Conductor Jung Myung-hoon, Brahms Symphony Cycle with KBS Symphony Orchestra

The KBS Symphony Orchestra is embarking on a cycle performing the complete Brahms symphonies together with Principal Conductor Myung-Whun Chung.

On the 14th, the KBS Symphony Orchestra will perform Brahms' Symphony No. 1 and No. 2 at the Lotte Concert Hall in a special concert. Then, on June 5th at the same venue, they will perform Symphonies No. 3 and No. 4 to complete the Brahms symphony cycle. They will also perform Brahms symphonies at invited concerts on March 8th at the Yongin Poeun Art Hall and March 9th at the Cheonan Arts Center.

Conductor Myung-Whun Chung will appear on stage with the KBS Symphony Orchestra five times this month alone. He has already completed joint performances commemorating the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations with the Tokyo Philharmonic at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall and the KBS Symphony Orchestra at Lotte Concert Hall on March 2nd and 3rd, respectively, and still has a regular concert and two invited performances remaining.

Conductor Myung-Whun Chung [Photo provided by KBS Symphony Orchestra (c) Takafumi Ueno]

Brahms' Symphony No. 1 is a signature repertoire piece for Conductor Myung-Whun Chung. In 2018, during his reunion with the KBS Symphony Orchestra after 20 years at the 733rd regular concert, he also conducted Brahms' Symphony No. 1.

Symphony No. 1 is a work Brahms completed after wrestling with Beethoven's legacy for 20 years. He began composing it in his early twenties but could not finish it easily, ultimately completing it in his forties. The piece grandly depicts human inner reflection and overcoming, and the choral theme in the final movement is so symbolic that it is often called the "Tenth Symphony of Beethoven."

Symphony No. 2 is gentle and lyrical, often referred to as "Brahms' Pastoral." It offers a different charm through tranquility and contemplation compared to the previous work.

Symphony No. 3, to be performed on June 5th, is a romantic work embodying Brahms' life philosophy of "Frei aber Froh" (Free but Happy), and the final Symphony No. 4 is regarded as a masterpiece featuring a finale in passacaglia form inspired by Bach.