Rossini’s mischievous Il signor Bruschino Overture sparkles with wit and charm—proof that classical can also be playful. Hayoung Choi, winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition, brings brilliance and elegance to Haydn’s much loved Cello Concerto No. 1. Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony playfully reimagines eighteenth-century forms through a modern lens, before Haydn returns to close with Symphony No. 75, whose humour and grace remind us that true classicism is always alive, never antique.
Christian Kluxen, conductor
Now in his tenth season as Music Director of the Victoria Symphony in Canada, Christian Kluxen is also in his fourth season as Principal Guest Conductor of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra in Finland, following a five-year tenure as Chief Conductor of the Arctic Philharmonic in Norway.
Kluxen has been described in the press as “a dynamic, charismatic figure” who “forms the music with an impressive vertical power of emotion and a focus on the grand form”, conducting “with exemplary clarity and a heavenly warmth”. He is recognized for his sincere and transparent leadership, innovative programming and his bold, imaginative and energetic interpretations, showcased both in his MD and guest work.
Alongside his many and varied commitments with the Victoria Symphony and Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, recent and forthcoming guest engagements include Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Pacific Symphony, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony, and Norrköping Symphony. A fruitful and inspiring relationship with the Arctic Philharmonic, whom Kluxen led for five years as Chief Conductor, resulted in numerous exhilarating performances of a wide variety of repertoire, as well as several acclaimed recordings.
Hayoung Choi, cello
Hayoung Choi, First Prize winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition, is one of the most compelling cellists of her generation. She has also won top prizes at the Krzysztof Penderecki International Cello Competition and the Johannes Brahms International Competition, along with numerous special awards. Driven by deep musical curiosity, she is committed to both the core repertoire and the discovery of lesser-known works.
Choi made her concerto debut at age twelve with Camerata Salzburg, performing Haydn’s Cello Concerto No. 1. She has since appeared with leading orchestras worldwide, including the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic, and European Union Youth Orchestra.
Recent highlights include her Artist-in-Residence series at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, a Wigmore Hall recital, and performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, and Oregon Symphony.
A dedicated chamber musician, she has collaborated with artists such as Sir András Schiff, Gidon Kremer, and Mitsuko Uchida, and frequently performs with her sister, violinist SongHa.
Born in Germany, Choi studied at the Purcell School, Kronberg Academy, and in Madrid. She performs on a 1707 “Ex-Starker” Guarneri cello.
Gioachino Rossini (1792—1868)
Il signor Bruschino: Overture
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732—1809)
Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob.VIIb:1
I. Moderato
II. Adagio
III. Allegro molto
INTERMISSION
Sergei Prokofiev (1891—1953)
Symphony No. 1 in D major, Op. 25 “Classical”
I. Allegro con brio
II. Larghetto
III. Gavotte: Non troppo allegro
IV. Finale: Molto vivace
Haydn
Symphony No. 75 in D major
I. Grave – Presto
II. Poco adagio
III. Menuetto: Allegretto
IV. Vivace