Symphonic ecstasy of Mahler

Chung’s Seoul Philharmonic to release DG recording of ‘Titan’

By Do Je-hae

For lovers of symphonic music, there is nothing quite as exhilarating as the Mahler experience. A common trait among great conductors of the past and present has been a deep affection for the music of the master symphonist Gustav Mahler (1860 — 1911).

Chung Myung-whun, who is known more as a specialist of French music and operas, has been building a legacy of his own for Austro-German masters like Beethoven and Mahler with various orchestras here and in Europe.

With his Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), Chung is undertaking a series of concerts devoted to Mahler on a regular basis. Other Korean orchestras have attempted Mahler cycles, but when it comes to this composer in particular, none have been able to match the success of the SPO in concert or in recording.

The SPO recently concluded its second European tour. This summer, the SPO was invited to some of Europe’s most respected musical festivals this year, including the Edinburgh International Festival, the Musikfest Bremen and the Robeco Summer Series at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, home to the prestigious Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.

As Asia’s first orchestra to record with the world-renowned Deutsche Grammophon (DG), the SPO will release its second recording for the German label on Nov. 3, containing one of the most popular Mahler symphonies, his very first known as “Titan” in D major.

“Most of the Mahler symphonies, each one is almost a world by itself,” Chung said during an interview on Japanese TV. “One always has the impression, after hearing his symphonies, that you have lived almost an entire lifetime in one evening.”

Chung led the SPO in a spectacular performance of Mahler’s “Symphony No. 6 in A minor,” also called “Tragic” on Oct. 20.

They will continue their Mahler series through November and December. Tickets for these upcoming concerts are already sold out, reflecting the anticipation of the local audience. On Nov. 11, they will play “Symphony No. 7 in E minor,” preceded by a performance of Wagner’s “Lohengrin” prelude. This will be followed by a performance of the “Symphony No. 9 in D Major” on Dec. 9.

The highlight of the series is “Symphony No. 8 in E-flat major” also known as “Symphony of a Thousand” on Dec. 22.

Combining the voice and symphony ― a trademark of Mahler’s symphonic works ― it is one of the largest-scale choral works in the classical concert repertoire. Because the peice requires huge instrumental and vocal forces, it is known as the “Symphony of a Thousand,” although the work is often performed with fewer than a thousand musicians

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Maestros of our time, such as Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Chailly, Mariss Jansons, Riccardo Muti, have continued to express their absolute fascination with the Austrian composer and conductor that redefined the symphony in the 20th century.

Likewise, Chung has performed Mahler with world-class orchestras such as the Royal Concertgebouw.

Undying popularity

A late-Romantic Austrian composer and one of the leading conductors of his generation, Mahler was a bridge between the 19th century Austro-German tradition and the modernism of the early 20th century. He is one of the most frequently performed and recorded of all composers.

Mahler has been the choice of music to mark several landmark concerts, such as the 1989 inaugural concert of Claudio Abbado as the music director of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Conducting “Titan,” the Italian conductor and opera director brought the house down, producing a live recording that remains one of the definitive interpretations of this masterpiece.

One of the most popular recorded Mahler cycles among Korean listeners is the one recently completed by U.S. conductor Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony of their live performances from the Davies Symphony Hall.

Recordings and DVD performances by Leonard Bernstein, Klaus Tennstedt and Bernard Haitink are immensely popular among local Mahler fans.