A Majestic Single Work: Vienna Philharmonic and Tillemann's Bruckner in Seoul
Creatrip Team
3 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.
