"Norma" Conductor of "3,500 Crosses" Appointed as Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra

Roberto Abado Holds Inaugural Press Conference as Music Director
From the Renowned Abbado Family of Italy... Nephew of Claudio Abbado
"My uncle was a great man... but we differed on Puccini"
"Seoul is emerging as a musical capital... Listening is the most important thing"

In 2023, to mark the 30th anniversary of its opening, the Seoul Arts Center collaborated with the Royal Opera House in the United Kingdom to stage the opera "Norma" by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini. "Norma" attracted attention for its stage design, which was filled with over 3,500 crosses. The National Symphony Orchestra performed the music, with Italian conductor Roberto Abado leading the orchestra.

Having first worked with the orchestra during that production, Abado has now been appointed as the 8th music director of the National Symphony Orchestra and will lead the ensemble for the next three years, starting this year. At his inauguration press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center on the 7th, Abado said, "The first few seconds when meeting a new orchestra are extremely important," and added, "The initial response to the first piece we played together was very positive." He continued, "Norma is a very Italian work, so it is not easy for a non-Italian orchestra to perform it, but the National Symphony Orchestra immediately realized what I had envisioned, which greatly surprised me."

Abado reunited with the National Symphony Orchestra in July last year to perform Verdi's Requiem. He explained, "Everything about the Requiem went very smoothly and naturally." He added, "After the Requiem performance, the National Symphony Orchestra offered me the position of artistic director, and I accepted the offer with great enthusiasm."

Roberto Abado, the newly appointed artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra, is sharing his thoughts at a press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center on the 7th.
[Photo by National Symphony Orchestra]

Abado announced that he has set three guiding principles for his three-year term, which he intends to achieve one by one. "First, Mendelssohn and Schumann, the Romantic composers; second, Goethe and music; and third, Shakespeare and music. Mendelssohn and Schumann lived in the same era, but the music they developed was strikingly different. Shakespeare inspired countless operas, including Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, and A Midsummer Night's Dream."

Abado comes from a distinguished family of Italian musicians. His uncle was the legendary conductor 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.

Director Abado described his uncle Claudio as "a truly great orchestra conductor, almost to the point of being a miracle." However, he also noted, "I personally believe Puccini was a great composer, but my uncle was not convinced of that and did not conduct Puccini's music," highlighting a difference in their perspectives.

Director Abado also expressed a strong sense of pride in Italian music. "Musical terms such as allegro, adagio, and forte are all Italian. Music originated in Italy and then spread to the rest of Europe and beyond. I take great pride in inheriting this musical tradition."

Roberto Abado, the newly appointed artistic director of the National Symphony Orchestra, is taking a commemorative photo at the inauguration press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center on the 7th.
Photo by National Symphony Orchestra

He also expressed his growing affection for Korea, with which he has recently developed a deep connection. "For several years now, Europe has been captivated by Korea. Europeans are excited about everything related to Korean arts, including film, K-pop, fashion, and food. The same goes for Korean classical music. No matter where you go in the world, you can meet Korean musicians. There are many musical capitals around the world, and Seoul is now emerging as one of them. When I visited Korea in the past, I was amazed to learn that music festivals are held in Seoul throughout the entire year."

Music Director Abado emphasized that he will focus on both symphonic and operatic music during his tenure. He said, "The two genres are very different, and they must remain distinct, so it is extremely important to be involved in both." He stressed, "It is essential to gain experience in both genres." He also added, "The most important thing in life is listening. Listening is not limited to music; it is the most important thing for all human beings."