Former Music Director Yoel Levi Conducts KBS Symphony Orchestra Again After 8 Months

Special Concert on the 28th Featuring Opera 'Carmen' and Brahms Symphony No. 1 Performance

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] Yoel Levi, former music director and principal conductor of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the KBS Symphony Orchestra again after 8 months.

The KBS Symphony Orchestra will hold its fifth special concert of 2020 on the 28th at 8 p.m. at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center, conducted by former music director Levi. The subtitle of this concert is "Galchae (喝采)," meaning applause or cheers. It carries the intention of delivering comfort and strength to all of us during the difficult situation caused by the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Levi was appointed in January 2014 and led the KBS Symphony Orchestra for six years. This will be Levi's first time conducting the KBS Symphony Orchestra since his farewell performance at the Seoul Arts Center in December last year, where he conducted Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "Choral."

In this concert with Levi, the KBS Symphony Orchestra will perform Bizet's representative opera "Carmen" and Brahms' "Symphony No. 1."

The first part of the performance will be a concert opera of "Carmen." About ten highlights from Carmen, including "Habanera - Love is a rebellious bird" and "Flower Song - The flower you threw to me," will be performed.

Leading domestic vocalists such as mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi (as Carmen), tenor Park Ji-min (as Don Jos?), baritone Yang Jun-mo (as Escamillo), and soprano Kang Hye-jung (as Mica?la) will share the stage.

In the second part, Brahms' "Symphony No. 1," also called Beethoven's "Tenth Symphony," will be performed. This piece, completed over more than 20 years by Brahms, is highly structured and condensed. It is regarded as a symphony that provided an answer to the era's challenge of what kind of music to compose after Beethoven's symphonies swept through the European music scene.