In Tuesday’s (11/16) Korea Times (Seoul), Lee Hyo-won writes, “It would be an understatement to say that much has changed since the last time the Cleveland Orchestra played in Korea, 32 years ago under the baton of Lorin Maazel. Back in 1978, it was a rare occasion for local classical music aficionados to hear a world-class foreign orchestra live—the upcoming concert on Saturday comes on the back of those by such ensembles as the Israel Philharmonic and Royal Concertgebouw. It will take place at the Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex in Gyeonggi Province, a new hall, barely six-years-old with state-of-the-art acoustics, catering to the ever-growing demand for live music performances outside the arts capital of Seoul.” The orchestra “is expected to deliver a powerful, roof-raising experience with Debussy’s Prelude to ‘L’Après-midi d’un faune,’ Mozart’s Divertimento in D major, K. 136 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica.’ … The Cleveland Orchestra made its Korean debut in 1970 and visited again in 1978. It may have taken a few decades for the ensemble to return, but it shares other strong ties with the country. … The orchestra’s associate concertmaster also happens to be a Seoul native.”
Posted November 16, 2010
