Philadelphia Orchestra and Cho Seong-jin to perform in Seoul

The Philadelphia Orchestra is to go on the stage at the Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 10, under the baton of the music director Yannick Nezet-Seguin and featuring pianist Cho Seong-jin.

The highly acclaimed orchestra, which had been led by Eugene Ormandy for some 40 years, is counted in artistic stature among the Big Five orchestras in the US, along with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony and Cleveland Orchestra.

The program for Nov. 10 features Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 1, with Cho on the piano, followed by Dvorak Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” Op. 95, B. 178. 

Legendary Russian pianist Rachmaninoff’s first piano concert is a demanding piece that exhibits romantic virtuosity and intense dramatic flair. Masterpiece “From the New World” is filled with the Czech-born composer’s nostalgia for his home country and his impression of America.

Pianist Cho and conductor Nezet-Seguin have recorded Mozart’s Piano Concerto pieces with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. The album was released last year by Deutsche Grammophon.

“I met Cho when recording Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 two years ago. We understood each other from the start,” the maestro said through a press release.

“We joined hands again at Bravo! Vail festival where the Philadelphia Orchestra spends the summer,” Nezet-Seguin said, referring to the annual classical music festival held in Colorado. “It is a great pleasure to perform in Korea together where Cho’s talents were born and nurtured.”

Nezet-Seguin is a Canadian conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Orchestre Metropolitain in Montreal, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Cho is the winner of the 2015 Chopin International Competition, whose past winners include such world-class pianists as ‎Martha Argerich, ‎Maurizio Pollini and ‎Krystian Zimerman.

The upcoming concert marks the Philadelphia Orchestra’s ninth visit to Korea, with the last visit having taken place two years ago. Tickets cost from 70,000 won to 320,000 won and can be reserved through the Seoul Arts Center website or Interpark Ticket.

On Nov. 9, the orchestra and Cho will perform at the Arts Center Incheon.

By Im Eun-byel (silverstar@heraldcorp.com)