Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra names Finnish conductor as new director

Osmo Vanska, one of Finland’s most renowned orchestra conductors and music director of the Minnesota Orchestra, has been named to lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

"Osmo Vanska will start his first three-year term as the music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in January 2020," Kang Eun-kyung, the CEO of the music house, said in a press conference marking the first anniversary of her inauguration.

The Finnish conductor’s inaugural concert will take place in February 2020.In a video message released at the new conference, Vanska said that he had enjoyed working with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra as a guest conductor, adding he had great expectations for the future of the orchestra, which he said was full of passion, capabilities and commitment to good music.

Kang said that Vanska has a reputation as an “orchestra builder,” as he puts his best efforts to an orchestra he leads for more than 20 years to escalate its level to a world class. She said she expects the conductor to achieve the same growth with the Seoul orchestra.


gustav@donga.com