Korea National Symphony to Spotlight Ravel at 150th Anniversary Concert

Paul Lewis to Collaborate on Beethoven's "Emperor" Piano Concerto
at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on July 5

The Korea National Symphony Orchestra will perform two works by Ravel at its 257th regular concert, to be held on July 5, 2025, at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Ravel's birth. Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, the "Emperor," will also be featured.

The concert will open with the "Emperor." Beethoven composed this piece in Vienna, Austria, in 1809, during the thunder of the Napoleonic Wars. Breaking away from the traditional concerto format, in which the soloist enters after the orchestra's introduction, Beethoven boldly introduces the piano solo at the very beginning, leaving a powerful impression. This unconventional opening reveals Beethoven's spirit of freedom and human dignity, while the era's atmosphere adds a heroic and martial character to the piece.

British pianist Paul Lewis will be the soloist for the "Emperor." In 2010, Lewis became the first pianist to perform all five Beethoven concertos at the BBC Proms. He is a prot?g? of the late piano master Alfred Brendel, who passed away on June 17, and has been praised for his profound interpretations and refined performances.

Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" Suite No. 2 and "La Valse" will follow. Composed during the turbulent period before and after World War I, these works present a striking contrast.

"Daphnis et Chloe" Suite No. 2 depicts the wonder of dawn in nature through impressionistic soundscapes. Within its graceful flow and brilliant orchestration, the ancient myth and the restoration of love unfold lyrically. In contrast, "La Valse," with its gradually disintegrating waltz form and the discord and distortion woven into its elegance, hints at the confusion and anxiety that swept through European society after the war. Unlike the previous work, which sings of the ideals of nature and harmony, this piece reflects Ravel's anxious gaze upon an era in which order has collapsed.

David Ryland, artistic director of the Korea National Symphony Orchestra, will conduct. Ryland commented, "Through Beethoven and Ravel, who each established their own musical language amid times of upheaval and change, this concert will be a journey following the insights of artists that transcend the ages."