The renowned National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C., led by musical director Ivan Fischer of Hungary, will offer concerts on June 18 at Seoul Arts Center and June 19 at Goyang Ararmnuri Theater.

It is the symphony`s first concert in the country in 26 years. The last time it visited Korea was in 1983.

The NSO, the in-house orchestra of the John. F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, officially represents the U.S. government and congress. Its colors are truly "American" - full of energy, according to a spokesperson for Vincero, which organized the concerts.



Fischer, who has been with the symphony since 2008, will lead the concerts in which diverse tunes, including Richard Wagner`s overture to "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg," Felix Mendelssohn`s violin concerto and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky`s symphony No. 5 will be played.

Fischer has proven appealing to the local audience in 2005 and 2007, thanks to is touching and lyrical orchestration rooted in his Bohemian heritage while leading the Budapest Festival Orchestra, which he founded in 1983.

Danish violinist Nikolaj Znaider will perform with the symphony for the June 18 stage. Znaider is often referred to as one of the best violinists in the world, along with artists like Vadim Repin and Frank Peter Zimmermann.

Up-and-coming Korean violinist Shin Hyun-soo, the winner of the prestigious 2008 Long Thibaud International Violin Competition, will collaborate with the symphony on June 19. Shin, who is currently studying at Korea National University of Arts under master violinist Kim Nam-youn, has been gaining growing attention in the industry.

The national symphony, since being established in 1931, has been performing for such key events of the U.S. government as the inaugural ceremony of the President and the Memorial Day. It also presents around 175 subscription concerts every year. Fischer, especially, has been receiving comments that he has added a sense of sharpness to the orchestra`s traditional deep sound.

Renowned maestros including Antal Dorati and Mstislav Rostropovich have previously served as musical directors of the symphony. The concerts will be at 8 p.m. Tickets run from 50,000 won to 120,000 won. For details, call 1577-7766 or go to www.artgy.or.kr

(youngaah@heraldm.com)



By Koh Young-aah