South Korean maestro Myung-whun Chung is one of the few influential Asian conductors on the international stage and a favorite in Shanghai. Since 2000, he has brought four different orchestras to the city.

This Friday, in his fifth concert, Chung will conduct the Filarmonica Della Scala from Milan at the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center. It is the orchestra of the famed La Scala Opera House.

The program will feature overtures from Rossini's "Guglielmo Tell," "L'Italiana in Algeri," Puccini's "Manon, Intermezzo," Verdi's "Forza del Destino," and Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 4."

Shanghai music critic Li Yanhuan has attended all Chung's Shanghai concerts, in 2000, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He attended Chung's Shanghai debut with the Santa Cecilia Academy Orchestra to hear his renowned violinist sister Kyung-wha Chung. "But the conductor stunned me by his seamless cooperation with his sister and the orchestra," recalls Li.

At that time, he played Brahms' "D Major Violin Concerto" and Li says he captured the breath, nobility and warmth of the composition. His conducting of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 6" was passionate and penetrating, encouraging the musicians to scale greater heights, Li says.

In 2005 Chung's concerts with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra were scheduled very close to those of the more famous Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Berliner Philharmoniker. His conducting of Schostakovich's "Symphony No. 5," however, was equal to the performances of the other great orchestras.

Moreover, he endeared himself to Shanghai people by heading directly to a primary school after his arrival, to play music games with pupils. A pianist by training, the conductor also played the piano for the children.

His appearances with the period Dresden Staatskapelle and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France over the last two years were very well received.

Chung took second place in the Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow in 1974. He has been music director and principal guest conductor with several famous orchestras, including the Opera de Paris-Bastille and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France.

Chung has conducted virtually all the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonics, all the major orchestras of London and Paris, the Chicago Symphony and New York's Metropolitan Opera.

"Friday night is definitely a concert not-to-miss,'' concludes Li.

Date: September 12, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 200-1,800 yuan
Tel: (021)68541234
Web: en.shoac.com.cn

(Shanghai Daily September 8, 2008)