34th Igeon Music Concert Visiting Korea
6 Free Performances in 5 Cities Nationwide from 13th to 22nd
Arirang Played as Final Piece Since 2006
The 34th edition of the 'Igeon Music Concert' will be held a total of six times from the 13th to the 22nd of this year in five cities including Seoul, Gwangju, Daegu, Busan, and Incheon.
On the 12th, at the Seoul Press Center, the Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet is performing a preview at the '34th Igeon Music Concert Press Conference.' [Photo by Igeon Holdings]
At the press conference held on the 12th at the Korea Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, the Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet from Germany performed Dvo??k's string quartet "Cypress." They are scheduled to present a diverse program including Arirang at this year's 'Igeon Music Concert.'
'Igeon Music Concert' boasts the longest history among music mecenat events hosted by domestic companies. Starting in 1990 with a performance by the Prague Academia Woodwind Quintet at the Incheon Igeon Industrial factory, the concert has continued without interruption every year despite difficult circumstances such as the foreign exchange crisis and COVID-19, offering free performances.
The concert was nurtured over a long period by the late founder, Chairman Park Young-joo, who passed away in March. Chairman Park personally recruited performers and upheld three principles: 'purity,' excluding commercialism without promoting the company; 'sincerity,' with employees directly responsible for planning and operating the performances; and 'continuity,' ensuring the concert's ongoing presence. Under these principles, the concert grew into a leading domestic mecenat event.
This year's concert is the first held after Chairman Park's passing. Prior to his death, he had prepared plans for five years of concerts and established an advisory committee to ensure the concert's continuation even without him. According to Igeon, during his lifetime, Chairman Park would wait in front of performers' dressing rooms when attending overseas performances and invite them to lunch, asking them to visit Korea.
In particular, by inviting the prestigious German ensemble, the Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet, the concert aims to convey a message of inclusion?encouraging understanding, sharing emotions and inspiration through music to create a more generous and warm world.
Starting with performances at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul on the 13th and the Seoul Arts Center on the 15th, the concert will continue on the 17th at Gwangju Arts Center, the 19th at Daegu Concert House, the 21st at Busan Geumjeong Cultural Center, and the 22nd at Art Center Incheon Concert Hall, holding six performances across five cities nationwide.
On the 12th, performers attended the '34th Igeon Music Concert Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet Invitation Press Conference' held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. From the left: cellist Park Noeul, violinist Wolfram Brandl, Ripan Ju, violist Just Kaiser, cellist Claudius Popp, Kang Minji. [Photo by Igeon Holdings]
Wolfram Brandl, leader and first violinist of the Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet, said at the press conference, "We actively accepted the invitation to share the sincerity of the Igeon Music Concert, which has practiced sharing through music for over 30 years. We are delighted to participate in such a meaningful performance and look forward to engaging in various activities including master classes."
The Berlin Staatskapelle String Quartet, a chamber ensemble composed of principal string players from the 450-year-old prestigious Berlin Staatskapelle Orchestra under the direction of conductor Daniel Barenboim, began its first performance 10 years ago and has been actively performing a wide repertoire encompassing classical and contemporary music worldwide. The quartet includes Wolfram Brandl, Li Pan Zhu (second violin), Justus Kaiser (viola), and Claudius Popp (cello).
This concert will feature Debussy's String Quartet in G minor, Haydn's String Quartet in F minor, and Schubert's String Quintet in C major. Cellists Kang Min-ji and Park No-eul will join as guest performers.
They will also perform "Yoon Jung-ok Arirang," a winning piece from the Arirang arrangement contest by university student Kim Da-yeon (21). The piece reinterprets Arirang based on the life of Arang Yoon Jung-ok, the protagonist of the Miryang Arirang legend. Claudius Popp said, "Considering the cultural significance and tradition of 'Arirang,' I felt a strong responsibility to perform this piece very well." Li Pan Zhu, originally from China, also expressed, "I am happy to have the opportunity to perform the familiar melody of Arirang myself."
Choi Ji-hoon, project manager of the Igeon Music Concert who has been in charge of the concert's operations for 14 years, said, "We will continue the concert while adhering to the fundamental principles left by the late Chairman Park. All Igeon employees are participating as volunteers without an agency, sincerely creating the 34th Igeon Music Concert, so we ask for your great interest."
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