Inkinnen KBS Symphony Orchestra Music Director Beethoven 'Choral' Farewell Stage

On the 21st at Lotte Concert Hall and the 24th at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall
Pianist Park Jaehong and Soprano Seo Seonyeong among featured performers

Petteri Inkinen, Music Director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, will conclude his three-year term with this year's final regular concert.

The KBS Symphony Orchestra will hold its last regular concerts of the year on the 21st at Lotte Concert Hall and on the 24th at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The program begins with Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and concludes with Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Choral".

Pietari Inkinen, Music Director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra
[Photo provided by KBS Symphony Orchestra, (c) Andreas Zihler]

The Choral Fantasy presented in the first part features a unique format combining piano solo, orchestra, and chorus. This piece reflects Beethoven's intention at the time to showcase his musical prowess by fusing various genres within a single work. Notably, in the final section, the chorus and orchestra together sing the theme of "human harmony." This gives a preview of Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Choral," which will be performed in the second part. Pianist Park Jae-hong, sopranos Seo Sun-young and Kim Sun-mi, mezzo-soprano Sabina Kim, tenors Guk Yoon-jong and Park Hyun-min, and bass-baritone Samuel Yoon will appear as soloists.

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Choral," performed in the second part, is a symbolic work of humanity and peace completed by Beethoven. Based on Friedrich Schiller's "Ode to Joy," the piece features a grand chorus in the final fourth movement, celebrating the moment when humanity unites as one. Sopranos Seo Sun-young, mezzo-soprano Sabina Kim, tenor Guk Yoon-jong, and bass-baritone Samuel Yoon will perform as soloists, delivering a powerful musical resonance. The Goyang City Choir, Anyang City Choir, and Incheon City Choir will join the stage for both parts one and two.

A representative of the KBS Symphony Orchestra stated, "This regular concert, which will be the KBS Symphony Orchestra's final stage in 2024, serves as a farewell performance for the 9th Music Director Petteri Inkinen, who has been with us for three years. Through Beethoven's choral works, it will offer the audience an 'eternal resonance' and be a special time to sing of humanity's harmony through music."