🕊️ Conductor Blomstedt Passes Away at 99, Plus This Week's Classical News! - 2026.11.05 | Classical Music

Hello, fans!

Let's start with some bittersweet news today. Herbert Blomstedt, the oldest active conductor, has passed away at the age of 99 😢 According to foreign media including the AP, he died on the 4th (local time) at his home in Gothenburg, Sweden ^[1]. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in 1927, he had continued his musical career for 72 years up to this year ^[1]. He gave his first and only Korean concert at the Seoul Arts Center in 2016, so he must have been a special conductor for Korean fans too ^[1].

The final conducting moment is especially moving. On May 15, he conducted Mahler's Symphony No. 9 from a wheelchair with the San Francisco Symphony ^[1]. Keeping the baton at 99 shows how deep his devotion to music really was, and it really touched my heart. He was also set to perform with the Vienna Philharmonic next June, so it's sad we won't get to see that stage 😭 We sincerely pray for his rest.

Concerts to Look Forward To 🎶

On December 10 at 7:30 PM, the Paritree Cross Boys' Choir will hold their year-end signature classical concert at Jinhae Art Hall ^[2]. According to the Changwon Culture Foundation, Part 1 will focus on classical masterpieces and chansons featuring the clear tone of boy sopranos, showing off the full power of a cappella choir ^[2]. Pure voices filling the hall sounds perfect for the year-end season, and I'm already excited! 🎄

Also, a talk concert titled 'Our Korean Art Songs, Told by the Composers' has been arranged ^[3]. Composers will take part and talk about their own works, so it should be fun to hear the stories behind the pieces firsthand 🎤 The concert will be conducted by Park Donghee, artistic director and conductor of the city choir, and Choi Jina, assistant conductor, who will offer different musical interpretations ✨ Comparing how the same piece sounds under different conductors sounds like a blast!

Classical on the Radio 💿

On the November 5 (Thu) broadcast of KBS Classic FM's Chulbal FM, listeners heard Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2 2nd movement, Ravel's Boléro, and Beethoven's Für Elise, among others ^[4]. The November theme of the monthly feature 'Classical of the Month' is the 2027 university music admission pieces, and Glazunov's Alto Saxophone Concerto in E-flat major was included ^[4]. Must-listen stuff for those preparing for auditions! 📚 Hearing the alto saxophone in a concerto setting should also be a fresh treat.

One-line recap! Remember the late maestro's final passion, and look forward to the a cappella choir ringing out in Jinhae in December 🎼 See you next week, and have a happy day! 💛