Alena Baeva Makes Her Debut with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
Winner of the Wieniawski, Paganini, and Sendai Competitions
Performing Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 under the baton of Hugh Wolff
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a regular concert titled "Debussy and Ravel" at the Seoul Arts Center on May 15 and 16.
The first piece will be "Wu Xing" by Chen Qigang, a Chinese-born French composer, followed by Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1, marking the 50th anniversary of his passing this year. In the second half, the orchestra will perform Ravel's "Noble and Sentimental Waltzes," celebrating the 150th anniversary of his birth, as well as Debussy's symphonic poem "La Mer."
The opening piece, "Wu Xing," is an orchestral work composed by Chen Qigang in 1998 at the request of Radio France. It is based on the traditional Chinese theory of the Five Elements. The work consists of five short movements, each about two minutes long, musically depicting the elements that make up the universe: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. Chen Qigang was also the last student of the French master Olivier Messiaen.
The second piece, Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1, expresses a longing for freedom under the oppression of the Stalinist regime. The work is imbued with Shostakovich's characteristic sorrow and solitude. It is a piece that showcases the dramatic qualities of the violin through a grand cadenza and dazzling virtuosity.
Kyrgyzstan-born violinist Alena Baeva, winner of the 2001 Wieniawski International Competition, will perform as soloist. This concert marks Baeva's debut with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. When she won the Wieniawski Competition, Baeva was only sixteen years old. She also won the Paganini Competition in 2004 and the Sendai Violin Competition in 2007. Baeva is active on the international stage, performing with orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and London Philharmonic, and she plays and records a wide repertoire on period instruments.
Ravel's "Noble and Sentimental Waltzes," featured in the second half, is an homage dedicated to Schubert and consists of seven short waltzes and an epilogue. Through Ravel's uniquely complex and sophisticated harmonies, irregular rhythms, and subtle changes in tone color, the piece presents a new musical world where tradition and modernity coexist, evoking a sweet and dreamlike atmosphere.
The final piece, "La Mer," by Debussy, draws on the sea as a source of boundless imagination, inspiration, and dreams for the composer, who wrote many works on this theme. Among them, "La Mer" is the largest in scale, featuring lush orchestration and powerful rhythms. It depicts the changing seascape and emotions over time like a painting, delicately expressing inner impressions, feelings, and movements through subtle tonal colors.
The conductor for this regular concert will be Hugh Wolff, a French conductor who studied composition under Olivier Messiaen. This marks Wolff's fifth collaboration with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ticket prices range from 10,000 to 100,000 won depending on the seat category, and can be purchased through the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's website and call center. Members of the website can receive a 10% discount for up to four tickets per person, and members up to age 24 are eligible for a 40% discount for themselves.
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