On November 7th at Seoul Lotte Concert Hall, capturing the special essence of 'Korea and
Japan's Relationship Development and Cultural Exchange'
Professor Emeritus Lee Kyung-mi of the Department of Music Education at Gyeongnam National University will hold the ‘Korea-Japan Friendship Concert’ with the Japanese string quartet Quartet Excelsior at 8 p.m. on November 7 at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul.
A world-renowned pianist loved for her elegant performances and delicate touch, Professor Lee attended elementary and secondary school in Japan following her father, who once worked at the Japanese embassy. She majored in piano at the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, USA.
Uncommonly for a pure artist, she completed a course in international politics at Aoyama University in Japan in 2008, and has actively pursued musical activities not only in Korea but also in Russia, the United States, and other countries. She currently serves as the Special Advisor to the President for Korea-Japan Cultural Exchange at Gyeongnam National University.
The history of the ‘Korea-Japan Friendship Concert’ dates back over 30 years. During a collaboration with the Saint Petersburg Symphony Orchestra in Russia, Professor Lee met Kazuo Ogura (小倉和夫), former Japanese Ambassador to Korea, who asked her to serve as a bridge for cultural exchange between Korea and Japan.
Having grown up and debuted in Japan, Professor Lee had a strong interest in Korea-Japan relations. In 2015, she shared the stage with her longtime friend, guitarist Kaori Muraji (村治佳織), at the ‘50th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Normalization of Diplomatic Relations’ concert held in Seoul.
Later, in 2019, when Korea-Japan relations were strained, the two held the ‘Korea-Japan Friendship Exchange Concert’ again at Hamarique Asahi Hall in Tokyo, performing ‘Your Eyes,’ a piece composed by a Japanese composer for them. This event was recorded as a symbol of friendship between the two countries and was featured in a special program by Japan’s public broadcaster NHK.
Embodying the special theme of ‘Development of Korea-Japan Relations and Cultural Exchange,’ this concert features Professor Lee and the Japanese string quartet Quartet Excelsior [Yuka Nishino (violin), Haruna Kitami (violin), Yukiko Yoshida (viola), Hajime Otomo (cello)]. High-ranking officials from both Korea and Japan will also be invited to strengthen goodwill and harmony.
The program includes Haydn’s String Quartet Op. 76 No. 3 “Emperor,” Mozart’s Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, KV 478, and Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21. Professor Lee, widely known as a Mozart specialist, will present the charm of chamber music and piano concertos to the audience.
Tickets for the performance can be purchased through the Club Balcony website and Interpark. The concert is sponsored by Gyeongnam National University, Japan Airlines (JAL), the Embassy of Japan in Korea, and the Lee Hee-geon Korea-Japan Exchange Foundation, with support from the Seoul Japan Club.
Professor Lee has been invited to perform at the ‘200th Anniversary of Mozart’s Death Commemorative Concert’ hosted by New York’s Lincoln Center and the ‘100th Anniversary Concert of Carnegie Hall.’ She has also received the highest foreign artist award from the Russian Academy of Literature, an honorary doctorate from the Far Eastern National Academy, and has released numerous albums and publications.
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