical music, would be performing, Zimerman readily agreed. It so happens that the last time Salonen and Zimerman, who have known each other for 40 years, last performed together was in Seoul in 2018, when the Polish pianist performed Bernstein's Symphony No. 2 'The Age of Anxiety ' with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Salonen said Zimerman is an unusual artist who plays a very narrow repertoire in a season. 'He does a huge amount of research. He wants to know not only inside out but also back to front. He wants to know every dimension of the material and refines his interpretation to a point where it almost doesn't feel like an implementation,' Salonen said of Zimerman. On Thursday at Art Center Incheon and Friday at the Seoul Arts Center, the performance opens with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, featuring Zimerman, followed by Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat, Op. 55 'Eroica.' On Saturday at the Seoul Arts Center, the program shifts to French Impressionists and Romantics, as Salonen leads the orchestra through Ravel's "Mother Goose" Suite, Debussy's 'La Mer' and Berlioz's 'Symphonie Fantastique.' It is a program that combines some of his favorite compositions, pieces that he has been performing a lot lately, the conductor explained. "Mother Goose" Suite is "disturbingly beautiful and there's not one note that is not perfect and there are no superfluous notes," he explained. Born in Finland in 1958, Salonen is the music director of the San Francisco Symphony and holds the title of conductor laureate with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London's Philharmonia Orchestra and the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. He is among a generation of notable Finnish conductors, including familiar names to Korean audiences such as Osmo Vanska, former music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and Pietari Inkinen, former chief conductor of the KBS Symphony Orchestra. When asked about the possible reason for this phenomenon, he pointed to Finland's strong music education system, in place since the 1970s and 1980s, which has helped nurture musicians in a country with a population of just over 5 million. New York Philharmonic President and CEO Matias Tarnopolsky shared his vision for the orchestra's future, describing it as being at an 'extraordinary moment' — with a new generation of musicians and a newly renovated concert hall at Lincoln Center, David Geffen Hall, which reopened in 2022. 'Most significant of all,' Tarnopolsky added, 'is the beginning of Gustavo Dudamel's tenure as music and artistic director in September 2026. So we have these incredible ingredients that we are very, very excited to combine into the most extraordinary artistic vision.' Founded in 1842 and shaped by towering figures like Mahler and Bernstein, the orchestra now enters a new era under incoming music director Dudamel. Dudamel previously succeeded Salonen as music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2009.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Korea Herald
Busan Concert Hall opens with finest talent, advanced infrastructure
Opening festival led by Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun showcases Busan's potential as a classical music hub BUSAN — After Maestro Chung Myung-whun concluded Sunday evening's concert at the new Busan Concert Hall, he traced a circle in the air with his finger before gently tapping his heart — a gesture that seemed to acknowledge not only the musicians on stage but also the audience, who responded with a standing ovation. It was a moment of gratitude and recognition, shared by all present at a historic milestone in Busan's classical music journey. The city's long-awaited concert hall finally opened its doors last weekend. Chung, who serves as the artistic director of Classic Busan, a municipal office of Busan Metropolitan City responsible for operating the Busan Concert Hall and the Busan Opera House, which is set to debut in 2027, took the podium three times over the weekend. Friday's performance was an invitation-only concert, attended by government officials and various dignitaries, many of whom were not seasoned classical music listeners, as evidenced by applause between movements. The program, featuring Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56 and Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" was repeated Saturday afternoon. This time, classical music enthusiasts from Busan — Chung's hometown —filled the seats, and the atmosphere was entirely different: charged, attentive and emotionally resonant. On Sunday evening, Chung, who is also set to lead the prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Milan from 2027, conducted Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major "Emperor" with celebrated pianist Cho Seong-jin at the keyboard and Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 "Organ." For all three performances, the 72-year-old towering figure of Korean classical music performed works he had fully internalized, entirely from memory — except the Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, for which he both conducted and played the piano. Pipe organ, a rare instrument The weekend also marked the public debut of the concert hall's pipe organ — a rarity outside the Seoul metropolitan area. Crafted by Germany's Freiburger Orgelbau, the instrument features 4,423 pipes and 64 stops, capable of producing a range of tonal colors. Renowned pianist and organist Cho Jae-hyuck opened Sunday's concert with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, showcasing the full dynamic range and architectural resonance of the new instrument. Returning for the second half of the performance on Sunday, Cho and the APO presented Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 "Organ." 'This organ is large in scale and divided into multiple divisions, allowing it to accommodate a wide range of genres and performance contexts. Depending on how it's combined, it can produce majestic or harmoniously blended sounds, like a palette filled with a rich variety of colors. Each element isn't just optional; rather, every part serves a specific purpose with clear intent. Being able to perform using all of these thoughtfully designed components is incredibly rewarding,' Cho said during an interview over the weekend. 'I hope that Busan citizens will discover the unique charm of each stop (each referring to a particular set of pipes that produces a distinct sound) one by one,' Cho added. Top Asian musicians gather in Busan The Asia Philhamornic Orchestra comprises top-tier musicians from Korea, China and Japan — or those who have a strong connection with Korea. It has alternated between periods of activity and hiatus since its founding in 1997. Reconvening under Chung's direction for the opening of the Busan Concert Hall, the APO was responsible for showing the concert hall's full potential. The concertmaster was Park Ji-yoon, who also holds the distinction of being the first Asian and first woman to serve as concertmaster of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Other Korean musicians at the world's top orchestras also returned to perform on home soil, including Kim Han, principal clarinetist of the Paris National Opera, and Park Kyoung-min, violist with the Berlin Philharmonic. The orchestra also included musicians from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and Alexander Baty, principal trumpet of the Munich Philharmonic. 'When we come together under Maestro Chung, the music flows more naturally because we understand his conducting so deeply," Park said in an interview ahead of Saturday's concert. The 2,011-seat Busan Concert Hall, located inside Busan Citizens Park, features a vineyard-style seating that wraps around the stage, offering visual intimacy and optimal acoustic distribution. A sound cloud suspended above the audience adjusts audio direction to ensure even acoustics throughout the hall. The concert hall also includes a 400-seat chamber hall. Choi Jin, Korea's top tonmeister, said that a new concert hall typically takes some time to settle acoustically, but 'The venue is remarkably well-settled for such an early stage of its opening.' Sunwoo Ye-kwon, the first Korean winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017, expressed his excitement for Busan's new addition. 'Musicians are grateful for this new venue for classical music," he said. On Monday, the celebrated pianist was set to take the stage with members of the APO to present "Beethoven and Romanticism," further showcasing the potential of the chamber hall. On Wednesday, Chung will again take the stage as a pianist at the chamber hall to present a selection of masterpieces of Viennese classical chamber music alongside APO members. The opening festival continues until Saturday, when a concert opera of Beethoven's 'Fidelio' will wrap up the festival.
Korea Herald
19-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Legends convene: Esa-Pekka Salonen, Krystian Zimerman, New York Philharmonic return to Seoul
NY Phil in Seoul after 11 years and Zimerman at the Arts Center after 22 years After 11 years, the New York Philharmonic returns to Seoul. And after 22 years, pianist Krystian Zimerman finally steps back onto the stage of the Seoul Arts Center. These two long-awaited returns will be joined by Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, making for one of the most anticipated events in Korea's classical music calendar this year. From June 26 to 28, audiences will witness performances that span from Beethoven's transcendence to Berlioz's hallucinatory vision, as these musical giants gather for a rare collaboration. Founded in 1842 and shaped by towering figures like Mahler and Bernstein, the New York Philharmonic now enters a new era under incoming music director Gustavo Dudamel, set to take the helm in 2026. In the meantime, the ensemble is led on this tour by Finnish conductor-composer Salonen, renowned for his architectural precision and intellectual clarity. The orchestra is not only a familiar name among classical music fans, but also a symbol of cultural diplomacy, having made international headlines in 2008 with its historic performance in Pyongyang, North Korea. Adding to the rarity is the return of Zimerman, widely regarded as one of the greatest living pianists. Known for his perfectionism, Zimerman last performed at the Seoul Arts Center in 2003 in his Korea debut recital and since then has limited his Seoul appearances to Lotte Concert Hall. His reunion with the New York Philharmonic, nearly 30 years after their last collaboration in 1996, is all the more symbolic given Zimerman's 2009 protest against US military policy, after which he vowed not to perform in the US -- a pledge he has upheld. The June 27 program opens with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, featuring Zimerman at the keyboard, followed by Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, 'Eroica.' The following evening shifts toward the French Impressionists and Romantics, as Salonen leads the orchestra through Ravel's "Mother Goose" suite, Debussy's 'La Mer' and Berlioz's 'Symphonie fantastique.' Art Center Incheon will host the same Beethoven program on June 26. Tickets range from 100,000 won ($72.55) to 530,000 won for June 27 and from 90,000 to 480,000 won for June 26 and 28.
