Artnews

China Symphony plans concerts in Seoul

The China National Symphony Orchestra, one of the best known ensembles in the country of 1.3 billion people, will hold two concerts at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall and the main theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on March 21 and 23, respectively.

The event is planned to celebrate the 15th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and China and will also feature renowned Korean virtuoso collaborators, pianist Kang Choong-mo and violinist Kang Dong-suk.

Founded in 1956 as the Central Philharmonic Orchestra, the symphony was renamed the China National Symphony Orchestra in 1996. The orchestra boasts some of China's best musicians, including violinist Liu Yunzhi who, along with conductor Li Xincao, is always a box office guarantee for the Beijing Concert Hall, the home venue of the orchestra.

The China National Symphony Orchestra
Currently the orchestra is being led by two outstanding musicians: Guan Xia, one of China's top composers and the orchestra's general manager and director, and Li Xincao, 36-year-old resident conductor of the ensemble. Born in Kaifeng, Henan province, in 1957, Guan graduated from the Central Academy of Music in Beijing. Guan's latest major work, the symphonic musical drama "Mulan Joins the Army," created a nationwide sensation after its premier at the Poly Theater in Beijing in 2004.

Young and promising Li was the winner of the First China Conducting Competition in 1993 and second prize winner at the 45th Besancon International Conducting Competition in France. The conductor has received particular praise for his excellent interpretation of German and Austrian works as well as Chinese contemporary pieces.

With the Korean violinist as a soloist, the orchestra will perform Sibelius' Violin Concerto, d minor Op. 47 and Rachmaninov's Symphony No. 2 in e minor Op. 27 at the first concert. The second concert program features Rachmaninov's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" Op. 43, Chinese composer Xu Zhenmin's "Tone Poem: Night Mooning at Maple Bridge" and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 in e minor Op. 93, with pianist Kang on the piano.

The pianist, who is the winner of the Pacific International Piano Competition and the Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition, is widely loved by the music fans for his exceptional skills and friendly manner, while the violinist is known for his outstanding artistry and ability, at home and abroad.

Tickets range from 50,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2068-8000.

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