National Symphony to Hold Inaugural Concert for New Artistic Director Roberto Abbado on January 11

Performing Works by Rossini, Respighi, and Verdi from Italy

The National Symphony Orchestra announced on December 30 that it will hold the inaugural concert for its 8th Music Director, Roberto Abbado, titled "Cold and Hot," at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on January 11.

The National Symphony appointed Roberto Abbado as its 8th Artistic Director in April. He will lead the orchestra for three years, starting from January 1 next year.

Roberto Abbado comes from the Abbado family, which has carried on Italy's musical tradition. His uncle is the late maestro Claudio Abbado, who served as Music Director of La Scala (1968-1986), Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra (1979-1988), Music Director of the Vienna State Opera (1986-1991), and Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (1989-2002), and who passed away in 2014.

Roberto Abbado, 8th Artistic Director of the National Symphony Orchestra
[Photo provided by National Symphony Orchestra, (c) Yasuko Kageyama]

The National Symphony explained that Roberto Abbado has built his own musical world through flexible musical direction rooted in vocal phrasing and through interpretations that delicately balance dramatic narrative. The orchestra added that over the next three seasons, it will engage audiences with programs themed around Mendelssohn and Schumann, Goethe and music, and Shakespeare and music.

The inaugural concert will feature works by Italian composers Rossini, Respighi, and Verdi. By expanding the musical language rooted in vocal tradition into orchestral form and presenting pieces that break away from typical New Year's concert conventions, Abbado aims to showcase his unique approach and interpretive style.

Respighi's "The Fantastic Toyshop" is a ballet piece distinguished by its intricate orchestration and rich color, revealing the delicate order of the orchestra through transparent sound and structural clarity. The "Four Seasons" from Act III of Verdi's opera "Les V?pres Siciliennes" blends vocal phrasing with a dense orchestral flow, encapsulating the emotional contrasts and narrative characteristic of dramatic music. The finale, Rossini's "William Tell Overture," is set to express a new beginning with its powerful rhythms and forward-driving energy.

Music Director Roberto Abbado stated, "It is a great honor to be able to make music as part of the National Symphony and this society, as I deeply respect Korea's cultural influence," adding, "The National Symphony is already an orchestra of remarkable preparation and openness, and I hope to share a diverse range of music with Korean audiences from a long-term perspective."