Why Munich Philharmonic’s Upcoming Concert in Korea is a Must-See for Classical Music Lovers

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“Seong-Jin Cho is a pianist with top-tier technique and an artist who possesses a singular musical voice.”

Lahav Shani, the conductor widely seen as a rising generation leader, offered that appraisal of soloist Seong-Jin Cho at a press conference ahead of the conductor’s visit to South Korea.

The Munich Philharmonic, famed for its traditional German sound, arrives with Shani to perform in Seoul, Incheon and other cities from the 5th through the 12th. The dates are part of an Asia tour that also includes Taiwan and Japan, with Cho appearing as the piano soloist.

Born in 1989, Shani earned first place at the 2013 Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition and has since expanded his career as both a pianist and conductor on the international stage. He succeeded Zubin Mehta as music director of the Israel Philharmonic in 2020 and will begin his tenure as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic this September.

A trained pianist himself, Shani spoke highly of Cho’s abilities. “He’s already a performer at the highest level,” Shani said. “He has a remarkable gift for bringing out very different colors in pieces of contrasting character—take the Beethoven and Prokofiev concertos on this program.” He added, “Prokofiev demands force and advanced technique, and Cho controls those elements perfectly. In Beethoven, he naturally finds light, lyrical phrasing.”

The program also includes symphonies by Mahler and Brahms. Founded in 1893, the Munich Philharmonic is known for premiering Mahler’s Fourth and Eighth Symphonies. Florian Bigandt, who joined the press conference, said, “Mahler is written into the Munich Philharmonic’s DNA,” and noted that “Brahms is core repertoire the orchestra has cultivated with world-class conductors such as Christian Thielemann.”

The orchestra arrived in South Korea after presenting the same program in Taiwan. In Taipei, an unexpected earthquake occurred during a performance of Mahler’s First Symphony, but the musicians completed the concert without incident.

Shani also emphasized the Munich Philharmonic’s distinct character. “Many symphony orchestras’ tonal profiles have begun to converge, but this ensemble preserves a unique color,” he said. “Its lush sonority and relaxed lyricism are real strengths.”

Organizers expressed high expectations for the South Korea concerts. Bigandt praised Korean audiences as “among the best in the world,” noting their intelligence and concentration. He added that the orchestra plans to return next year to perform Bruckner’s Seventh Symphony.