Myung-Whun Chung
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Myung-Whun Chung | |
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| Background information | |
| Born | January 22, 1953 Seoul, Korea |
| Genre(s) | Classical |
| Occupation(s) | Conductor, pedagogue |
| Instrument(s) | Piano |
| Associated acts | KBS Symphony Orchestra Opéra de la Bastille Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France RSO Saarbrücken Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra |
| Myung-Whun Chung | ||||||||
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Myung-Whun Chung (born January 22, 1953, Seoul) is a Korean-born pianist and conductor. His sisters, violinist Kyung-Wha Chung, and cellist Myung-Wha Chung, and he at one time performed together as the Chung Trio.[1] He was a prize winner in the 1974 Tchaikovsky piano competition. He studied conducting at the Mannes College of Music and the Juilliard School. He was an assistant conductor at the Los Angeles Philharmonic during the music directorship of Carlo Maria Giulini.[2]
In Europe, Chung was chief conductor of the Saarland Radio Symphony Orchestra from 1984 to 1990. He was principal guest conductor of the Teatro Communale, Firenze from 1987 to 1992.[2]
In 1989, Chung became music director of l'Opéra de la Bastille, recruited by Pierre Bergé, even though Chung did not speak the French language at the time.[3] His appointment was initially surrounded by controversy over the dismissal of his predecessor, Daniel Barenboim.[4] Chung received praise for the musical quality of his performances there. He served in this position until 1994, when he himself was controversially dismissed from the post.[5] The newly appointed director at the Opéra Bastille at the time, Hugues Gall, immediately asserted his authority over Chung's contract, proposing that the contract be terminated in 1997 instead of 2000 as settled prior, as well as removing Chung's authority over choice of repertory and freezing his salary. After Chung refused to accept these conditions, Gall dismissed Chung from the Opéra on 12 August 1994. Chung then took Gall to court, and in the resulting decision, Chung was allowed to conduct Simon Boccanegra as planned and to receive two years' salary, but then would leave the company.[6]
Chung continues to work in France as music director of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, a position he has held since 2000.[7] In March 2005, Chung began his tenure as music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, for an initial contract of 3 years.[8]
[edit] References
- ^ Event Guide. "Chung Trio Re-unites as 'Trio of Filial Devotion'", The Chosun Ilbo, 12 August 2004. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
- ^ a b Ben Mattison. "Report: Myung-Whun Chung Is Top Candidate to Lead Seoul Philharmonic", Playbill Arts, 22 January 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- ^ Paul Webster. "Opéra Bastille sings its own praises after decade of turmoil", The Guardian, 12 July 1999. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
- ^ Will Crutchfield. "A Sudden Ascent To the Top in Opera", The New York Times, 25 May 1989. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- ^ Alan Riding. "Bastille Opera Dismisses Chung", The New York Times, 13 August 1994. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
- ^ Alan Riding. "Paris Opera Reaches Pact With Conductor", The New York Times, 8 September 1994. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Andrew Clements. "Concert Review: LSO/Chung", The Guardian, 4 March 2006. Retrieved on 2007-09-07.
- ^ Ben Mattison. "Myung-Whun Chung Named Music Director of Seoul Philharmonic", Playbill Arts, 2 February 2005. Retrieved on 2008-01-10.
[edit] External links
- Myung-Whun Chung at Allmusic
- Myung-Whun Chung at Askonas Holt
- Myung-Whun Chung biography at the Bach Cantatas Website
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| Preceded by Hans Zender |
Music Director, RSO Saarbrücken 1984-1990 |
Succeeded by Marcello Viotti |
| Preceded by Daniel Barenboim |
Music Director, Opéra de la Bastille 1989-1994 |
Succeeded by James Conlon |
| Preceded by vacant |
Principal Conductor, KBS Symphony Orchestra 1999 |
Succeeded by Dmitri Kitajenko |
| Preceded by Marek Janowski |
Music Director, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France 2000-present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Preceded by none |
Special Artistic Adviser, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra 2001-present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
| Preceded by Seung Gwak |
Music Director, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra 2005-present |
Succeeded by incumbent |
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