Maestro Jurowski to Lead Korean Artists
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Principal conductor Vladimir Jurowski will lead the London Philharmonic Orchestra with solos by violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill tonight and pianist Paik Kun-woo Wednesday and Thursday. Maestro Jurowski and star musician O'Neill shared their musical perspectives with the press in a Seoul hotel Monday before taking the stage tonight at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in northern Seoul.
This marks Jurowski's first time visiting Korea and performing in Asia. Also a trained singer, the Russian maestro made his conducting debut at the 1995 Wexford Festival in Ireland and since been leading major opera productions and orchestras all over the world.
The conductor said his only encounter Korea has been through Korean-German composer Isang Yun's chamber pieces, which he calls ``very important post-war contemporary works.'' Also known to be interested in Eastern philosophy, Jurowski has not yet expressed it musically, but said ``I hope some of my interest will be visible in the future.''
It will also be Jurowski's first collaboration with Korean soloists. ``I feel very excited, but I can't tell you how I felt until I will have worked with them tomorrow,'' he said.
Violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill expressed his great excitement to play the Viola Concerto by Englishman William Walton. ``The Walton Viola Concerto is, I believe, one of the most important pieces written for the viola and orchestra. It's most dramatically effective, and the best 20th century work… for the viola. It is a good mix of protagonist and collaborator,'' said the 29-year-old Washington native.
A recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and Grammy Award nomination, O'Neill is noted as a promising artist. An ethnic Korean, he is explosively popular in his mother's home country.
Jurowski, turning 36 in April, often symbolizes the influx of youthful musicians rising to prominence. He pointed out while maestros like Gustav Mahler debuted in their teens, the media, TV, and the Internet didn't exist at the time. This allowed room for a ``more organic and natural'' growth, he said, ``But now, (musicians) are thrown up into the very top.
``I am biologically young but not in terms of music and experience. I hope (young musicians) resist the many temptations of the modern world and get on with the music. Music becomes more interesting as they become older,'' he said.
The conductor took the baton for the London Philharmonic last September. The group's eldest member is 73. It may strike Koreans, coming from a highly age-centered culture, as odd for a young man to lead an older crowd. But the maestro said, ``You're not conducting them, you're conducting the music.''
He has been praised for bringing positive changes to the 76-year-old British ensemble. While he introduced new repertoires, particularly contemporary 20th century music, he repeatedly emphasized his desire to inspire ``natural, organic changes.''
Meanwhile, O'Neill had expressed dreams of conducting one day in a Korea Times interview. ``I'm embarrassed, very embarrassed,'' he said about the subject being raised in the presence of such an artist like Jurowski.
Although he loves ``being personally involved in the mechanics of making a sound'' as a violist, he said conducting would be a way to explore ``other great literature,'' particularly great orchestral pieces the chamber musician does not get to play as much.
With a new book recently published, ``Enjoy the Classic, DITTO,'' O'Neill said he was thrilled about ``the new venture.'' An introductory guide to classical music, it is part of his efforts to ``bring new audiences to classical music in Korea.''
Also part of the concert program tonight at the Sejong Center are ``Evening Songs'' by British composer Turnage and Prokofiev's Symphony No. 5.
Wednesday at the same venue and Thursday at the Seoul Arts Center, internationally renowned pianist Paik Kun-woo will take the stage for Prokofiev's Piano Concert No. 2. Also featured in the concerts are ``Lullaby for Hans'' by Turnage, ``Sonata per archi'' by Henze and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6.
Tickets for all three performances cost 50,000-200,000 won. Call 1577-5266.
Members of the London Philharmonic also took part of a friendly football match with musicians from the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Monday at Sangam World Cup Stadium. The London team won a close match 3-2. Chung Mong-joon, vice president of FIFA and president of the Korea Football Association, made a visit.