Violist Kim Namjung's Planned Concert Series 'From Day Star to Night Star'... First Stage on October 4

Violist Kim Namjung Steps Up as Convergence Performing Arts Planner
Part of Korea Tourism Organization's Traditional Hanok Branding Support Project

"This performance is even more meaningful as it brings together artists who cherish intangible values. We hope that this show, which uniquely captures the beauty of gugak and Western music through fusion, will become widely known not only in Korea but also globally."

Violist Kim Nam-jung's Jjokmaru Concert 'From Day Star to Night Star'.

The first performance of the series 'From Day Star to Night Star,' which fuses the sentiments of the East and West into music, will be held on October 4 at Seochon’s complex cultural space Classic Gotaek.

Kim Namjung, a violist and interdisciplinary performing arts planner, revealed the planning intention ahead of the performance, stating, "The first stage of this planned series is subtitled '日月誠神 (Ilwol Seongsin), Prayer of the Sun and Moon.' The setlist, encompassing classical, tango, folk songs, and sanjo, will showcase the essence of interdisciplinary performing arts."

At this performance, audiences can enjoy the Jiyounghee-style haegeum sanjo, which was performed for the first time in the world on viola at Kim Namjung’s solo recital 'Blooming' last year and attracted attention. Haegeum player Noh Eunah (professor of gugak at Seoul National University) and violist Kim Namjung will present a lively yet delicate and humble rendition of the Jiyounghee-style haegeum sanjo as a duo.

Additionally, tango classics such as Astor Piazzolla’s ‘Oblivion’ and the third movement 'Night Club 1960' from Histoire du Tango will be expressed through the viola’s tone, which is modest yet sometimes reveals a rough edge. Heitor Villa-Lobos’s ‘Bachianas Brasileiras’ is arranged into a folk song medley and performed with haegeum, viola, and guitar, highlighting its presence.

The second movement of the Bach Viola Concerto in d minor, known as a piece by Henri Casadesus, will also be performed with haegeum and viola. This form of arranging classical pieces for haegeum and performing them offers a unique stage rarely found in Korea.

The piece titled ‘Seoul,’ inspired by the city and arranged under the Seoul city slogan ‘Seoul, My Soul,’ reveals the complex and sophisticated emotions of Seoul as a city through the harmony of Eastern and Western instruments.

Moreover, percussion pieces by gugak percussionist Seo Subok (National Gugak Center) will be performed, along with classical guitarist Shin Juheon and composer Kim Jeonggeun participating as well.

Kim Namjung is a skilled performer who was the first violist to hold a solo stage at the UN Headquarters General Assembly in New York and has been consistently invited to recitals at world-renowned concert halls including Carnegie Hall and Philharmonic Hall. Recently, he founded the Interdisciplinary Performing Arts Association and is expanding his role as a planner and artistic director, continuing his multifaceted and passionate activities.

Violist Kim Namjung, who planned the performance, said, "I conceived the performance series with the Korean painting 'Day Star' by artist Kim Seondu as the theme. The day star, faintly visible as it was hidden by the huge sun, meets darkness and finds its place, eventually shining brightly on its own in pitch-black darkness. This process is a story of us living in the world and also my story as an artist, which I expressed through this performance series."

The first performance of the series, '日月誠神 (Ilwol Seongsin), Prayer of the Sun and Moon,' sold out all seats in less than 24 hours after ticket sales began on the 20th.

The hanok space Classic Gotaek, where the performance takes place, is known as a meaningful location for the two main characters in the film 'Architecture 101.' It was acquired by Lihan Culture Co., Ltd. and transformed into a hanok stay and complex cultural space.

This performance series, held as part of the Korea Tourism Organization’s traditional hanok branding support project, will continue with the second and third performances on October 31 and November 14.

The second performance, '風淸月朗 (Pungcheong Wollang), A Clear Wind Brushes the Moon,' features soprano Kim Hayoung and guitarist Jeong Wook, while the third performance, '一筆揮之 (Ilpil Hwiji), Melody on the Brush Tip,' will showcase calligrapher Lee Junghwa?known for appearances on tvN’s 'You Quiz on the Block' and dramas such as 'Mr. Sunshine' and 'Hotel Del Luna'?alongside accordionist Alexander Sheikin in a collaborative performance.

The second and third performances of the 'From Day Star to Night Star' series will be available for reservation on October 10 and 16, respectively.