National Symphony to End the Year with Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "Titan"

Year-End Regular Concert on the 7th at Yesul-ui Jeondang
No Jaebong's 'Jibe Gago Sipeo' and Gli?re Harp Concerto

The National Symphony Orchestra will perform Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 1 "Titan" at this year's final regular concert held at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on the 7th.

David Reiland, Artistic Director of the National Symphony, stated, "Through Mahler's Symphony No. 1, we want to speak of both the beginning and the end simultaneously," adding, "I hope the audience can feel the waves of complex emotions through Mahler's work, where life and death, joy and sorrow coexist."

"Titan" is regarded as a work full of innovative elements that transcend tradition, representing a new expansion of Romanticism. In this piece, Mahler contemplates the essence of life while reminding us through its repetitive structure of the cyclical nature of time?that an 'end' is also a 'new beginning.'

The poster photo for this performance was created by film director Park Chan-wook. Director Park is well known as a 'Mahlerian' who loves Mahler's music. He also attracted attention by featuring the Adagietto from the 4th movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 5 in his film "Decision to Leave."

Director Park explained the poster photo, saying, "By chance, I listened to the 3rd movement of Mahler's Symphony No. 1 and was helplessly drawn into the vast universe of Gustav Mahler," and added, "I imagined the scene of a pilgrim, or the 'Titan,' which was the original title of the 5th Symphony, struggling to rise while wearing a large hooded cloak."

Before "Titan," the National Symphony will also perform "I Want to Go Home" by resident composer Noh Jae-bong and the Harp Concerto by Russian composer Reinhold Gli?re.

Noh Jae-bong was selected as an outstanding composer at the 2023 Composer Atelier and is currently serving as the National Symphony's resident composer for 2024?2025. "I Want to Go Home" addresses the themes of aging and dementia. The piece begins with piccolo and flute performances and actively utilizes the sound of a metronome.

Gli?re's Harp Concerto is a work that prominently features classical style and Russian Romanticism. French-born harpist Xavier de Maistre will be the soloist.