Seoul's classical music scene is experiencing an extraordinary month as world-renowned orchestras continue to grace the city's stages. Following last week's remarkable performances by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Edward Gardner and the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra led by Lio Kuokman, both featuring Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with Korea's finest pianists Son Yeol-eum and Sunwoo Yekwon respectively, this week presents another spectacular musical showcase.
Two distinguished conductors with deep connections to the New York Philharmonic are set to captivate Korean audiences with their respective ensembles. Alan Gilbert, who served as the New York Philharmonic's music director from 2009 to 2017, and Gustavo Dudamel, who will assume the same prestigious position in 2026, are each leading orchestras with which they share profound artistic bonds.
Gustavo Dudamel arrives in Seoul with the Los Angeles Philharmonic for two monumental concerts at the Seoul Arts Center on Tuesday and Wednesday. This visit marks not only the orchestra's highly anticipated return to Korea but also represents a historic milestone in Dudamel's illustrious career. The international tour serves as his farewell as music and artistic director of the LA Phil before transitioning to his new role with the New York Philharmonic.
Dudamel's tenure with the LA Philharmonic spans an impressive 17 years, having become music director in 2009 at just 28 years old, making him the youngest in the orchestra's history. Under his visionary leadership, the ensemble has evolved into one of the world's most innovative and forward-thinking orchestras, earning widespread recognition for its bold programming choices, extensive community engagement initiatives, and groundbreaking collaborations across various musical genres.
Tuesday's program features Gustav Mahler's monumental Symphony No. 2, "Resurrection," a profound large-scale composition that journeys from themes of death and existential struggle toward spiritual renewal and rebirth. This massive work requires an ensemble of more than 200 musicians, bringing together the full orchestra with chorus and vocal soloists. The performance will feature soprano Chen Reiss and mezzo-soprano Beth Taylor, accompanied by the Seongnam City Chorus and Paju Civic Choir.
Wednesday's concert presents a contrasting yet equally compelling program, opening with John Adams' contemporary work "Frenzy," followed by Igor Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite" and "The Rite of Spring." Reflecting on the significance of Stravinsky's revolutionary ballet score, Dudamel notes, "If the LA Phil has a signature piece, it's 'The Rite of Spring.' It still feels bold, modern and full of energy – just like this orchestra."
Following their Seoul performances, the LA Philharmonic will continue their comprehensive Asia tour with concerts in Tokyo on Friday and Saturday, before concluding with performances in Taipei from October 28 to 30.
Meanwhile, Alan Gilbert returns to Korea for his fourth visit, though this marks his debut appearance with the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, which is making its own return to Seoul after a decade-long absence. Gilbert's relationship with this Hamburg-based ensemble dates back to 2001, and in a recent email interview, he described their artistic connection as knowing each other "inside and out."
"I feel like I can be most myself when I conduct this orchestra, and I dare say that the musicians really feel that they can give of themselves in a very personal way as well, and that translates to the audience experience," Gilbert explained. "It's something that I'm very proud of, and I love sharing that around the world." Gilbert has served as the orchestra's principal conductor since 2019.
The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra's program, scheduled for Wednesday at Lotte Concert Hall, ventures beyond traditional crowd-pleasers with an intellectually engaging selection. The evening opens with the Korean premiere of Anna Clyne's "Restless Oceans," which Gilbert describes as a work "about women and about the empowerment and place of women in the world." The program continues with Johannes Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77, featuring the orchestra's 2023-24 artist-in-residence Joshua Bell as soloist, and concludes with Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 7, Op. 70.
The musical celebrations extend beyond Seoul, as the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra will present the same program at Daegu Concert House on Thursday, as part of Daegu's 2025 World Orchestra Festival, bringing world-class classical music to audiences throughout South Korea.
