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Conductor, humanitarian leads La Scala in Shanghai
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AT the opening performance of Shanghai Oriental Art Center’s 2016-17 season, 63-year-old South Korean conductor Chung Myung-whun revisited his favorite Verdi opera, “Simon Boccanegra,” with Teatro alla Scala (La Scala) and Simone Piazzola and Carmen Giannattasio in leading roles.
To Chung, “Simon Boccanegra” has special significance, as it was with this piece that he made his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York 30 years ago. To better understand Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra” and the composer himself, Chung went to Milan to study the composer’s original manuscript.
“This opera spreads the brilliance of humanity and it’s the peak of Verdi’s interpretation of human nature. Although ‘Simon Boccanegra’ is lesser known than Verdi’s other operas, it delivers much more profound messages,” Chung said.
Throughout his career, Chung has conducted “Simon Boccanegra” countless times and each performance has deepened his understanding of the main character’s noble qualities.
“Verdi expressed his own understanding through the characters in this opera to tell the audience what’s most important to him,” the conductor explained.
“Simon Boccanegra” was first performed in 1857. At the time, it wasn’t well received by the public. A revised version of the opera was performed at La Scala 24 years later, a revival that helped establish its reputation as a classic.
“Of course I could give you countless examples of the special moments, but maybe to a normal audience the most impressive scene is what you call the ‘doge’ (Simon Boccanegra’s title in the opera) at the finale of the first act. It was a very big scene for the chorus and all the soloists, where Simon convinces everybody do not fight,” Chung explained.
Chung started to study piano at the age of four and made his debut with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of seven.
Coming from a family of musicians, Chung often performed with his sisters, Chung Kyung-wha and Chung Myung-wha, who play the violin and cello respectively.
He came to international prominence upon winning second prize in the 1974 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
After Chung finished his education at the Mannes College of Music and the Juilliard School, he became an assistant conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic with music director Carlo Maria Giulini in 1979.
Spreading goodwill
Chung has been the music director of the Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France since 2000 and has conducted many of the world’s top orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic and Vienna Philharmonic. He was also the first Principal Guest Conductor ever at the Staatskapelle Dresden.
The maestro has even made cultural breakthroughs with North Korea. In 2011, orchestras from both countries played joint concerts in Pyongyang and Seoul, which marked Chung’s visit to North Korea. He also invited members of North Korea’s Unhasu Orchestra to Paris to perform with Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France in 2012.
Chung has also done significant work with humanitarian and youth causes, launching a series of musical and environmental projects in Korea for young people. In 2008 he was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
“As I age more and more, I try to do work that is socially beneficial — for instance my work with UNICEF. So more and more I’m interested to participate in events that are helpful and beneficial to society,” he said.
Chung is no stranger to Shanghai audiences. Over the years, he has performed in the city many times with different orchestras, including at the opening performance of Shanghai Poly Grand Theater with German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra in 2015 and the 33rd Shanghai Spring International Music Festival earlier this year.
The conductor had plenty of praise for the growing quality of local productions and the evolving tastes of Shanghai audiences.
“Of course for me as a musician, I’m not so much concerned with the business side. I’m only concerned with the quality, and this is what I’m most satisfied to see. Each time the quality of everything was better.”
Tonight, Chung is conducting La Scala’s orchestra and chorus with chorus master Bruno Casoni to present Beethoven’s “Symphony No.9” featuring soprano Eva Mei, mezzo-soprano Michelle Breedt, tenor Michael Shade and bass Detlef Roth.
“(Symphony No.9) now has become the hymn of the world,” Chung said. “La Scala choir has a very special sound. The Italian sound is a very free, natural sound. I think that’s why it touches people particularly. This is not German music anymore; this is world music. What it needs is singing that is from the heart; very natural, instinctive, beautiful singing. I think people will be very impressed and touched.”
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