INTRODUCTION
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Asiaâs top international orchestras and a regular guest in the most important concert halls worldwide. For its first concert ever in the UAE, the prestigious orchestra will be joined by one of the great violin stars of our time: Korean-American violinist Sarah Chang. Since her debut at the age of eight, as a child prodigy under the direction of Zubin Mehta, violinist Sarah Chang has not ceased to impress the audience with her virtuosity, emotional Depth and refinement.
Under the baton of Music director, Jaap van Zweden, one of todays leading conductors, the orchestra and Sarah Chang will perform Sibeliusâ Violin Concerto in d minor. Written in 1904, the concerto stands in a tradition founded by Mendelssohn and Schumann and alternates symphonic with impressive virtuosic passages that no one better than Sarah Chang could render.
In the second part of the evening, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and Jaap van Zweden will be playing Dmitri Shostakovichâs acclaimed Symphony Nr. 5 in D minor, premiered in 1937. Conceived as a musical pendant to the literary genre of the classical formation novel (Bildungsroman), the symphony follows the different steps of a protagonistâșs psychological, intellectual and moral growth, from childhood until his ability to find his place in society. Through its four movements depicting moments of crisis, respite and final victory, Shostakovichâs fifth displays a masterful, perfectly formed, joyous and life-affirming piece of music. With Beethovenâs Symphony Nr. 5 in C minor that will be played by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in Abu Dhabi on its second concert evening on the 8th of November, Shostakovichâs composition enters a fascinating dialogue where musical self-awareness, grandeur and the theme of artistic salvation stand in the spotlight.
It will be a unique experience for both the young musicians and the Abu Dhabi public and a solid commitment to Abu Dhabi as a UNESCO creative city of Music.
PROGRAMME
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
Jaap van Zweden, conductor
Sarah Chang, violin
Saad Abdel Wahab:
UAE National Anthem (1â)
R. Wagner:
Die Meistersinger, Prelude Act I (9â)
J. Sibelius:
Violin concerto in d minor
op. 47 (35â)
D. Shostakovich:
Symphony no. 5 in d minor op. 47 (44â)
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) became an independent organization in 2005. Under the leadership of the music director Maestro Myung-Whun Chung, the orchestra has widened the repertoire and has been taken to the next level. Worldrenowned Finnish conductor, Osmo VÀnskÀ has taken up the baton as the second music director from 2020. Jaap van Zweden who has served as music director of the New York Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Philharmonic began his 5 year tenure as third music director in January 2024.
With world-renowned guest conductors and soloists, the SPO continues to shape the Korean classical music scene with artistic achievement and programming.
Apart from traditional concerts, the SPO performs a wide range of public concerts including large scale outdoor concert such as âPark Concertâ, âRiverside Concertâ and concerts held nearby you such as âNeighborhood Concertsâ, âKoreaâs National Liberation Day Concertâ, âRush Hour Talk Concertâ and âMuseum Concertâ. Also the SPO runs programs for various ages from âKids Concertâ to digital contents for grown-ups and master classes for young conductors and musicians. Through these programs the SPO contributes to widening classical music audience base and fostering professional classical musicians.
In 2010, the orchestra embarked on its first overseas tour to nine cities in Italy, Germany, Czech Republic and Russia. This followed the orchestraâșs European festival tour 2011, which included the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival. In 2012, the orchestra won standing ovations and wide acclaim for its North American tour. In 2014, the SPO toured 4 European cities, including the BBC Proms, where the orchestra received rave reviews from critics and audiences. In addition, the SPO has established itself as a significant Asian orchestra through performances invited by the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing and the Suntory Hall in Tokyo in 2015. In November 2018, the SPO became a world-class orchestra through touring in Paris and Lucerne. In 2019, SPO finished its Russian tour, serving as the countryâșs cultural diplomat. In 2022, the SPO embarked on a European tour in 4 cities â Salzburg, Amsterdam, Vienna and London, and performed in one of the most prestigious concert halls on the planet, including GroĂes Festspielhaus(Salzburg), Concertgebouw(Amsterdam), Musikverein(Vienna), after which the orchestra reinforced its reputation as the leading orchestra in Asia.
SPO also became the first Asian orchestra to sign a contract with the Deutsche Grammophon label. Some of the SPOâs renowned recordings include masterworks by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and Mahler. A recording of Korean composer Isang Yun conducted by Osmo VĂ€nskĂ€ was released in August 2022 with the BIS label.
JAAP VAN ZWEDEN
Jaap van Zweden, appointed as the 26th Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2018, has also led the Hong Kong Philharmonic since 2012. Beginning his role with the Seoul Philharmonic in January 2024, he will take on the position of Music Director for the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France Paris in September 2026. Renowned for his conducting, van Zweden has directed illustrious orchestras including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At just 19, he made history as the youngest-ever concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, later transitioning to conducting in 1996. In 1997, the van Zwedenâs founded the Papageno Foundation, dedicated to supporting families of children with autism through innovative music therapy initiatives and broader community programmes.
SARAH CHANG Violinist
Recognised as one of the foremost violinists of our time, Sarah Chang has performed with the most esteemed orchestras, conductors, and accompanists in an international career spanning more than two decades. Since her debut with the New York Philharmonic at age eight, Ms. Chang has continued to impress audiences with her technical virtuosity and refined emotional depth.
Highlights from Ms. Changâșs recent and upcoming seasons have included performances with such North American orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Cleveland Symphony, Montreal Symphony, Houston Symphony, Detroit Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and New Jersey Symphony. She has also performed at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Aspen Music Festivals, among others. With a career that has blossomed internationally, her European engagements have taken her to Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, and her engagements in Asia have brought her to audiences in China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. As an accomplished recital and chamber musician, Ms. Chang regularly travels the world, performing with such artists as Pinchas Zukerman, Yefim Bronfman, Leif Ove Andsnes, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Wolfgang Sawallisch, and members of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra.
Ms. Changâs most recent recording for EMI Classics - her 20th for the labelfeatured the Brahms and Bruch violin concertos with Kurt Masur and the Dresdner Philharmonie and received excellent critical and widespread acclaim. Her recording of Vivaldiâs Four Seasons attracted international commendation, with BBC Music Magazine stating: âShe has never made a finer recording.â She has also recorded Prokofiev Violin Concerto No.1 and Shostakovich Violin Concerto No.1 live with the Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle; Fire and Ice, an album of famous shorter works for violin and orchestra with Placido Domingo conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker; the DvoĆĂĄk Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Colin Davis; as well as several chamber music and sonata discs with artists including pianists Leif Ove Andsnes and Lars Vogt.
Along with Pete Sampras, Wynton Marsalis, and Tom Brady, Ms. Chang has been a featured artist in Movadoâs global advertising campaign âThe Art of Time.â In
2006, Ms Chang was honoured as one of the 20 Top Women in Newsweek Magazineâs âWomen and Leadership, 20 Powerful Women Take Chargeâ issue. In March 2008, Ms Chang was honoured as a Young Global Leader for 2008 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) for her professional achievements, commitment to society and potential to shape the worldâșs future.
In 2012, Sarah Chang received the Harvard University Leadership Award, and in 2005, Yale University dedicated a chair in Sprague Hall in her name. For the June 2004 Olympic games, she was given the honour of running with the Olympic Torch in New York, and that same month, she became the youngest person ever to receive the Hollywood Bowlâșs Hall of Fame award. Also in 2004, Ms. Chang was awarded the Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana Prize in Siena, Italy.
Other previous distinctions include the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Gramophoneâs âYoung Artist of the Yearâ award, Germanyâs âEchoâ Schallplattenpreis, âNewcomer of the Yearâ honours at the International Classical Music Awards in London, and Koreaâs âNan Paâ award. In 2011, Ms. Chang was named an official Artistic Ambassador by the United States Department of State.