Ahead of 2027, which marks the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's death and the 130th anniversary of Brahms' death, conductor Chung Myung-whun and pianist Kim Sun-wook will present works by both composers on a single stage.
The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts said on the 15th that it will host "2026 Sejong Orchestra Series — Beethoven + Brahms," featuring Chung, Kim and the KBS Symphony Orchestra, at its Grand Theater on Oct. 4.
Next year marks 200 years since Beethoven's death and 130 years since Brahms' death. With commemorative programs spotlighting the two composers expected across the global classical music world, this concert is drawing attention as an early look at that repertoire.
In the first half, Kim will perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the KBS Symphony Orchestra under Chung's baton. The work is marked by Beethoven's characteristically dramatic tone and forceful energy. In the second half, Chung and the orchestra will perform Brahms' Symphony No. 2. Completed in 1877, the piece is widely known for its warm lyricism and pastoral mood, carrying Brahms' distinctive emotional depth beneath its serene melodies.
Chung and Kim have built a long musical partnership through the works of Beethoven and Brahms. Kim recorded Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, "Emperor," with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under Chung, released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2013. A live recording of their 2019 Seoul performance of Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Staatskapelle Dresden, also conducted by Chung, was released the following year.
The concert carries added significance for Chung, who took office this year as the 10th music director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra. His ties to the orchestra date back to a 1995 concert marking the founding of the United Nations and the 50th anniversary of Korea's liberation. He served as its fifth principal conductor from 1998 and became the orchestra's first conductor laureate in 2022. Named music director last December, he began his term in January and will lead the orchestra through 2028. Next year he is also set to take up the post of music director at Italy's Teatro alla Scala. Ahn Ho-sang, president of the Sejong Center, said the concert "offers audiences the most perfect preview of the many commemorative performances to come next year by conductor Chung Myung-whun and pianist Kim Sun-wook."
The Sejong Orchestra Series is a programmed concert series that presents high-caliber classical repertoire through collaborations among top domestic and international conductors, soloists and orchestras. The Sejong Center has continued to stage polished performances that meet the expectations of classical music enthusiasts, expanding the Grand Theater's signature classical repertoire. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 120,000 won.
