Jaap van Zweden, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)'s new music director, speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Nov, 20, in this photo provided by the SPO. Yonhap
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)'s new music director on Monday pledged to closely collaborate with Korean musicians and artists, nurture young conductors and embark on global tours during his five-year tenure starting in January 2024.
Jaap van Zweden, the New York Philharmonic's music director, was appointed as the SPO's new director early this year.
The Dutch maestro stressed the importance of collaborating with all art organizations of the city, ranging from opera to ballet, at a press conference outlining his vision and music programs for the 2024 season.
Working together with them is "central and extremely important" for him to "recognize the strength of Korea," van Zweden said, adding Seoul is not only the city of music but also a city of art.
He also emphasized the importance of global tours in improving the ensemble's competence and international profile.
"If you want to have an international sound and reputation, you have to go international. So we are looking at touring in the U.S., Europe and of course in the East Asia," the maestro said.
The director further elaborated on his plan to nurture young Korean conductors, suggesting, for example, holding "an open audition" to select some talented ones and invite them to work together with the SPO, similar to a program he ran in Switzerland.
"I see it as my responsibility, and our responsibility, that we treasure talent from this country," he said, adding, "I see it as my duty to develop a relationship with young conductors."
He said he started the Swiss conductor nurturing program in 2016 with only four students, but the program received a staggering 284 applications last year.
While van Zweden's tenure officially starts in January, he has already conducted the SPO four times this year — two for the SPO's regular programs and another two at free public concerts.
"After a few weeks of working with the SPO, we started to get to know each other. I can feel, sort of, starting a love affair (with it) to make music together, and we are, I would say, on a musical safari in a way."
"It is a huge joy for me to work finally with the Korean orchestra and to see all this incredible talent coming together and to see what kind of a journey we can make in the coming five years," he said.
The ensemble is set to perform with pianist Lim Yunchan at its first official performance in early January to mark its new chapter with van Zweden.
The concert, titled "New Era with Jaap van Zweden," is slated for Jan. 25-26 and marks Lim's first collaboration with the SPO.
Lim, the youngest winner of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, will join the orchestra for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor."
The SPO said it plans to record all the symphonies by German composer Gustav Mahler during van Zweden's tenure. (Yonhap)
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