Next Year, Mahler Will Be Everywhere at Korean Orchestras

In Monday’s (12/1) Chosun Daily (South Korea), Kim Sung-hyun writes, “Gustav Mahler (1860–1911) …believed that ‘a symphony must be like a world that encompasses everything.’ This conviction seems to have resonated: next year will be a Mahler harvest. Following the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Jaap van Zweden) and the KBS Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Chung Myung-hoon), the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Choi Soo-yul) is also joining the Mahler symphony series. The Mahlerian Orchestra (conducted by Jin Sol), the first private ensemble to perform Mahler’s complete symphonies, has elevated Mahler to the status of the most popular composer among Korean orchestras. The Seoul Philharmonic will continue its ‘Mahler odyssey’ next year after performing Symphony No. 1 last year, Symphony No. 2 (‘Resurrection’) and No. 7 this year…. Van Zweden, who became the Seoul Philharmonic’s music director last year, stated, ‘I plan to perform and record all of Mahler’s symphonies over my five-year tenure.’… Next year, Mahler’s monumental [Symphony No. 8] will resonate across the country. The Busan Philharmonic (conducted by Hong Seok-won) will perform Symphony No. 8… on June 18. The Mahlerian Orchestra, founded by conductor Jin Sol, will also perform Symphony No. 8 … on April 30.”