[2025 K-Classic ②] Enriched Korean Classics... World-Renowned Orchestras Visiting One After Another

Wagner's 'Tristan und Isolde' Approaching 5 Hours
Domestic Premiere at Seoul Arts Center in December
Co-production by National Opera Company and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

Richard Wagner's (1813?1883) opera Tristan und Isolde is considered one of the most influential works in the history of classical music, alongside Ludwig van Beethoven's (1770?1827) Symphony No. 3 "Eroica" and Igor Stravinsky's (1882?1971) ballet The Rite of Spring.

Tristan und Isolde is regarded as Wagner's masterpiece among the works of one of the greatest opera composers in history. However, it is not easy to watch a performance. The opera consists of three acts, each lasting nearly 80 minutes. Including two intermissions, the total performance time approaches five hours, and the singing is challenging, making it difficult to find opera singers suitable for the roles.

Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde Premieres in Korea

The opera Tristan und Isolde will have its de facto Korean premiere from December 4 to 7 this year at the Opera Theater of the Seoul Arts Center. The National Opera Company and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) have joined forces to produce this grand opera.

Yap Pan Tzveden, Music Director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
[Photo courtesy of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, (c)Simon van Boxtel]

The SPO first presented a full performance of Tristan und Isolde in 2012, under the baton of then Artistic Director Myung-Whun Chung, marking the 200th anniversary of Wagner's birth the following year. However, that performance was in the form of a concert opera rather than a staged production. The SPO performed the entire score on stage rather than in the orchestra pit, and the singers sang without acting. Later this year, the SPO will perform the opera in a formal staged production with the orchestra in the pit, conducted by Music Director Jaap van Zweden. Van Zweden has emphasized collaborative performances with other organizations, and this Tristan und Isolde production is part of that initiative. It is also rare for the SPO, regarded as Korea's top orchestra, to enter the orchestra pit for a full opera production.

World-renowned opera singers will take the stage. One of the tenors cast as the protagonist "Tristan," Stuart Skelton, has long performed the role. The Metropolitan Opera (Met), the world’s leading opera company, staged a new production of Tristan und Isolde as its opening work for the 2016?2017 season, with Skelton in the role of Tristan. Skelton also appeared with the SPO in February last year during their concert performance of Wagner’s Die Walk?re, demonstrating excellent skill.

Classical music critic Heo Myung-hyun said, "Skelton has performed the role of Tristan many times, including on the Berlin Philharmonic’s Tristan und Isolde conducted by Simon Rattle, so expectations are high," adding, "It is special that the SPO is producing the work together with Music Director van Zweden."

Three of the World’s Top Orchestras Visit Korea Simultaneously in November

The Vienna Philharmonic and Berlin Philharmonic, considered the two leading orchestras in the world, along with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (RCO), often cited as the third top orchestra, will all visit Korea simultaneously in November this year. The RCO will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on November 5 and at the Lotte Concert Hall on November 6 and 8. The Berlin Philharmonic will perform from November 7 to 9, and the Vienna Philharmonic from November 18 to 20, both at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The repertoire has not yet been announced. However, pianist Sunwook Kim, Artistic Director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic, will be a soloist during the Berlin Philharmonic’s concerts.

Kirill Petrenko, Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
[Photo by Vincero (c) Chris Christodoulou]

These three top orchestras also visited Korea simultaneously in November 2023. As Korean classical music gains global attention, prestigious orchestras frequently visit Korea. The Vienna Philharmonic and RCO also toured Korea last year.

Critic Ryu Tae-hyung said, "These are proven orchestras with no dispute regarding their performance skills. Each orchestra has its unique color and excels in certain repertoires. While it is important that famous orchestras visit and perform, it is also crucial to have opportunities to see performances by a variety of ensembles. In that regard, the performance by the National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, visiting Korea for the first time, is noteworthy."

The National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada will perform at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on May 31, with pianist Yeol-Eum Son as soloist.

The Slovenian Philharmonic, also visiting Korea for the first time, will perform at the Lotte Concert Hall on November 20. The Slovenian Philharmonic is a historic orchestra tracing its origins back to 1701. Pianist Minsoo Son, teacher of Yunchan Lim, will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 as soloist.

Christian Machellaru [Photo courtesy of Bucheon Art Center, (c) Christophe Abramowitz]

Leonskaya Returns After Six Years... Jonathan Nott’s Berlin Philharmonic Debut

Critic Ryu Tae-hyung highlighted several concerts to watch: the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s regular concert at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on May 2, the French National Orchestra’s performance at Bucheon Art Center on the same day, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s concerts at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on October 21 and 22.

At the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s May concert, Georgian-born master pianist Elisabeth Leonskaya will perform as soloist. This will be her second visit to Korea. Leonskaya first visited in 2018, and her second visit scheduled for 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19.

Ryu said, "She is an outstanding interpreter with many devoted fans in Korea," adding, "Her 2018 visit, when she performed Schubert’s works, was very moving." During her first Korean recital in 2018, Leonskaya performed Schubert’s Piano Sonatas Nos. 9 and 18, and the Wanderer Fantasy. At the upcoming May concert, she will perform the Piano Concerto by Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg.

The French National Orchestra will visit Korea for the first time in 29 years. Pianist Alexandre Kantorow, winner of the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition, will be the soloist. Ryu Tae-hyung noted, "Conductor Cristian M?celaru is a young maestro in his 40s, making this performance notable."

Star conductor Gustavo Dudamel will lead the LA Philharmonic in Korea for the first time in six years since 2019.

Conductor Jonathan Note
[Photo provided by Lotte Cultural Foundation, (c) Niels Ackermann]

Critic Heo Myung-hyun highlighted the Swiss Romande Orchestra’s concert at the Lotte Concert Hall on July 6. "Conductor Jonathan Nott is currently at his peak. He made his Berlin Philharmonic debut last September. The program includes Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, a piece that Nott particularly excels at, so expectations are high."

At the Swiss Romande Orchestra concert, violinist Inmo Yang, winner of the 2015 Paganini International Violin Competition and the 2022 Sibelius International Violin Competition, will perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto as soloist.

Heo also noted the interesting fact that Korea’s two major orchestras, the Seoul Philharmonic and KBS Symphony Orchestra, will perform Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 "Resurrection" around the same time.

The Seoul Philharmonic will perform it at their first regular concert of the year on February 16 and 17 at the Lotte Concert Hall, while the KBS Symphony Orchestra will perform it about a month later on February 21 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall.