Maestro Chung Myung-whun Conducts Beethoven's Ninth in Hometown Busan
Creatrip Team
21 days ago
World-renowned conductor Chung Myung-whun, born in Busan, returned to his hometown to lead the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) in Beethoven's Symphony No.9 “Choral” at the Busan Concert Hall’s first anniversary concert. The program repeated the piece that opened the hall a year earlier. Chung, who formed the APO himself, received rapturous applause and performed to a sold-out house. Critics highlighted his masterful control in the second movement, especially the dialogue with the timpani, and the emotionally powerful fourth movement—Beethoven’s revolutionary addition of voices to the symphony—brought some audience members to tears. Soloists included baritone Park Joo-sung, soprano Lee Hye-ji, mezzo Yang Song-mi, and tenor Kim Jung-hoon, joined by about 90 singers from the Busan and Ulsan city choirs. Chung infused Beethoven’s message of joy and solidarity into the finale with expressive conducting gestures. He is also scheduled to appear as pianist during the hall’s anniversary festival on the 8th, performing works such as Brahms’s Piano Quartet No.3. (Busan Concert Hall: 부산콘서트홀)
