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Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
La Scala's Ortombina on maestro Chung Myung-whun, Verdi and opera's future
BUSAN -- During the opening weekend of Busan's much-anticipated new concert hall, conductor Chung Myung-whun -- artistic director of Classic Busan, the municipal office overseeing the Busan Concert Hall and the upcoming Busan Opera House -- led a series of inaugural concerts that signaled a new chapter in the city's cultural ambitions. Among those in attendance was Fortunato Ortombina, artistic director of Milan's Teatro alla Scala, one of the world's most storied opera houses. Ortombina, who has worked closely with Maestro Chung over two decades, shared personal reflections and outlined a vision for deepening ties between Busan and La Scala. In an interview with Korean media on Saturday, Ortombina recalled his first glimpse of Chung in 1992. At the time, Ortombina was a student and tour guide in the city of Verdi's birth. A group of American tourists offered him a ticket to La Scala for a performance of "Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk" by Shostakovich, conducted by Chung. "I sat just five meters away," Ortombina remembered. Their first formal meeting came in 2003 at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, when Chung led the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia at the theater's reopening after a devastating fire. From 2003 to 2007, the two worked together at La Scala, where Ortombina served as head of artistic planning. Later, as artistic director of La Fenice for 17 years, Ortombina invited Chung to conduct nearly every year. "He is the conductor I've worked with the most in my life," he noted. Ortombina also highlighted Maestro Chung's enduring relationship with La Scala. Since his debut in 1989, Chung has led more than 180 performances with the Filarmonica della Scala, interpreting a wide range of operatic works — from Shostakovich and Strauss to Mozart and Puccini, with Verdi at the core. 'Verdi is Italy's most important composer,' said Ortombina. 'And although Maestro Chung was born in Busan, his musical sensibility is profoundly Italian.' Chung's deep understanding of Verdi, and his ability to convey emotional truth and narrative clarity, were central to his appointment as the music director of La Scala, Ortombina explained. The decision was made unanimously by the board and the city of Milan, he said. "When I had to choose a new music director, I asked who had the strongest connection with the orchestra and the capacity to shape a long-term project. That person was Maestro Chung," Ortombina said. "Talent is a miracle. Verdi probably didn't even know Korea existed, but his music found fertile ground here." As part of a growing partnership, the Filarmonica della Scala will perform at the Busan Concert Hall in September. Ortombina's three-day trip to Korea includes talks on further collaboration and a site tour of the Busan Opera House, set to open in 2027. With over 20 years of experience leading major opera institutions, Ortombina underscored the importance of public engagement. 'My dream is that five years from now, no one in Milan can say they've never been to La Scala. This is not only an artistic project; it's a social one.' He pointed to initiatives like youth education programs, school tours of opera workshops, and simplified opera adaptations for children. "Opera should be part of humanistic education," he said. "Just like we study Caravaggio or read Thomas Mann, we should experience Verdi." Describing La Scala as "the second home of every Milanese, which was rebuilt even before schools and hospitals after World War II," Ortombina said that "A theater should belong to its city. If Busan's citizens feel ownership of their new opera house, that will be the true success." Speaking about Busan's new opera house, Ortombina reaffirmed his belief in opera's enduring relevance. 'It's not about whether an opera is old. It's about how it speaks to us today. That's what Maestro Chung excels at -- bringing timeless music close to the heart.' On Saturday, Maestro Chung took the stage with the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra -- which he founded in 1997 -- conducting and performing as pianist in Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, alongside cellist Jian Wang and violinist Sayaka Shoji. The program culminated in a stirring performance of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, 'Choral.' Comprising top-tier musicians from Korea, China and Japan, the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra has alternated between periods of activity and hiatus since its founding. It reconvened under Chung's direction for the opening of the Busan Concert Hall. Reflecting on the evening, Ortombina said, 'I was glad to be part of the historic performance at the Busan Concert Hall. Reflecting on the meaning of the music and the work made it all the more moving. The acoustics were satisfying, and the performance was fantastic!'
Korea Herald
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Busan sets eyes on becoming Asia's classical music hub with new concert hall
Korea's second-largest city has brand new concert hall and maestro Chung Myung-whun BUSAN - Soon, Busan will be known for more than just films -- it's on track to become a major hub of classical music with the opening of a world-class concert hall in June and an opera house set to debut in 2027. Busan, Korea's second-largest city with a population of 3.28 million, on Monday unveiled its artistic vision and plans for Busan Concert Hall opening festival set to take place June 20-28 and more. After performing Brahms' Intermezzo Op.117, Chung Myung-whun, the artistic director of Classic Busan, a municipal office of Busan Metropolitan City responsible for operating Busan Concert Hall and Busan Opera House, said that he was very satisfied with the sound quality of the concert hall. 'Later, when the hall is packed with audience members, the sound will change, and we'll have to wait and see how it truly unfolds. However, the most important thing for a performer is the feeling of the hall while playing -- the atmosphere, the overall sensation. Based on our judgment, it turned out very well,' Chung told reporters during a press conference on Monday. With its 2,011-seat hall, Busan hopes Busan Concert Hall will become the much-needed solution to the city's shortage of performance venues. Busan has only one-third the number of performance venues compared to Seoul and half the national average, while the utilization rate of these venues is twice the national average. "There was an assessment that Busan's classical music base was weak, but it has grown significantly. By promoting new programs in the new concert hall, it can become a classical hub that encompasses Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province," Busan Mayor Park Hyeong-jun said. "Busan has often been excluded when orchestras go on nationwide tours, but this is expected to lead to an overall expansion of the market. Orchestras on tour tend to choose venues based on factors such as the size of the theater and the atmosphere of the region. Given its convenient location for traveling to China and Japan, I believe this is an advantage," Park Min-jeong, CEO of Classic Busan, noted. Maestro Chung has a bigger vision for Busan, however. 'Looking at the artistic vision for Busan, my dream is for this city to become a truly special musical star in Asia, a meeting point for music in Asia,' Chung noted. "Korea started as a poor country and has grown into a prosperous one. Now, it's time to become a great nation -- one that helps others. To become a great nation, wealth alone is not enough. As culture and the arts flourish, people find greater ease, fostering a spirit of sharing and deeper connection with others,' Chung told reporters during a press conference held at Busan Concert Hall in Busan on Monday. The opening concert will focus on a composer who redefined the history of classical music and who Chung has turned to at important moments -- Beethoven. The opening festival will kick off June 20 with Beethoven's 'Triple Concerto' and Symphony No. 9 'Choral,' on June 20, featuring violinist Sayaka Shoji, cellist Jian Wang, and the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra. The APO is a project orchestra formed for the opening of Busan Concert Hall and comprises Asian musicians who are members of internationally acclaimed orchestras. The festival will continue with a piano recital by Cho Seong-jin on June 22, chamber music performances by Sunwoo Ye-kwon on June 23 and Chung Myung-whun on June 25, featuring solo piano works and diverse ensemble formations, such as piano trios and quintets. Cho Seong-jin will focus on piano sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms, while Sunwoo and Chung will perform chamber music pieces with members of APO. On June 24, organist Cho Jae-hyuck will give an organ recital featuring Beethoven Symphony No. 5 and Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition,' showcasing the instrument's rich tonal depth. Busan Concert Hall is equipped with a pipe organ manufactured by the German company Freiburger, featuring 4,406 pipes and 62 stops. The festival will conclude with a concert opera production of 'Fidelio,' Beethoven's only opera, on June 27 and 28. The cast includes world-renowned tenor Eric Cutler, soprano Hratchuhi Bassenz and bass Wilhelm Schwinghammer, alongside Korean baritone Son Ji-hoon, the Busan City Choir and the National Choir. Busan Concert Hall, located within Busan Citizens Park, stands on a site steeped in 100 years of modern history. Originally used as a Japanese military training ground and later as a US military camp, the land was eventually returned to Busan after years of civic activism. The venue is expected to form a new cultural cluster alongside the nearby National Busan Gugak Center and Busan Opera House, which is set to open in 2027.
