September 22, 2016
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra Appoints Markus Stenz as Conductor-in-Residence
Molina Visuals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (Heung-Sik Choe, President and CEO) is delighted to announce two major new appointments to its artistic leadership. Thierry Fischer has been appointed Principal Guest Conductor and Markus Stenz Conductor-in-Residence, with effect from the start of the 2017 season. Both conductors were appointed by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on the basis of the recommendation of a committee, with its seven members including the Seoul Philharmonic's CEO, musicians from and outside the orchestra, a music critic, a conductor and a music manager.

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is one of Asia’s longest-established orchestras, with a history dating back to 1945. Under conductors including JaeDong Jeong, Mark Ermler and most recently Myung-Whun Chung, it has built a strong international profile as South Korea’s flagship orchestra. Its achievements in recent years include award-winning recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and performances at major international venues including Walt Disney Hall, BBC Proms, Beijing NCPA and Grafenegg Festival. These new appointments, which will each run for three years from January 2017, will further strengthen the SPO’s artistic profile, with both artists appearing frequently in the 2017 season. Between them, they will conduct at least 25% of the SPO’s 40 subscription concerts.

About the two new appointments, Choe Heungshik, CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra says:
“We are thrilled that Thierry Fischer and Markus Stenz, two first-class conductors of international stature, have accepted the invitation to work more closely with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. There is no doubt that both will inspire all of us at the SPO to ever greater achievements. We truly look forward to a new chapter of ambitious music-making and creative programming!”

Markus Stenz, a native of Germany, is best-known for his 11-year tenure as principal conductor of the Gürzenich Orchestra, Cologne, in which he excelled both in contemporary music and the great German symphonic repertoire. His recent recording of Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder won the 2016 Gramophone Award for Choral Music. His strengths will complement Maestro Fischer’s, and in 2017 he will conduct music by Berlioz, Liszt, Schumann, and Bruckner, collaborating with pianist Deszö Ranki and cellist Alban Gerhardt. Markus Stenz says:
“It is an honor and privilege to be associated with the SPO as Conductor in Residence. When performing Mahler together I felt such openness from the orchestra for being flexible and living the music with full heart and mind. The orchestra has a wonderful care for sound and a skillful, vibrant and intense way of playing. I am looking forward to exploring the orchestras refinement and tailoring it to the various eras of music.”

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