SPO appoints Chin as artistic advisor
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Chin Un-suk
By Yun Suh-young
Composer Chin Un-suk, who has led the Ars Nova series of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) for the past decade, has been appointed SPO artistic advisor.
Chin will start in October and simultaneously manage the Ars Nova series, the SPO said, Wednesday.
The position has been vacant since Michael Fine stepped down after conductor and musical director Chung Myung-whun resigned last year following prolonged strife with then SPO CEO Park Hyun-jung. Fine and Chung had served 10 years at the orchestra in their respective positions.
Chin has led Ars Nova ― contemporary classical music concerts ― since its inception in 2006. Chin and Chung launched the series with the aim of introducing rising local musicians, and new styles that had not been performed in Korea.
Chin said she felt honored yet burdened by the weight of the position.
"I have a burden on my shoulders with the many responsibilities,” she said during a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday. “But I'm thankful that I can work together with those I've worked with for the past 10 years.
"I tried to create the programs with much diversity for the coming seasons. I think the role of the performance planning team must be strengthened. I want to give a variety of information and options to the audience. It's not just the contemporary music that is important.
"From now on, we will also speak out more. When we invited foreign musicians as guest performers, we used to do what they wanted to do but we'll be doing more of what we want to do now."
SPO CEO Choi Heung-sik said it was difficult to convince Chin to take the position.
"I went all the way to Berlin to offer and convince her to take the position, but I was rejected back then,” he said. “It was only after she came back for the Ars Nova series in March that I was finally able to bring her in.
"I'm really glad that she will give advice about the future direction of the SPO and for the upcoming seasons of 2018 and 2019. For next year, there will be an increase in performances, including those that have never before been introduced. It's also a delight that there's a new classical concert hall built by Lotte so we can have more performances. I hope there will be more of these kinds of concert halls."
The "Ars Nova Series III: Chamber Concert" will be held on Oct. 3 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. The program includes Chin's Piano Etude No. 5 Toccata, George Benjamin's "At First Light for Ensemble," Marko Nikodijevic's "Music Box/Self Portrait with Ligeti and Stravinsky," which makes its Asian premiere, and Michael Daugherty's "Le Tombeau de Liberace for Solo Piano and Ensemble," which also has its Asian premiere.
The "Ars Nova Series IV: Orchestral Concert" will be held on Oct. 7 at the LG Arts Center in Seoul. Its program includes Oliver Knussen's "The Way to Castle Yonder, (Pot-Pourri for Orchestra after the Opera 'Higglety Pigglety Pop!’)," which makes its Korean premiere, Leos Janacek's Suite from the Opera "The Cunning Vixen" (arranged by Charles Mackerras), Claude Debussy's Iberia for Orchestra, and Alberto Ginastera's Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 28, which has its Asian premiere and is seen as the concert’s highlight.
For both concerts, conductor Antony Hermus, from the Netherlands, and pianist Mei Yi Foo, from Malaysia, will perform. Chin handpicked both after she saw their exceptional performances overseas.
Starting October, cosmetics giant AmorePacific will sponsor Ars Nova for a year for 200 million won. This is the first time the orchestra has received long-term sponsorship from a company.
For more information on concerts, visit www.seoulphil.or.kr or call 1588-1210.