Seoul Philharmonic to Revive Brahms Onstage

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

German Romanticism continues to take flight with the fourth Brahms Special Orchestra Series by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, led by maestro conductor Chung Myung-whun. Two young Korean artists, who are making names for themselves in the international music scene, bass-baritone Samuel Youn and soprano Kim Young-mi, will also take the stage. The two concerts will take place, at Goyang, Gyeonggi Province and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, northern Seoul, Nov. 27-28.

Seoul Philharmonic offers classical music fans a chance to fathom the deep spirituality of Johannes Brahm (1833-1897) through ``A German Requiem'' (Ein deutsches Requiem). The requiem marks a turning point in Brahm's compositional technique, distinguishing it from those written by Mozart and Verdi. While most Catholic elegies were geared for mass to console the spirit of the dead, ``A German Requiem'' was written as a concert piece dedicated to those suffering the loss of loved ones.

Two young virtuosos will translate Brahm's observation about life and death and the human yearning for hope. Bass-baritone Samuel Youn leads an active career in European music capitals, and has played principal roles in over 300 performances under the baton of Pierre Boulez, Peter Maag and Christian Thielemann among other maestros of our time. ``We were once again seduced by the powerful and singular baritone of Samuel Youn,'' wrote Res Musica, a French classical music paper.

Youn won several prizes in various international competitions like Toti dal Monte (Trevison) and Franz Schubert (Genoa) and became the first Korean to sing at the Bayreuther Festspiele. He is currently a member of the ensemble at the Cologne Opera.