PSO Korea
Staff Reporter Amid the financial downturn, several big overseas orchestras scheduled to perform in South Korea this year have cancelled. The
Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, which was to feature twice in
April under the baton of maestro Chung Myung-whun, and the Dmitiri
Kitajenko-led Vienna Symphony's two December concerts were called off.
Both orchestras withdrew plans to tour other Asian countries such as
China and Japan. The Cincinnati Symphony has
limited its Asian tour to Japan, calling off its performance in Taiwan,
as well as its Korean debut with flutist Choi Na-kyung slated for
October. Facing financial troubles, the American ensemble was forced to
cut 20 percent from salaries for orchestra members, said Vincero, the
local concert organizer. Meanwhile, domestic sponsors called it quits for the Pittsburgh Symphony's
May concert. As various Asian tours are being called off, European and
North American orchestras and music management agencies are also
suffering. Until recently, orchestra performances
were the cream of the crop among classical concerts here, as they often
attracted generous corporate sponsorship and high ticket sales. But
such concerts are now a mounting concern for organizers, as unfavorable
exchange rates raise guarantees and airfare, while corporate
sponsorship and profits are dwindling. Last fall, in spite of
successful ticket sales and positive reviews, organizers of the La
Scala Opera Theater Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic concerts
suffered a deficit due to the weak won. Meanwhile,
tours by the Northern Sinfonia, led by Thomas Zehetmair featuring
pianist Lim Dong-hyek as soloist on March 29, and the Tokyo
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, with violinist Kwun Hyuk-joo on April
16, remain intact. Concertgoers can also look forward to performances
by domestic troupes such as the Seoul Philharmonic, KBS Symphony and
Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, among others.
March 20, 2009 Friday
Foreign Orchestras Cancel Korean Tours
BYLINE: By Lee Hyo-won
LENGTH: 320 words