One of the common notions among the public, including classical music lovers, is that contemporary classical music is inaccessible. Every year hundreds of composers release new pieces but hardly a dozen get a chance to be performed on stage.

Chin Un-suk, composer-in-residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, said this was because universities and institutions had been “rolling out” composers while the public was yet to even understand the concept of contemporary classical music.

“Only a small number of composers around the world have produced timeless, high-quality pieces in the last 100 years. Nowadays, many universities have composition departments and certify graduates as composers. I think this has brought about much confusion,” Chin said Wednesday at a press conference held in Seoul. “I believe that old school ― where a good composer gives one-on-one lessons to very prominent candidates ― is better,” she said. 

Chin, based in Berlin, is regarded as one of the most influential contemporary classical composers today, having won several international competitions and awards and worked with world-famous orchestras and organizations. She has been working with the SPO since 2006 as its first-ever composer-in-residence.

Chin has been picking the crme de la crme of contemporary classical music for SPO’s annual Ars Nova concerts. This year, the eighth edition, it will be held on April 16 and 19. She will be giving pre-concert lectures 40 minutes prior to the performance on both days.

Under the theme of “Vienna,” a chamber unit of the SPO will perform music by Alban Berg, Hans Abrahamsen’s rearrangement of Arnold Schnberg, Georg Friedrich Haas, Bae Dong-jin and Olga Neuwirth at 7:30 p.m. on April at Sejong Chamber Hall.

“They are from German-speaking regions and have very distinctive characters. For example, Neuwirth has always been provocative and controversial in choosing the subject, progressing her ideas and presenting them on stage. She was once rejected from a theater for writing an opera about child molestation,” Chin said.

On April 19 at 8 p.m. at LG Arts Center, the musical world of Charles Ives, Bernd Zimmermann, Alberto Ginastera and York Hller will be presented.

“Zimmermann took his own life, years after struggling with the public’s rejection of his pieces, which were infamous for being eccentric, complicated and nerve-racking. This year’s Ars Nova conductor Peter Hirsch was invited because he is one of the very few who can handle his work,” Chin said. “On the second day, we will focus on ‘underestimated’ pieces.”

However, if the carefully selected pieces, performances by the best musicians, and Chin’s lecture cannot draw you to contemporary classical music, the only way to get interested is to study, she said.

“Understanding Bach’s fugue is never easy, but everyone tries from the very early stage in his or her life. Like that, you need intensive study to really understand and enjoy contemporary classical music,” she said, shrugging her shoulders.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)