Seoul Philharmonic appoints Finnish maestro Osmo Vanska as new music director

Maestro Osmo Vanska. Courtesy of Greg Helgeson

Sibelius specialist and 'orchestra builder' maestro Vanska finally fills SPO's music director post, which has been empty since late 2015

By Anna J. Park

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) has appointed Finnish maestro Osmo Vanska, 66, as its new music director for three years from January 2020.

The conductor has served as the Minnesota Orchestra's music director for more than 15 years. He is also a conductor laureate of Finland's Lahti Symphony Orchestra, which he led as chief conductor for 20 years from 1988 to 2008. He is also honorary conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra, which he led from 1993 to 1996.

Vanska is an internationally acclaimed Sibelius and Mahler specialist, with a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance in 2013 for Sibelius Symphonies No. 1 and No. 4. His other orchestral albums on Mahler, Beethoven and Bruckner symphonies were also Grammy-nominated ― in 2001, 2007, 2012 and 2017.

Seoul Philharmonic President and CEO Kang Eun-kyung, also known as Annette Eunkyung Kang, stressed that besides the Finnish conductor's stellar achievements in musicality, his inclusive leadership based on harmony and communication was one of the main reasons for his appointment.

“Maestro Vanska is called an orchestra builder by music critics for his loyalty and commitment to the orchestras that he has led, and for the innovations he brought to those orchestras,” Kang said at a press conference in central Seoul, Thursday. “He is a legendary leader who has continuously developed local orchestras to a world-class level.”

Kang said Vanska has guest-conducted the Seoul Philharmonic four times over the past couple of years and every time produced superb performances that garnered rave reviews from critics and positive feedback from orchestra members.

“During his guest-conducting, the maestro could draw such affection and respect from orchestra members instantly. Such chemistry was shown in the electrifying performances. He also treated the members with affection and kindness, and I hoped he could lead our orchestra,” Kang said, adding she expects the conductor to bring profound inspiration and warmth to the orchestra.

SPO's CEO Annette Eunkyung Kang, right, speaks during a press conference in central Seoul, Thursday. Artistic Advisor Wolfgang Fink, left, and Associate Conductor Wilson Ng, center, also attend the press conference. Courtesy of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

Vanska said he was “super-excited” to take up the new post in Seoul.

“I guest-conducted the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra four times and I always had a great time,” the new music director said in a video message. “The orchestra is full of enthusiasm and full of high skills, with a will to make music. So I am super-excited to be able to start working with that group of musicians.”

The previous music director and chief conductor, maestro Chung Myung-whun, left the Seoul Philharmonic at the end of 2015 amid conflict with the previous CEO.

Finding the next music director was a daunting task.

Chung led the SPO from 2006 to 2015, during which he had developed the orchestra's musical competence to another level. With Chung's lead, the Seoul Philharmonic signed a deal with the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon (DG) label in 2011 to release 10 albums, as Asia's first and still only orchestra to make such a deal.

It has taken three years for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra to appoint its new music director. A committee was formed in early 2016 and thoroughly examined over 300 conductors from around the world. Vanska was chosen from 13 final candidates.

Kang, who has been leading the orchestra since March last year, vowed to enhance the philharmonic's system to provide more stable and firm conditions for musicians.

“One of the key goals as the CEO, I'd like to build a more stable system under which our orchestra members can grow fully musically and perform at their best, regardless of changes in music directors or any other external changes,” Kang said.

Meanwhile, the Seoul Philharmonic also renewed its contracts with principal guest conductor Thierry Fischer and conductor-in-residence Markus Stenz. The philharmonic appointed Wolfgang Fink, former CEO of the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, as its new artistic adviser at the end of last year. Wilson Ng from Hong Kong has been serving as the orchestra's associate conductor since January.