BRSO and Bomsori Kim Shine at Munich’s Isarphilharmonie

An Evening To Remember

Monday’s concert at Munich’s Isarphilharmonie saw the Bamberger Symphoniker under the baton of Jakub Hrůša joined by South Korean violinist Bomsori Kim for a program that left audiences both moved and intellectually stirred. The performance, part of the BRSO subscription series, featured works by Korngold, Bruch and Schostakovich—each delivered with crisp ensemble playing and Kim’s luminous solos.

Journey From Bamberg

Just days earlier, the ensemble wrapped two sold-out nights in Bamberg. In an Instagram post, Bomsori Kim thanked fans for their warmth and pledged to carry that energy “to Munich, Korea, and Taiwan.” The Munich stop marked the third leg of the group’s spring tour, which also coincided with the release of a new album on Deutsche Grammophon. That recording brings together Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D major and Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor—works fans can now enjoy on streaming platforms worldwide.

Critical Acclaim

Paul Schäufele of the Süddeutsche Zeitung captured the spirit of the evening: “Hrůša achieved something rare in Munich’s Isarphilharmonie: with music, he managed to open not only emotional but also intellectual spaces.” That praise echoed throughout the hall as audience members leaned forward during the intimate passages and erupted in applause after each movement.

The program opened with Korngold’s lush concerto, where Kim’s precise phrasing and warm tone stood out in the sweeping Romantic lines. Bruch’s concerto followed, with the orchestramatching her expressive vibrato and rhythmic drive. The second half offered Schostakovich’s Eleventh Symphony, “The Year 1905,” in which Hrůša coaxed razor-sharp dynamics from the strings and brass. Together, soloist and conductor balanced bravura fireworks with moments of hushed reflection.

A Rising Star

Since her debut, Bomsori Kim has been praised by NDR Radio in Germany as “one of the most dynamic and exciting violinists of today.” She performs on the 1725 Guarnerius del Gesù “ex-Moller” violin, generously loaned by The Samsung Foundation of Culture and The Stradivari Society of Chicago. Her schedule this season includes dates in Asia, and she recently stepped in for Augustin Hadelich with the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, expanding her international profile.

Back in Munich, Kim and Hrůša closed the night with a tender encore—a haunting violin adaptation of a Korean folk melody that brought a hushed reverence over the sold-out audience. As the final note faded, fans rose in a standing ovation that lingered, a testament to an evening that transcended the routine.

With their mix of sumptuous sound and thoughtful programming, Hrůša and Kim have set a high bar for chamber-orchestral collaboration. Fans in Munich will get another chance to witness their chemistry when the BRSO returns for the next subscription season.

The concert at the Isarphilharmonie reaffirmed why the Bamberger Symphoniker is resonating worldwide: by marrying technical mastery with heartfelt storytelling, they’re opening new spaces for music and for the people who love it.