Fall season promises top-notch classical music lineup

Following the unforgettable performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic -- under the reign of Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel and conductor Ivan Fischer -- and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s four-day homage to Beethoven in the spring, the next lineup of classical music performances this coming fall has much to live up to.

Below are some of the most anticipated performances over the coming months.

Kim Sun-wook and Isang Enders on Beethoven

Closing out the month of August is a two-day tribute to the works of Beethoven in Kim Sun-wook and Isang Enders’ upcoming duo concert performances.

The 27-year-old London-based Korean pianist Kim first hit the international spotlight after winning the prestigious Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006 at the age of 18, becoming the competition’s first Asian winner and youngest winner in more than four decades.

Up-and-coming Korean-German cellist Enders has had an illustrious musical background, studying under the tutelage of such renewed musicians as Seiji Ozawa, Truls Mork and Janos Starker. The artist has performed as a soloist alongside countless orchestras all across Europe, including the Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra and the Staatskapelle Dresden.

The two artists will hold a performance for two days with a repertoire lineup entirely dedicated to Beethoven. Both concerts will be held in the IBK Chamber Hall at the Seoul Arts Center on Aug. 29 and 30, with ticket prices listed from 20,000 won ($17) to 60,000 won.

Mischa Maisky and daughter

Kicking off the month of September will be Latvian-born Israeli cellist Mischa Maisky, who will be taking the stage next month with his cello performance -- alongside his daughter Lily Maisky, who will join him on the piano.

The cello prodigy made his professional debut at the tender age of 17 with the Leningrad Philharmonic, earning him the nickname, “Rostropovich of the Future.” However, despite his talents putting him on an upward trajectory -- winning the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow a year after his debut with Leningrad -- the Latvian-native ended up in a Soviet labor camp for more than a year in 1970.

After emigrating to Israel, Maisky went on to debut at New York’s Carnegie Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Bringing life to classical and contemporary pieces from Bach to Shostakovich to Piazzolla, the cellist will perform at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Sept. 2. Ticket prices range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won.

Sabine Meyer Trio

German clarinetist Sabine Meyer, along with fellow clarinetist and basset horn player Reiner Wehle and accompanying pianist Kalle Randalu, will be holding a special woodwind-based performance at the LG Arts Center in Seoul this September.

Meyer, who will cover both preclassical and avant-garde, is an the established clarinetist having performed in more than 80 professional orchestras in Germany alone and has also made her mark in the international music community. She has performed with some of the classical music world’s most respected ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the London, Vienna and Berlin philharmonic orchestras.

The Sabine Meyer Trio will be performing on Sept. 22 with ticket prices listed from 40,000 won to 90,000 won.

Viktoria Mullova & the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor Juanjo Mena will lead the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra along with soloist Viktoria Mullova to ring in the fall season with their arrangements of Britten’s Simple Symphony, Sibelius’ Violin Concerto and Schubert’s Symphony No. 9.

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation and is currently led by its chief conductor Mena, who is one of Spain’s most highly regarded maestros.

No stranger in the realm of classical violin, the Moscow-native Mullova is widely regarded in the international community for both her interpretations of Baroque and more experimental genres, including jazz and contemporary pop musical.

Viktoria Mullova and BBC Philharmonic Orchestra will perform on Oct. 21 at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall for one night only. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 250,000 won.

Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

With maestro Andres Orozco-Estrada at its helm, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra will be making its way to Seoul this November.

Regarded as one of the best European orchestras today, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra is Germany’s third oldest orchestra and has made a name for its arrangements of all classical styles -- from Baroque to contemporary avant-garde.

The orchestra’s upcoming program will feature Glinka’s “Ruslan and Lyudmila” overture, Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 “Titan.” The ensemble will also be accompanied by local pianist Kim He-jin.

The Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra will be performing at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Nov. 21. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 230,000 won.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)