Friday evening will be a historical moment for the 56-year-old KBS Symphony Orchestra as it will stage its very first performance as an incorporated foundation at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. The transition was made in September.

Russian conductor, Mikhail Pletnev, has a heavy load on his shoulders as he is expected to lead the orchestra, which suffered an internal dispute over the former chief conductor Hahm Shin-ik and other members for nearly a year. The orchestra management hinted that if the conductor and the players gel, Pletnev is likely to be appointed as the chief conductor.

At the concert, the orchestra will feature Liszt’s Sinfonische Dichtung No. 4 “Orpheus”; Brahms’ Concerto for Violin D Major, Op.77; and Tchaikovsky’s Suite No.3 in G Major, Op.55. 

“These pieces (Liszt and Tchaikovsky) are not played very often, but they give great opportunity to each group to show its quality. And the music is simply fantastic,” Pletnev said in a written interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday.

The maestro, who is famous for founding and then leading the Russian National Orchestra for 25 years, expressed his excitement.

“I never conducted any Korean unit before but I played with some Korean soloists. I have the impression the orchestra members are very willing to play good music,” he said.

Pletnev, who is acquainted with Korean classical fans as a celebrated pianist, will be joined by violinist Alina Pogostkina, who made international headlines by winning the International Jean Sibelius Violin Competition in 2005. She is expected to present a romantic but powerful and appealing side of Brahms to the audience.

“When I am conducting I want to transmit some of my admiration towards the music to the audience. The difference between a listener and a performer is that the listeners can admire something and the performer can make listeners feel something. And in fact, everything depends on his skills. There are some performers who have good skills and are able to make other people admire the works they perform. Therefore these people become their fans,” Pletnev said.

“If the audience will miss something in my music making then it will be my fault, not audience’s one,” the maestro joked.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)