National Symphony Orchestra Opens Year with Music from the Turbulence of the 20th Century

Shostakovich, Schnittke, and Prokofiev
February 11 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall

The National Symphony Orchestra will perform Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1 at its first regular concert of the year, to be held at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on February 11. The program will also feature Schnittke's "A Midsummer Night's Dream (Not)" and Prokofiev's "Sinfonia Concertante."

The National Symphony Orchestra explained that it plans to bring together works by Schnittke, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich-composers who lived through the upheavals of the 20th century-on a single stage, highlighting the irony and tension embedded in the music of their era.

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

Roberto Abbado, who successfully completed his inaugural concert as Music Director of the National Symphony on January 11, will conduct the performance, with cellist Nicholas Altstaedt appearing as soloist.

The opening piece, Schnittke's "A Midsummer Night's Dream (Not)," subverts Shakespeare's sweet fantasy. It begins elegantly, but as musical idioms from various eras overlap like a collage, the music gradually distorts and collides. Through this "distortion," Schnittke reveals the underlying anxiety hidden beneath familiar surfaces. Amid rapid scene changes and contrasting colors, the orchestra's precise sense of balance becomes all the more pronounced.

Next, Prokofiev's "Sinfonia Concertante" is a work that showcases the dynamic interplay between cello and orchestra. While the cello takes center stage as in a concerto, the orchestra does not remain a mere accompaniment; instead, it asserts an equal presence, as in a symphony. As the two forces exchange leadership, the audience can vividly experience the appeal of a symphonic concerto.

Cellist Nicholas Altstaedt [Photo by Marco Borggreve, courtesy of National Symphony]

Cellist Nicholas Altstaedt, who will perform as soloist, made his international debut with the Vienna Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel at the Lucerne Festival, and has since performed a wide repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary works.

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, which will conclude the program, was completed when the composer was just nineteen years old and is regarded as one of the most impressive debut works in 20th-century music history. While it appears to follow the traditional symphonic form, flashes of wit, cynicism, and satire throughout the piece reveal the perspective of a young composer.

Music Director Roberto Abbado stated, "The essence of this program lies in how composers who lived in the same era expressed their emotions through distinct musical languages," adding, "Through these contrasts, I hope to vividly convey the complex emotions and expressive depth of 20th-century music."