Chung Myung-whun to lead renowned German orchestra

Maestro Chung Myung-whun has been named principal guest conductor for the Dresden Staatskapelle, one of Germany’s top ensembles. / Korea Times

By Lee Hyo-won

Maestro Chung Myung-whun will become the principal guest conductor for the Dresden Staatskapelle, one of Germany’s top ensembles.

According to the Staatskappelle’s website on Thursday, Chung will begin regularly conducting the orchestra in the 2012/2013 season. This is the first time the ensemble is assigning someone to the position of principal guest conductor.

The 58-year-old is slated to perform with the orchestra at the 2013 Salzburg Easter Festival, one of Europe’s major classical music events.

The maestro is currently the music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Last year he led the Seoul Philharmonic on a nine-city tour across Europe, the first time for a Korean orchestra. This year the Seoul Philharmonic also became the first Asian ensemble to sign a long-term recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon, a major German label.

Chung is also the music director of Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.

Founded in 1548, the Dresden Staatskapelle is one of the oldest orchestras in the world and has had many eminent chief conductors, including Carl Maria von Weber, Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss.

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