By  Michelle Qiao (Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2007-10-29 11:13

Young maestro Christian Thielemann will lead the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra for its Shanghai debut on November 13.

As one of three orchestras in Munich, along with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Bavarian State Orchestra, it is regarded as the world's premier orchestra in presenting the works of Anton Bruckner.

"I wouldn't take an interest in this orchestra if Celibidache hadn't been its musical director," says critic Wang. He referred to legendary maestro Sergius Celibidache, a Zen master who became musical director in 1979.

"He had the opportunity to be the chief conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker after Wilhelm Furtwangler. But he was replaced by Herbert von Karajan because he (Celibidache) was so musically artistic and adventuresome that he couldn't get many recording contracts," says Wang.

"So he chose to roam about in some small orchestras in Europe. Magically, those orchestras were swiftly upgraded to the first-class level in his hands. The Munich Philharmonic is an example. You could hear breathing, Oriental-style, in his conducting of Bruckner compositions, which he was most famous for."

In Shanghai, the orchestra will play Strauss' "Don Juan" and "Till Eulenspiegel," as well as Brahms' "Symphony No. 1" in Shanghai under the baton of 48-year-old German-born Thielemann.

On November 17 and 18 the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra will play Smetana's "Ma Vlast," Dvorak's "Polka from the Czech Suite," "Cello Concerto in B Minor" and Dvorak's "Symphony No. 9 in E Minor." Chinese cellist Wang Jian will perform.

Critic Wang says he is looking forward to the concerts because "East European orchestras are always interpreting their composers in the deepest way. It's hard to predict what kind of surprise they will bring to Shanghai. But I'm sure there will be a one."

Munich Philharmonic Orchestra
Date: November 13, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Concert Hall, 523 Yan'an Rd E
Tickets: 300-3,000 yuan

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with Wang Jian
Date: November 17-18, 7:30pm
Venue: Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 200-2,200 yuan

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