French Violinist Renaud Capuçon to Perform with Seoul Philharmonic for First Time in 8 Years

Renaud Capuçon to perform Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 3 and Sinfonia Concertante
Conducted by Music Director Jaap van Zweden, with principal violist Kang Yoonji joining as soloist

French violinist Renaud Capuçon, one of the country's leading performers, will perform with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time in eight years.

Marking the 270th anniversary of Mozart's birth, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will present its regular concert, “Jaap van Zweden Conducts Mozart's ‘Jupiter,’” featuring only Mozart's works, at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on October 15 and 16. The program will feature Violin Concerto No. 3, which showcases the vitality and lyricism of the young Mozart; Sinfonia Concertante, noted for its rich dialogue between violin and viola; and Mozart's final Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.”

Capuçon will perform Violin Concerto No. 3, followed by Sinfonia Concertante with Kang Yoonji, principal viola of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. Jaap van Zweden, music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, will conduct.

Violinist Renaud Capuçon. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (c) Universal Music

Composed by Mozart in 1775, Violin Concerto No. 3 showcases the young composer's lyricism and vitality. In the slow second movement, the solo violin unfolds a long, songlike melody, while the final movement features a dance-like tune that combines cheerfulness and elegance.

In Sinfonia Concertante, the violin and viola lead the music as if engaged in a conversation. The work is regarded as a masterpiece that combines the brilliance of a concerto, the subtlety of chamber music and the richness of symphonic music.

Born in 1976 in Chambéry, France, Capuçon studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris and later studied with Thomas Brandis and Isaac Stern. In 1997, at the invitation of Claudio Abbado, he became concertmaster of the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and performed with such renowned conductors as Pierre Boulez and Seiji Ozawa. Since 2021, he has served as artistic director of the Lausanne Chamber Orchestra, combining performing and conducting. He has received France's National Order of Merit and the rank of Chevalier in the Legion of Honour.

Joining him as a soloist, Kang Yoonji studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory and serves as principal viola of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

The concert will conclude with Mozart's final symphony, Symphony No. 41, “Jupiter.” It is one of the last three symphonies Mozart wrote in 1788 (Nos. 39-41) and is distinguished by its exceptional craftsmanship and artistic achievement. Like its nickname, which refers to Jupiter, the chief god of Greco-Roman mythology, the work features a majestic orchestral sound and intricate construction. Its grand orchestral sonority and tightly woven structure are especially evident in the fourth movement, where five main themes intertwine contrapuntally to reach a climax.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's program marking the 270th anniversary of Mozart's birth will continue for two weeks. On October 23 at Lotte Concert Hall and October 24 at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center, the orchestra will perform Mozart's “Requiem” under the baton of Music Director Jaap van Zweden. Over the two weeks, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will spotlight Mozart's musical world through concertos, symphonies and choral music.

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