The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Europe's most venerable musical institutions with over 300 years of history, is making its highly anticipated Korean debut this week with a comprehensive three-city tour. Under the baton of 35-year-old Georgian-born conductor Kakhi Solomnishvili, the orchestra will perform in Daegu, Seoul, and Goyang in Gyeonggi Province, marking a significant milestone in cultural exchange between Slovenia and South Korea.
This historic visit comes at a pivotal moment in diplomatic relations between the two nations. While Slovenia and South Korea have maintained official diplomatic ties since 1992, meaningful cultural and artistic exchanges remained relatively limited for three decades. The landscape began to shift dramatically with the opening of Slovenia's embassy in Seoul in 2022, followed by Korea's establishment of its own diplomatic mission in Ljubljana this year. The orchestra's tour represents a new chapter in deepening these bilateral connections through the universal language of classical music.
Leading this groundbreaking musical initiative is Principal Conductor Kakhi Solomnishvili, a rising maestro who has been working closely with the Ljubljana-based ensemble since 2023 before formally assuming the orchestra's top position in 2024. Solomnishvili brings both youthful energy and considerable expertise to the podium, having built an impressive reputation in the classical music world despite his relatively young age.
Each of the three concerts, running from Wednesday through Friday, will open with a specially selected work that offers Korean audiences direct insight into Slovenian musical heritage and national character. The program begins with the overture to "The Fairy Child," a singspiel composed by prominent Slovenian composer Jurij Mihevec, who lived from 1805 to 1882. This choice reflects the orchestra's deliberate intention to introduce Korean audiences to authentic Slovenian musical traditions.
"We chose the overture because it depicts that cheerful and carefree part of the Slovenian temperament," Solomnishvili explained in a recent email interview. "It is not demanding to listen to -- though very demanding to perform -- and we wanted to express, in the Slovenian way, the joy and happiness of our first visit to your country and share it with the Korean audience."
Solomnishvili characterizes his orchestra as possessing a unique combination of discipline and deep expressiveness, qualities that define their distinctive sound. "This balance shapes the orchestra's sound: precise, transparent and lyrical, with a natural emotional depth," he said. "The Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra is an exceptional ensemble with a rich history, a profound culture of performance and deep-rooted traditions. However, I believe their most remarkable quality is their sensitivity. I am always deeply impressed by how expressive and musical this orchestra is, and I'm sure this will captivate the Korean audience as well."
The carefully curated repertoire for the Korean tour demonstrates the orchestra's remarkable versatility and international appeal. For the performances at Daegu Concert House on Wednesday and Aram Nuri Arts Center in Goyang on Friday, the ensemble has selected Rachmaninoff's beloved Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18, featuring distinguished pianist Sohn Min-soo. Notably, Sohn Min-soo served as the teacher of Lim Yunchan, who made international headlines as the youngest winner of the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The concerto will be followed by Brahms' monumental Symphony No. 1, Op. 68.
The Seoul performance at Lotte Concert Hall on Thursday will feature a slight but significant variation in programming. While maintaining the Slovenian overture and Rachmaninoff concerto, the evening will conclude with Tchaikovsky's emotionally powerful Symphony No. 5, Op. 64, instead of the Brahms symphony, offering Seoul audiences a different but equally compelling musical experience.
For Conductor Solomnishvili, these carefully chosen works carry deep personal significance and represent artistic challenges he has long wished to tackle. "It has always been my great wish to perform Brahms No. 1 Symphony, as I believe it is a major challenge to preserve the classical form and structure while allowing the work to sound as one of the greatest symphonies of the Romantic era," he explained with evident enthusiasm.
Regarding the Tchaikovsky selection for the Seoul concert, Solomnishvili revealed an even more intimate connection to the Russian composer's work. "Tchaikovsky's music, meanwhile, is very close to my heart. Having conducted his ballets for many years, I consider his music to be among the most sensitive ever written, and I believe the Slovenian Philharmonic interprets it with exceptional warmth," he said. This personal attachment to Tchaikovsky's compositions promises to bring special depth and authenticity to Thursday evening's Seoul performance, offering audiences the opportunity to experience these masterworks through the lens of both the conductor's expertise and the orchestra's distinctive interpretative approach.
