Dresden Philharmonic starts concert season with its new Principal Guest Conductor Kahchun Wong

Kahchun Wong comes from Singapore and was recently appointed principal conductor of the Hallé Orchestra in Manchester. In addition, he will also take over the position of chief conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra this year. The Dresden Philharmonic’s desire to appoint him as Principal Guest Conductor from 2023/24 came about after a joint project with Brahms‘ Second Symphony in autumn 2021. This season he will conduct several programmes of European and Asian works curated by himself.

He comments:
„Also sprach Zarathustra" is a great work, and what I particularly like about it is the close connection to nature and to a great German philosopher. In addition, we have a new work by the Thai composer Narong Prangcharoen in the programme, which is closely connected to Thai philosophy. Elgar’s Cello Concerto is a bit more reflective, given the First World War, under whose impression it was written … So that’s my interest: To place works inspired by the Asian spirit and values alongside very central European works. It is above all these parallels and the contrast that excite me about it. And to see how they work together."

Gautier Capuçon has been a guest of the Dresden Philharmonic on several occasions and will be Artist in Residence this season, including a recital together with Daniil Trifonov (11 FEB 2024). With Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto, he will present one of the most popular concertos for his instrument at the start of his residency.

Further information and photos are avaiable here.

Concert details

SA 2 SEP 2023, 7.30pm, SO 3 SEP 2023, 6.00 pm

Narong Prangcharoen
"Reflection of Shadow" for orchestra (2023)
Premiere

Edward Elgar
Cello Concerto in E minor (1919)

Richard Strauss
"Also sprach Zarathustra" Symphonic Poem (1896)

Kahchun Wong | Conductor, Gautier Capuçon | Violoncello, Dresdner Philharmonie