[On Stage] "Rockstar Pianist · Passion of Young Audience... Admired Korea"

Interview with Antonio Pappano, Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra
"Cho Seongjin, like a rockstar... 1 hour 30 minutes autograph session was impressive"
"Collaborated with Chinese pianist Yuja Wang... a musician I respect"

The pianist who resembled a rockstar and the passionate young audience. Sir Antonio Pappano, the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, mentioned these reasons when he described his first visit to Korea in 2018 as a very special experience. In a written interview with Asia Economy ahead of his second visit, he candidly admitted that he envied Korea, especially after seeing young audiences that are rarely found in European classical concert halls.

Sir Pappano officially took office as the principal conductor of the London Symphony for the 2024?2025 season and is embarking on his first Asia tour. He will visit Korea next month and perform four concerts. The performances will be held on the 1st at the Sejong Center Grand Theater, on the 3rd at Lotte Concert Hall, on the 4th at Namhansanseong Art Hall in Gyeonggi Gwangju, and on the 5th at Daejeon Arts Center. The program includes Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 "Titan," Saint-Sa?ns’ Symphony No. 3 "Organ," and concertos such as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Chinese pianist Yuja Wang will be the soloist.

Sir Pappano first visited Korea in November 2018, leading the Santa Cecilia Orchestra. The pianist he described as a rockstar at that time was Cho Seong-jin. They performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 together.

"What I especially remember is the CD signing event with Cho Seong-jin. He was treated like a rockstar, and the signing event lasted for a full hour and a half. It was an unbelievable experience."

Antonio Pappano, Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, UK
Photo by Vincero, (c) EMI Classics

Cho Seong-jin rose to global fame as a pianist after winning the world’s most prestigious Chopin Piano Competition in 2015. Following Cho, in 2022, Lim Yun-chan, at the age of 18, became the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Competition, gaining worldwide attention as a Korean pianist.

In July, Sir Pappano performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" with Lim Yun-chan at the Verbier Festival.

"Lim Yun-chan is also a musician with truly remarkable talent. I plan to continue collaborating with him. I am also very much looking forward to having the opportunity to perform again with Cho Seong-jin. It is truly moving to see these young artists deeply understand Western music at such a young age?not just technically but emotionally as well. Having performed directly with them, I can say this with confidence."

Sir Pappano said that the most impressive scene from his visit six years ago was the young audience filling the classical concert halls. He explained that it is difficult to see young audiences on European stages, so the youthful enthusiasm he felt in Korean concert halls was beyond words.

"It was truly special. Above all, the concert halls filled with young audiences were impressive. People often think that classical concert halls have more elderly attendees with white hair, but when I visited Korea, I did not get that impression at all. The energy from young audiences is distinctly different, and performers immediately feel that energy. In Europe, we are making many efforts to attract the enthusiasm of young audiences like in Korea. Honestly, I envy Korea a lot. When Korean musicians perform with the London Symphony, young Koreans living in London give tremendous support and encouragement. They come to cheer for the artists as if they were attending a soccer match, which is truly fantastic. They are exactly the kind of audience we all dream of."

Yuja Wang, who will be performing as a soloist, is famous for emphasizing spontaneous emotion in her performances. She says that all music is a living entity and is reborn anew at every moment through spontaneous emotion. In her solo recitals in Korea in 2022 and last year, she did not disclose the program in advance, hoping the audience would feel the spontaneous inspiration. Sir Pappano himself admits to being a perfectionist. He said he might be known as a conductor "who focuses on details and pursues perfection to the point of impossibility." It was intriguing to wonder how Yuja Wang’s spontaneity and Pappano’s perfectionism would harmonize in the performance. Sir Pappano explained that he and Yuja Wang have already performed together frequently.

"I do not think Yuja Wang’s spontaneity and freedom conflict with the perfection I pursue. When she takes the stage as a performer, my ears are completely open to the signals she sends and communicates to the audience and to me. I simply follow that moment. As a member who creates the stage together, I must always be ready to respond to each moment and be prepared to accept anything. That is the role of a conductor like me."

Pianist Yuja Wang [Photo provided by Vincero, (c) Julia Wesely]

Sir Pappano further described Yuja Wang as a musician he respects.

"Yuja Wang is very curious and tries various repertoires. I respect her a lot for never choosing the safe path and constantly challenging herself. She is well known for her glamorous outfits and shoes. But she is a pianist who should not be judged by her external appearance alone. She is dedicated to music and prepares thoroughly. She is also a musician with very rich emotions. She is one of the few pianists who combine innate musical talent with outstanding technique. She is a performer with a very special aura and individuality."

Sir Pappano said he especially likes Saint-Sa?ns’ Symphony No. 3 "Organ," which will be performed this time. As the title suggests, the piece requires a pipe organ, making it a work that is not often heard.

"The finale of this piece is very famous. Because it is called 'Organ,' everyone knows that the organ appears in this symphony. The emotion of hearing the organ played live on site is an experience incomparable to anything else."

Rachmaninoff left four piano concertos, with No. 2 and No. 3 being the most popular. The Piano Concerto No. 1, which Yuja Wang will perform this time, is relatively less played. However, Sir Pappano said it is a piece he really likes. "It is a work full of Rachmaninoff’s emotional and majestic melodies, dark colors, a beautiful slow movement, and an exciting finale with tremendous energy. It showcases brilliant technique but also emphasizes lyrical aspects. I truly love this piece."