By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
June will be a true feast for classical music fans, as world-renowned stars make their way to town. In addition to the long sold-out concerts for violinists Sarah Chang and Anne-Sophie Mutter next week, more packed concert halls are expected throughout the month featuring clarinetist Sabine Meyer and tours by pianist George Winston and cellist Mischa Maisky with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra.
Clarinetist Sabine Meyer will visit Korea for the first time to perform with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, June 1-2.
Sunday's program features Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. This is Mozart's unique piece written for the clarinet and his last composition. Meyer happens to play a basset clarinet (similar to a soprano clarinet but longer and with additional keys), which was used during Mozart's time.
On June 2, Meyer's husband and fellow clarinetist Reiner Wehle will join her and the orchestra for Franz Krommer's Concerto for two clarinets (Op. 91). The couple will also give master classes at Sunhwa Girl's High School on Saturday and June 3.
The Seoul Philharmonic will play Ravel's ``Le Tombeau de Couperin'' and Beethoven's Fourth Symphony for both concerts. Ludovic Morlot from France will conduct the ensemble.
Meyer is most famous for causing an uproar as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra's first-ever female member. Twenty-two year sold at the time, she had passed two blind auditions and Herbert von Karajan hired her. However the other members violently protested and during rehearsals, the men slid their chairs away from her. Nine months later, she quit and went on to become a celebrated soloist and chamber musician.
Meyer has performed a wide-ranging repertoire spanning from the standard classics to New Age in international music capitals. She also has over 20 albums on the EMI label.
Tickets cost 30,000-120,000 won. Call (02) 780-5054. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun station on subway line 5.
The Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Spanish maestro conductor and composer Rafael Frubeck de Burgos, will visit Korea. With cellist Mischa Maisky, the group will give four concerts in Seoul, Goyang, Suwon and Masan, June 18-22.
The program features Dvorak's Cello Concerto and Weber's ``Oberon'' (overture). The concert at the Seoul Arts Center (June 22) will feature Brahms's Fourth Symphony while the ones in Goyang (June 20) and Suwon (June 19) Masan (June 18) includes Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. Founded in 1870, the Dresden Philharmonic has been conducted by Dvorak and Brahms themselves, as well as Tchaikovsky and Strauss.
One of the most feted classical musicians of today, Maisky needs no introduction. He has appeared all over the world stage and has made numerous recordings. He has long-standing partnerships with artists such as pianist Martha Argerich (with whom he recently appeared at the Martha Argerich Festival in Beppu, Japan), violinist Gidon Kremer and conductors Leonard Bernstein, Zubin Mehta and Daniel Barenboim, among others.
Tickets for the Seoul performance cost 40,000-150,000 won. Call (02) 599-5743.
Internationally loved pianist George Winston revisits Korea as part of his ``Summer'' and ``Winter'' world tour.
Starting mid-June, he will give 11 concerts in 10 Korean cities _ Seosan (June 18), Seoul (June 19 and July 1), Seongnam (June 20), Gangneung (June 21), Osan (June 22), Changwon (June 24), Euijeongbu (June 26), Bucheon (June 27), Chuncheon (June 28) and Daegu (June 29).
Cool off the summer heat at the ``Winter Concert'' featuring nature-inspired tracks from Winston's international hit album ``December.'' In addition to his serene piano tunes, he will also show off his skills with the harmonica and slack key, a traditional Hawaiian instrument.
Tickets cost 30,000-130,000 won. Call (02) 548-4480 or visit www.seoularts.com.