A Majestic Single Work: Vienna Philharmonic and Tillemann's Bruckner in Seoul
Creatrip Team
10 months ago
On Nov. 20 at Seoul Arts Center, the Vienna Philharmonic, led by conductor Christian Thielemann, performed only Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 5 — an approximate 80-minute, demanding masterpiece. Thielemann, known for his German-Austrian Romantic interpretations and recently named an honorary member of the orchestra, returned to Korea with the Vienna Philharmonic after six years. The performance opened with a slow introduction featuring low strings’ pizzicato (a technique where strings are plucked), then unfolded through delicate string lines and powerful brass, building to a dramatic fourth movement likened to the speed of a German autobahn (highway). Thielemann’s restrained gestures and precise communication with principal players shaped the nuanced dynamics; after the final chord he held his baton aloft for about 30 seconds, creating a hushed pause before the audience released thunderous applause. Though the concert offered no encore, the orchestra’s golden sound, balance and depth left a lasting impression on the autumn evening.
