Can DG recording bring global recognition to Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra?

By Do Je-hae

Korea has produced distinguished classical soloists and vocalists. But when it comes to orchestral ensembles, it’s a different story.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), however, led by the world-renowned conductor-pianist Chung Myung-whun, has been attempting to become the first Korean classical ensemble to gain global recognition, and it looks like its impassioned efforts are starting to pay off.

Their debut recording with Deutsche Grammophon (DG), the first for an Asian orchestra, will be released July 15. The forthcoming release will be a disc of Debussy and Ravel.

This will be followed with Mahler and Tchaikovsky symphonies; Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition” and the Mozart Requiem. The recording deal reflects DG’s growing involvement in the musical life within Asian countries, with classical music gaining more popularity in Asia and more Asians excelling in the field.

Chung has worked in Paris for more than 25 years and has a special bond with French music, so he naturally chose works by Ravel and Debussy for his first DG recording with the SPO which he has led since 2005.

In a promotional video, Chung stressed the importance of French music in their repertoire.

“My connection with France is very strong and that has helped deepen my relationship with the music of France. The two foremost composers of France are Debussy and Ravel,” Chung said. “Ravel has an immediate, almost physical effect on the listener; it should appeal to all audiences.

“Although it is a big challenge for us, I believe the orchestra brought a very high degree of musicianship and ability to this record which I think people will be impressed with,” Chung added.

Some of the works on the disc were recorded live, such as Ravel’s “La Valse.”

Listeners will notice an eruption of applause that immediately follows the last notes, reflecting the sheer joy of the audience present in the concert hall.

Overseas tours have played a central part in the growth of the SPO, musically and mentally, for the nation’s oldest orchestra.

Last year he led the SPO on a nine-city tour across Europe, the first time for a Korean orchestra and received enthusiastic media reviews.

“A world-class Korean orchestra perfectly mastered Debussy and Brahms. What we heard was clearly a world class orchestral performance,” the Berline Morgenpost wrote.

The Markische Oderzeitung described the SPO as “a landscape painted by an orchestra from the Far East. They are the top of the world.”

“Many critics and fellow musicians whom I spoke to were highly impressed,” Chung said. “These tours are crucial for boosting the orchestra’s morale.”

The SPO will kick off another round of overseas tours in August, travelling to Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States

But it is hard to tell if such accolades are based on the orchestra’s musical ability alone, or if they are stemming from the respect that the European classical music community harbors for Chung.

An exclusive DG artist since the early 1990s, Chung has recorded with some of the top orchestras in the world from Berlin, Amsterdam and Vienna ,and has worked as the musical director of major French orchestras and opera houses.

Many local critics and fans are awaiting to see how much of a role the DG recording deal will play in expanding SPO’s profile abroad.