01-11-2009

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter (Korea Times)

Gyeonggi Province will resound with classical music, as various city ensembles welcome the New Year with full, diverse programs. Concertgoers in Bucheon, Suwon and Seongnam will be able to enjoy affordable, quality concerts inspired by anniversaries such as Mendelssohn’s 200th birthday and recent hype in the genre.

New Year Celebration in Bucheon

Last year, the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra marked its 20th anniversary, and this year it celebrates conductor Lim Hun-joung’s 20th year of tenure. The orchestra opens what is expected to be another fruitful season, beginning with a New Year concert Jan. 30.

The New Year concert will feature Strauss’s “Don Juan,” Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major with star pianist Son Yeol-eum as soloist and Medelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 “Italian” in time for the late musician’s 200th birthday.

Son, among “the next generation of classical musicians” according to The Korea Times in 2008, is a former child prodigy making a name as a young virtuoso. Fans can look forward to another fiery performance of Ravel’s jazzy masterpiece, which borders structured rationality and free flowing emotion in untamed discord and prolific harmony.

The Bucheon Philharmonic offers a full program in 2009. There will be more Mendelssohn pieces, including Symphony No. 5 in August; Haydn concerts Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 marking the 250th anniversary of the composer’s death; and Bruckner’s symphony performances throughout the year, beginning Feb. 27.

The New Year concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Bucheon Civic Center. Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 15,000 won. Call (032) 320-3481 or visit www.bucheonphil.org for more information.

Choristers, Music Classes in Suwon

The Suwon Civic Chorale will give the season’s first performance Jan. 20 at Gyeonggi Arts Center, offering a night of choral, pop and opera music.

For the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death, the choir will sing his choral pieces, including Agnus Dei & Dona Nobis Pacem from Missa in Angustiis. The singers will also offer a choral rendition of operatic arias such as “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s “Turandot” and pop classics like “Nella Fantasia.” Park Su-yong’s Jazz Band will perform “Feels So Good” among other jazz tunes. Tickets cost 10,000 won.

Following its New Year’s concert Jan. 8, the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra will give another special concert in February. Kim Dae-jin, the orchestra’s music director and famed teacher of young pianists like Son Yeol-eum, brings to Suwon his popular master class-style concert series. The “music class,” catering particularly to but not limited to teens, will take place Feb. 17 at the Onnuri Arts Hall of Suwon Youth Cultural Center. Concertgoers can also look forward to the Civic Chorale’s concert at the same venue Feb. 19. For more information, call (031) 228-2813.

Classical Music for All in Seongnam

The Seongnam Philharmonic Orchestra greeted the New Year with a festive concert on the 10th and will continue to present beautiful melodies everyone ¡ª and not just the privileged minority ¡ª can enjoy.

At Seongnam Arts Center Feb. 4, the orchestra will give a special concert titled “For Dream” to warm up the chilly economy. For only 1,000 won, anyone can enjoy a diverse program that caters to all ages and tastes, ranging from classical and jazz to Korean traditional sounds.

The Seongnam Philharmonic will open the evening with selections from Rimsky-Korsakov’s dreamy “Sheherazade.” Top talents including jazz singer Woong San and traditional vocalist Lee Ja-ram will appear. Also featured are scores from the opera “Carmen” and Saint-Saen’s “Danse Macabre,” the latter widely known among the general public for accompanying figure skater Kim Yu-na.

The 61st of the orchestra’s monthly Regular Concerts will be held Feb. 26 at Seongnam Arts Center. The all-Beethoven program appeals to both classical music fans and those newly interested in the genre due to last year’s hit TV drama “Beethoven Virus.” The featured pieces are “Coriolan” Overture, Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 1. Tickets cost 10,000 won. Call (031) 705-8177.

hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

Source: Korea Times
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/01/143_37647.html