Celebrated conductor waves baton in Europe

On a tour of music festivals in Germany, Spain and Scotland, maestro will lead the world's best orchestras, Chen Nan reports.

Conductor Myung-Whun Chung, who has collaborated with many of the world's leading orchestras during his decades-long career, prefers to focus on building long-term, deep relationships with a small selection of orchestras.

Since first collaborating with the China NCPA Orchestra in 2014, the conductor says he has developed a strong and harmonious connection with the Chinese orchestra, describing it as a "good friend who understands me".

This mutual understanding is not just reflected in technical precision but also in the emotional resonance of their combined musical expression.

The China NCPA Orchestra is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year and will tour Europe with Chung.

From Wednesday to Aug 15, they will tour some of Europe's leading festivals, including the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, the Santander International Festival in Spain, and the International Music festival Koblenz and Elbphilharmonie Summer festival in Germany.

Under Chung's direction, the orchestra will perform a selection of classical Western music pieces, including Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major, Camille Saint-Saens' Third Symphony, and Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet suites.

Chen Qigang's Wu Xing (The Five Elements), a 10-minute work comprising five short portrayals of metal, wood, water, fire and earth will also be performed on the tour.

Pianist Bruce Liu, the first-prize winner at the 18th Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, will join the tour.

"Normally, Western orchestras come to Asia. But now, it's a worldwide sharing of music, which shows the growth and quality of the musicians (from Asia). The orchestra has made great achievements in a short time. We have completed eight rehearsals and they understand me. It's a very warm collaboration," says Chung at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on July 25.

On July 26 and 27, the conductor led the China NCPA Orchestra in two European tour preview concerts at the NCPA.