Star Performers from Berlin's Prestigious Orchestras to Collaborate with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

"Master Horn Player" Stefan Dohr, Principal of the Berlin Philharmonic
Collaborates with Jiyoon Lee, Concertmaster of the Berlin Staatskapelle

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will collaborate in a series of concerts with world-class musicians from two of Berlin's most prestigious ensembles: the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Berlin Staatskapelle.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra announced that it will hold the chamber music concert "Chamber Classics IV: Czech" at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei on July 8, and the regular performance "Jiyoon Lee's Dvorak Violin Concerto" at Lotte Concert Hall on July 10.

At the July 8 concert, Stefan Dohr, Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and widely regarded as one of the world's greatest horn players, will appear as a soloist. On July 10, violinist Jiyoon Lee, the youngest and first East Asian woman to become a tenured concertmaster of the Berlin Staatskapelle, will perform Dvorak's Violin Concerto as a soloist.

Stefan Dohr, Principal Horn of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
(c)Simon Pauly

The concert on July 8 will open with Czech composer Zdenek Fibich's "Quintet for Violin, Clarinet, Horn, Cello, and Piano." This piece blends Czech national sentiment with the refined language of German Romanticism, harmonizing the warm melodies of the violin and cello, the gentle timbre of the clarinet and horn, and the rich resonance of the piano.

Next, Dohr will present "Appel Interstellaire" ("Call to the Stars") from Olivier Messiaen's monumental work "Des Canyons aux étoiles..." ("From the Canyons to the Stars...") as a horn solo. This piece, performed exclusively on solo horn, creates a vast sense of space and mysterious soundscape, demanding extreme technical prowess from the musician. Since joining the Berlin Philharmonic in 1993, Dohr has led the horn section and built a global reputation as a horn player with a repertoire that spans from classical to contemporary music.

The concert will conclude with Dvorak's "Serenade for Wind Instruments." This work is characterized by its classical balance, romantic sentiment, distinctive Bohemian melodies, and lively rhythms, offering the warm and rich resonance unique to wind ensembles.

The July 10 concert will open with Dvorak's "Violin Concerto," performed by Jiyoon Lee. This is the only violin concerto composed by Dvorak and, though performed less frequently than his cello concerto, is regarded as a masterpiece that exemplifies his musical world. Written for the renowned violinist Joseph Joachim, the piece perfectly combines deep Bohemian lyricism and the unique vitality of Czech dance music, showcasing Dvorak's signature warmth and clarity.

Jiyoon Lee, Concertmaster of the Berlin Staatskapelle. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (c)koiworks

Soloist Jiyoon Lee is the first East Asian woman to become a tenured concertmaster of the Berlin Staatskapelle and is also active internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. She gained international recognition by winning prizes at the 2015 Queen Elisabeth International Competition, as well as first prizes at the Carl Nielsen International Competition and the David Oistrakh International Competition. Her debut album "Korngold and Nielsen Concertos," released in 2018, was selected as "Concerto Choice" by BBC Music Magazine and "Editor's Choice" by Gramophone Magazine, receiving high praise from critics.

The second half of the concert will feature Sibelius's "Symphony No. 1," an early masterpiece that captures the vast nature of Northern Europe and the national sentiment of Finland in a grand orchestral sound. The emotional intensity of late Romanticism and the cool sonorities unique to Northern Europe intertwine, using rich orchestration to vividly depict the landscapes of nature and the inner emotions of humanity reflected within them.

The evening will be conducted by Aziz Shokhakimov, Music Director of the Strasbourg Philharmonic. Shokhakimov gained international recognition after placing second at the Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in 2010 and receiving the "Young Conductors Award" at the Salzburg Festival in 2016. From 2015 to 2021, he served as Chief Conductor of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and he is currently Music Director of the Strasbourg Philharmonic and Artistic Director of the Tekfen Philharmonic.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.