Maestro Mariss Jansons to perform in Seoul next week

Conductor Mariss Jansons has great influence in the global classic music arena. In 2008, the British music magazine Gramophone ranked the Netherlands’ Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, of which Jansons is the chief conductor, the world’s best orchestra. Germany’s Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, another orchestra led by Jansons, was ranked in the 6th by the magazine. Jasons drew the public’s attention by earning the title of the only conductor who is in charge of two orchestras inside the top 10.

Jansons and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra will perform at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. This concert is his 5th concert in Korea in two years. Just ahead of the concert, the Dong-A Ilbo had an e-mail interview with the greatest maestro of our age.

Regarding the ranking of orchestras, Jansons humbly said, “It feels great as the orchestras that I am leading are globally recognized. But music is not a sport, it is hard to measure who is the best.” Jansons will leave the chief conductor position of Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra after 2014-2015 seasons due to his health issues. For the time being, he plans to focus on the role of chief conductor in BRSO.

“Various programs are prepared for the concert in Korea. I made a program with songs that I have never presented before in Korea,” said Jansons. “In the concert on Tuesday, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra will present Dvorak’s Symphony No.9 `From the New World` and an orchestral version of Mussorgsky’s ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ arranged by Ravel. On Wednesday, ‘Don Juan’ and ‘The Knight of the Rose’ of Richard Strauss will be performed celebrating Strauss`s 150th anniversary. Also, Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5 will be played."

The most anticipated piece of music in the program is Shostakovich’s Symphony No.5, a finale of the concert on Wednesday. This is called a beloved repertoire to Jansons’ fans. Shostakovich’s Symphony is Jansons’ favorite and the Symphony No.5 is best known piece of music to the public. Jansons is known as a "Shostakovich specialist" since he has recorded all symphonies of the Russian composer over 17 years.

“I would like audiences to visit the concert knowing the reason why Shostakovich composed this music and historical backgrounds that he wanted to express through this music. Such understanding on the hidden stories of music is great help to understand and enjoy the music,” said Jansons.