'Blehatz·Choi Ha-young' Bucheon Art Center Lineup for First Half of Next Year Revealed

Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz, who won the Chopin Competition in 2005, will take the stage at Bucheon Art Center on February 13 next year.

Bucheon Art Center revealed its planned performances for the first half of next year on the 27th, including Blechacz's collaborative stage. Blechacz will open the first of four Prime Classic concerts at Bucheon Art Center. Prime Classic features performances by orchestras representing their countries and the best contemporary musicians.

In the first Prime Classic concert, Blechacz will perform with the Warsaw Philharmonic, the national orchestra of his homeland Poland. The second Prime Classic stage on March 30 will be a solo recital by Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov, who won the Tchaikovsky Competition in 2011. On July 13-14, Son Min-su, professor at the New England Conservatory and mentor to pianist Yunchan Lim, will present a cycle performance of all five Beethoven piano concertos over two days, accompanied by the Korean Chamber Orchestra. The final fourth Prime Classic concert on July 23 will be performed by the Auvergne-Rh?ne-Alpes Orchestra from France, featuring cellist Yang Sung-won, artistic director of the Pyeongchang Daegwallyeong International Music Festival, as soloist.

Pianist Rafal Blechacz [Photo by Bucheon Art Center, (c)Marco Borggreve]

To celebrate the first anniversary of its opening (May 19), Bucheon Art Center will also hold the 'RE : wake' festival for four days from May 16 under the theme 'Awaken Again.' The festival will feature a solo recital by pianist Baek Gun-woo and a performance of Mahler's symphony by the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, which has appointed pianist Kim Sun-wook as its new principal conductor. Cellist Choi Ha-young, winner of the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition, will perform with the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra.

A new family-oriented planned performance will also be introduced. The 'France Metz Brass Ensemble,' composed of brass players from the National Orchestra of Metz in France, will perform BTS's "Dynamite" and a medley of Disney movie music on April 27.

Additionally, the Young Frontier Wonder Woman series will feature performances by the Risus Quartet, which won third place and the Contemporary Music Interpretation Award at the Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition (March 9); Noh Sun-young, winner of the St Albans International Organ Competition in the UK (April 13); soprano Han Ye-won, winner of the Vi?as International Singing Competition (June 22); and Song Hyun-jung, second place winner of the Japan International Oboe Competition (July 20).

Three chamber music series concerts featuring ensembles and chamber groups will also be held. The first stage on February 17 will showcase ensembles such as Trio Artistry, composed of Russian-trained musicians; the Foerstmann Quartet, a string quartet founded and active in Germany; and the piano duo Shin Park Duo. Following that, Israel's 'Tel Aviv Chamber Ensemble' will visit Korea for the first time to brighten the second chamber music series stage on April 23. The third chamber music series stage, scheduled for June 15, will feature violinist Min Yoo-kyung, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, performing Mendelssohn's Octet and more.

Bucheon Art Center will prioritize ticket sales for the Prime Classic series concerts. Tickets will be available for purchase starting January 9.