Berlin Philharmonic Principal Horn Yoon Jeong to Perform with Seoul Philharmonic in Regular and Chamber Concerts

Yoon Jeong, principal horn of the Berlin Philharmonic, will perform with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) at its regular concert on August 22 and at a chamber music concert on August 23.

At the SPO's regular concert, Yoon Jeong will perform as soloist for Richard Strauss's Horn Concerto No. 1 and No. 2. At the chamber music concert, he will collaborate on Beethoven's Septet. The regular concert on August 22 will take place at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center, while the chamber music concert on August 23 will be held at the IBK Chamber Hall of the same venue.

Yoon Jeong was born in China in 1999. Both his grandfather and father were horn players, so he naturally learned to play the horn from a young age. He won the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019, placed second at the Prague Spring Competition in 2018, and also took second place at the ARD Competition in 2022. In 2022, Yoon Jeong was appointed principal horn of the Berlin Staatskapelle, and last year he joined the Berlin Philharmonic as principal horn, succeeding Radek Baborak, whose position had been vacant for about 15 years.

Berlin Philharmonic Horn Principal Yoon Jeong
[Photo by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra]

Strauss Horn Concerto No. 1 and No. 2 at the Regular Concert on August 22

The two Strauss horn concertos Yoon Jeong will perform-Horn Concerto No. 1 and No. 2-were composed by Strauss at the ages of 19 (in 1883) and 78 (in 1942), respectively. The first concerto was written with his father Franz in mind, highlighting the heroic and grand timbre of the horn, while also blending lyrical melodies and romantic color. The second concerto begins with a horn solo fanfare, but is filled with a bright, gentle, and pastoral atmosphere, and is considered one of Strauss's late masterpieces.

The concert will open with the Korean premiere of "Wide Land" by contemporary German composer Detlev Glanert. Commissioned by the Oldenburg State Orchestra in 2013, this piece incorporates melodies from Brahms's Symphony No. 4. In the second half, Brahms's Symphony No. 3 will be performed alongside Yoon Jeong. Among Brahms's four symphonies, this is the smallest in scale and shortest in length, but it is a concise and densely constructed work that stands out for its lyrical and romantic mood.

The regular concert will be conducted by German conductor Lute Reinhardt, who will make her Asian debut with this performance. Reinhardt is the first female music director in the 80-year history of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. She previously served as assistant conductor at the Dallas Symphony for two seasons alongside Jaap van Zweden, the current SPO music director, and was also a Dudamel Fellow at the LA Philharmonic. As a maestra deeply interested in contemporary music, Reinhardt has introduced numerous works by 21st-century female composers, playing a leading role in expanding the horizons of modern music.

Conductor Lute Reinhardt
[Photo by Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, (c) Jessica Schaefer]

Beethoven Septet Collaboration at the Chamber Music Concert on August 23

The SPO's fourth chamber music concert of the year, on August 23, will open with Schubert's celebrated Piano Quintet "Trout." Composed in Austria during the summer of 1819, this five-movement work is scored for piano, violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The fourth movement, in particular, features a series of variations based on the melody of Schubert's lied "Die Forelle" ("The Trout"). The overall mood is bright and lively, with Schubert's signature graceful melodies, rich harmonies, and vibrant rhythms standing out.

The Beethoven septet, in which Yoon Jeong will perform, is an early chamber work by Beethoven featuring a unique instrumentation: a string quartet (violin, viola, cello, double bass) and a wind trio (clarinet, bassoon, horn). Comprising six movements, the piece is renowned for its melodic richness, solid structure, and the harmonious blending of each instrument's character and color. It was extremely popular in its time. With its cheerful and bright mood, elegant melodies, and intricate interplay among the instruments, the septet showcases the youthful energy and wit of Beethoven.