Dresden Philharmonic to bring sharp East German sound to Seoul
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Michael Sanderling / Courtesy of Vincero
By Kwon Ji-youn
Classical music fans are in for a Beethovenian treat when the Dresden Philharmonic performs at the Seoul Arts Center on Friday and Saturday.
For its third concert in Seoul, the Dresden Philharmonic, helmed by German conductor Michael Sanderling, has included in its program the overture to the German composer’s only opera, “Fidelio,” as well as two of his piano concertos. These will build up to thundering finales featuring Brahms’ First Symphony and Beethoven’s seventh.
The Dresden Philharmonic, noted for its sharp and textured East German sound, has experienced a musical renaissance under the baton of principal conductor Sanderling, son of esteemed maestro Kurt Sanderling. Though his movements on the podium are restrained and discreet, Sanderling’s prudence is said to bring out a meticulous resonance in the strings, a dynamic ring in the woodwinds and a refined timbre in the brass. The orchestra will be joined by respected pianist Paik Kun-woo for the piano concertos, the musician who in 2007 marked a new Korean classical milestone when he performed all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in seven days.
Guests seldom know exactly what to expect with the Dresden Philharmonic’s renditions of familiar works, as the orchestra has for so long maintained a unique sound. But Sanderling seeks balance in his performances ― the orchestra’s repertoire often spans baroque and romantic through contemporary, featuring Russian Rodion Shchedrin and Georgian Giya Kancheli on top of Beethoven and Brahms. This tendency will likely be noticeable at the concert this weekend with readings that are at once authentic and innovative.
The Dresden Philharmonic, financially supported by the city of Dresden in Germany, was founded in 1870 under the name Gewerbehausorchester, though its beginnings can be traced to the 15th century. It has since nourished the city’s public music culture with its performances at the Gewerbehaussaal, Dresden’s first civic concert hall, and guided by esteemed conductors like Michel Plasson, Marek Janowski and Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, the ensemble has continued to attract diverse audiences. In 1909, the Dresden Philharmonic became one of the first German orchestras to embark on a concert tour in the U.S. Since then, concert tours have taken the Dresden Philharmonic to the major music hubs of Europe, the Americas and Asia.