By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Korea's rising young conductor Lee Young-chil, 39, who already holds several positions with major European orchestras, debuts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra July 10 at Cadogan Hall, London.
Founded in 1946, the Royal Philharmonic has been led by maestri Andre Previn and Vladimir Ashkenazy, among others, and now Charles Dutoit. As with any given premiere ensemble, it is highly selective in appointing guest conductors or soloists.
``Nobleness goes to blossom and brilliance,'' Mlad Fronta magazine in the Czech Republic said of Lee, who was recently appointed chief foreign conductor of the Bohemian Symphony Orchestra in Prague and has recorded CDs under the local EMI label. He is also the chief guest conductor at the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra and is regularly invited to the helm of other ensembles.
Born in Seoul, Lee holds degrees from Mannes College of Music and the State University of New York. After studying under Vasil Kajandjiev in Sofia, Bulgaria, he became chief foreign conductor at Polvdiv State Philharmonic and foreign permanent conductor at Pleven State Philharmonic Orchestra.
``He added a new sense to (the symphony's) endless repetitions, changed by his Asian love of the details. The Symphony grew into something rather unexpected, like a moving sound picture, sound plastics whose metamorphosis I was expecting with greater and greater interest,'' wrote a Bulgarian music critic for Culture newspaper.
``People don't know about Korea very much,'' he said, expressing delight in representing Korea in the local music scene, according to Yonhap News. But the road to success in a place where Asians are very few was not easy.
``When I first conducted the Sophia Philharmonic, the concertmaster challenged me about keeping the beat. I had to be patient and win people over with my pure skills,'' he said.
Now known as ``the Asian Rachmaninov,'' he is bringing new interpretation to staple repertoire, but also with an Eastern flair. One of the beauties of being a conductor is wielding influence over the concert program and featured soloist: Lim Jun-hi's symphony piece ``Han River'' resounded through Bulgaria, Yugoslavia and other countries, and Korean artists such as violinist Lee Sung-ju have taken the stage alongside the conductor.
Lee's debut in London most notably features ``Arirang'' _ an original composition by Park Jae-eun featuring the quintessential Korean folk melody.
The piece received a standing ovation in Bulgaria in January and premiered in Moscow under Lee's baton. The latter marked an unprecedented event in the conservative Russian music scene _ not only was this a rare occasion for a composition by a Korea-based artist to be featured in Europe, but it was also the first time the local orchestra played a piece written by a female composer.
Park, a veteran composer whose many projects include working for the Suzuki Method, said in a statement that she was motivated by Lee for the modern interpretation. The conductor had wanted to introduce more Korean works in Eastern Europe, and their chance encounter in 2006 led to the creation of ``Arirang.''
```Arirang' has the most beautiful rhythm among traditional folk songs. It's a 10-minute piece but I devoted all my efforts into it that it took me eight months. Even afterward I was worried. It's (a Korean) rhythm, would foreigners accept it?'' she said. ``It was so well-received in Ukraine and Bulgaria… I heard such praise that it is a sad melody that seeps into the heart,'' she said.
In addition to ``Arirang,'' leading Ukrainian violinist Dima Tkachenko will join the Royal Philharmonic for Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto. The concert will end with the Russian master's Symphony No. 5. For more information visit www.rpo.co.uk.
Lee will give concerts across Korea in November with the Sofia Philharmonic, at Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and Seongnam Arts Center.