[Herald Interview] Traditional Revolution with aptitude

For the upcoming Traditional Revolution musical pageant, 5 conductors will showcase the distinctive strengths and kinds of their orchestras, together with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, Incheon Philharmonic, Suwon Philharmonic and Gyeonggi Philharmonic.

The pageant, organized by the Lotte Basis for Arts, has shifted its schedule from mid-summer to happen from Saturday to Wednesday this 12 months. In step with this alteration, the pageant’s focus has shifted from particular person composers to highlighting 5 conductors presenting a program of their selecting.

Among the many conductors to be featured on the pageant are Choi Hee-chuhn and Choi Soo-yeoul.

The 2 conductors each have musical households. Choi Hee-chuhn’s older sister is pianist Choi Hee-yeon, now a professor on the Peabody Conservatory within the US, and Choi Soo-yeol’s father is the late composer Choi Dong-sun. As well as, they’re each professors, Choi Hee-chuhn educating conducting at Hanyang College, and Choi Soo-yeol at Yonsei College.

Regardless of these similarities, the 2 conductors have adopted distinctly totally different paths to realize success.

For Choi Hee-chuhn, opera has been a central focus, significantly the grand, multi-hour works. Throughout his tenure as music director of the Nationwide Symphony Orchestra, he performed quite a few operas, with Weber’s “Der Freischutz” being a selected favourite he carried out over 40 occasions.

Having led each the Nationwide Symphony Orchestra and the Jeonju Philharmonic Orchestra, the seasoned conductor now serves because the seventh music director of the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra.

His research is crammed with greater than 300 thick, well-worn full scores, The rating of “Der Freischutz” is wrinkled and worn from his perspiration.

“I would not commerce these scores for something on this planet,” he mentioned throughout an interview final month.

He at all times makes use of a pencil when scribbling on his music sheet.

“Over the course of 20 years as a conductor, a few of my ideas and interpretations have modified. So I at all times use a pencil,” he mentioned.

On Sunday, conductor Choi Hee-chuhn is about to current an all-Beethoven program, beginning with the “Fidelio” overture, adopted by Piano Concerto No. 3 and Symphony No. 2.

Not typically carried out in Korea, Symphony No. 2 gives a maybe unfamiliar glimpse into Beethoven’s dedication to beat adversity. “It’s a piece that can undoubtedly encourage many individuals throughout this time of pandemic when a steadfast perception in hope is extra essential than ever,” Choi mentioned about his choice to introduce Symphony No. 2.

In the meantime, Choi Soo-yeol, who grew up listening to experimental music due to his composer father, focuses on up to date music.

Throughout his time as an affiliate conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, he collaborated with composer Chin Unsuk on the orchestra’s up to date music collection. Final 12 months, he shared the rostrum with a robotic conductor.

His research is crammed with about 1,000 scores. “Up to date music items are quick, so the scores are skinny, and about four-fifths of them are carried out solely as soon as,” he mentioned, confessing, “I discover it tough to take care of focus for greater than an hour.”

Quite a few performances and premiers have developed his foresight for up to date music. “After performing a chunk as soon as, I get a way or a sense of whether or not will probably be carried out once more.”

On Monday, he’ll lead Hankyung Arte Philharmonic to carry out Liszt’s Faust Symphony, a reimagining of Goethe’s “Faust.” Liszt’s Faust Symphony vividly portrays the story’s characters in its three actions and isn’t typically carried out in Korea.

“I take into consideration why this piece has not been carried out continuously. As a result of it’s not good? I completely assume that that’s not the case. It’s a difficult piece as a result of it wants a choir in addition to a soloist and an organ, however it’s well worth the problem,” Choi mentioned. “The 70 minutes might sound quick however I care about how time is perceived, not the bodily time.”