Philharmonia Chorus gives the UK première of Ryu's Sinfonia da Requiem

The Philharmonia Chorus took part in the UK première of Jeajoon Ryu's Sinfonia da Requiem with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Grzegorz Nowak at London's Cadogan Hall on April 12.

Composed to commemorate the late Ju-yung Chung, founder of Hyundai, Jeajoon Ryu's intense and powerful Sinfonia da Requiem was given an extended standing ovation at its world première at the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival in Warsaw in 2008. It was later recorded, and is available on the Naxos label. A review of the CD said that it is easy to see what the fuss was about.

Jeajoon Ryu s among today's most exciting orchestral composers. He studied under Krzystof Penderecki in Poland, and this work is certainly influenced by the Eastern European sound world. Composed as a tribute to the survivors who helped rebuild Korea following the Second World War and dedicated to Ju-yung Chung, the founder of Hyundai, the Sinfonia da Requiem is a substantial 45 minute work of four movements sung in Latin, and is scored for soprano, chorus and orchestra. It is a work of searing intensity and magisterial assurance. The soprano in this performance was In-Hye Kim, who took part in the world première and the recording.

The Philharmonia Chorus is proud to have taken part in the UK première of this important work. A recording of the performance can be heard on the Cadogan Hall website.