Nov. 21 will be an interesting day for classical music fans: Two noted German orchestras will perform in Seoul on the day.

Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks (Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra) will be performing at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall in southern Seoul at 8 p.m. while Deutsche Radio Philharmonie will be playing at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts at the same time. Both orchestras are performing in Seoul for the first time.

“November has always been the hottest month for the classical music industry because people finally focus on listening to classical music when the air is crisp and chilly,” said music critic Jake T. Ryu. “It’s a shame that people will have to choose between the two orchestras, but if you look at the programs carefully you might get a hint,” he added. 

Bayern: the powerhouse

Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestera led by acclaimed conductor Mariss Jansons will perform Beethoven Symphony Nos. 2 and 3 on Nov. 20, and Nos. 6 and 7 the following day.

“Bayern orchestra was always very famous but in recent times it has gotten even better,” said Jang Il-bum, a music columnist. Gramophone magazine once placed it at No. 6 on a list of the world’s best orchestras.

The fact that the orchestra is led by Jansons is even more attractive. Jansons, the protg of maestros Herbert von Karajan and Yevgeny Mravinsky, has successfully led his orchestra to become one of the top two orchestras in Germany alongside the Berlin Philhamonic, Jang said.

Jansons has shown particular talent in expressing the romantic side of works and is expected to bring out the best out of Beethoven. The maestro is expected to make the most of Bayern’s signature sound -― the rich sound and tempo of southern Germany. “Those who can fill the whole program with Beethoven symphonies should be very bold. Bayern deserves it. We should watch how he will interpret the grave and grand world of Beethoven,” Jang said. 

Deutsche: Standard with variety

Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, established in 2007 through the merger of Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Saarbrcken and Radio Orchestra Kaiserslautern, are familiar to Koreans since the Korean maestro Chung Myung-whun led the Saarbrcken Orchestra in his early days as a conductor.

The orchestra led by the young and ambitious Briton, Karel Mark Chichon, will feature Beethoven’s “Coriolan Overture,” Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 with the noted violinist Viviane Hagner, and Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68.

“I have seen several concerts of Chichon and was impressed that he was a very diligent and standard conductor. I think Korean music fans will not be let down,” Ryu said.

Hagner’s performance is also highly anticipated. “Hagner is a renowned vioinist in Europe and she has already gained fandom in Korea. She is powerful and at the same time delicate. The audience is going to love her performance,” Ryu added.

Commentators said the diversity of the program and featured artist will attract those new to classical music. “It is also a concert to wait for,” Ryu said.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)