Hanwha Classic 2022, Closing the Tenth Stage

Successful Performance of World-Renowned Soprano Yulia Reznyova and Venice Baroque Orchestra

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jung] The classical concert brand 'Hanwha Classic 2022,' hosted by Hanwha Group, successfully concluded on the 3rd and 4th at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall.

According to Hanwha Group on the 5th, this year's Hanwha Classic featured world-renowned soprano Julia Lezhneva and Italy's top Baroque ensemble, the Venice Baroque Orchestra (VBO), performing soprano arias composed by the era's greatest opera composers such as Vivaldi, Handel, Porpora, and Graun.

This performance marked a full-fledged stage meeting with the audience after the pandemic forced online-only concerts in 2020 and hybrid online-offline concerts last year. Despite the cold weather, the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall was filled with spectators over the two days. In particular, soprano Julia Lezhneva's flawless technique and astonishing acting, combined with the smooth and elegant harmonious ensemble and timbre of the Venice Baroque Orchestra, received high praise.

Soprano Julia Lezhneva is regarded as a successor in the lineage of absolute figures in Baroque vocal music such as Emma Kirkby, Cecilia Bartoli, and Sandrine Piau, raising expectations among enthusiasts for this year's performance. Born in Sakhalin, Julia Lezhneva grew up familiar with Korean culture. At a press conference before the concert, she expressed, "I am touched by the Korean audience's deep love and interest in Baroque music," and added, "I am happy to be able to come to Korea again."

Juyoung Kim, a specialist at Daewon Cultural Foundation, commented, "The timbre of the Venice Baroque Orchestra was subtle and bittersweet, with a freshness like the scent of fresh earth. The beauty of innocence that emerged between the phrasings was natural and unpretentious." He also expressed amazement, saying, "Julia Lezhneva's seasoned maturity and sophisticated direction, which make it hard to guess her age, are outstanding, and her greatest strength hidden within her ghost-like technique was none other than her 'breath.'"

Music critic Ilbeom Jang praised, "Her precise melisma (ornamental melody where multiple notes are sung on a single syllable) was awe-inspiring," adding, "Her voice is light but carries a peculiar weight, distinguishing her from other Baroque singers. Especially, her expressive power and character portrayal in singing were excellent, so the melisma did not feel mechanical or acrobatic, and even in soft pieces, the character was vividly alive."

The 2023 Hanwha Classic stage is scheduled to be held in December. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hanwha Classic, which has led the domestic early music culture over the past decade, Hanwha Classic 2023 will present a stage featuring the world-renowned period instrument ensemble Il Giardino Armonico, envisioning the future of early music in Korea.