National Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and National Opera Company New Year's Concert
Philharmonic Ensemble and Vienna Boys' Choir Korea Tour Performance, etc.
As we welcome the year of the Blue Dragon, Gapjin Year (甲辰年) 2024, a variety of New Year's concerts are being held across the country. How about choosing a classical performance as your first cultural activity of the new year?
According to the performance industry on the 1st, various New Year's concerts will be held by domestic orchestras such as the National Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, and National Opera Company, as well as international groups including the Vienna Boys' Choir and the Vienna Chamber Orchestra Philharmonic Ensemble.
First, on the 5th, the National Opera Company will open the new year with a performance featuring 12 soloists leading Korea's vocal music scene. The concert will showcase highlights from their regular performances with sopranos Kim Yujin and Ahn Hyesoo, mezzo-sopranos Kim Serin and Shin Sunghui, tenors Kang Doho, Koo Taehwan, and Lee Yoseop, baritones Na Uiseok, Park Eunwon, and Lee Chuncho, and basses Park Euihyun and Choi Gongseok. The Korea Coop Orchestra will accompany the performance, conducted by maestro Choi Seunghan.
On the 6th, arias from Puccini's operas will be performed. Maestro Kim Deokgi will lead the Korea Coop Orchestra, with star vocalists including sopranos Oh Heejin, Han Ji-hye, and Hong Jooyoung; tenors Kim Hyojong, Jung Hoyoon, and Lee Beomju; and baritone Yang Junmo, filling the stage with rich sound.
The Philharmonic Ensemble, returning to Korea after four years, will take the stage at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on the 7th. Founded in 2013, the Philharmonic Ensemble consists of 13 active members of the Vienna Philharmonic, boasting brilliant technique and rich sound.
In this concert, they will perform Johann Strauss II's operetta 'Die Fledermaus' overture, waltzes including 'Where the Lemon Trees Bloom,' 'Voices of Spring,' 'Artist's Life,' and Brahms' Hungarian Dance No. 5.
The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will also hold a 'New Year's Concert' on the 5th at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, presenting a hopeful performance to welcome the Gapjin year. Conductor Sung Si-yeon, active on the global stage, will lead the podium, with violinist Yang Inmo as the soloist.
The concert will begin with the brilliant and grand orchestral piece Tchaikovsky's 'Italian Capriccio,' followed by Sarasate's 'Zigeunerweisen' and Ravel's 'Tzigane.' It will conclude with Dvo??k's Symphony No. 8.
The National Symphony Orchestra will hold the '2024 Season Opening Concert' on the 14th at the National Theater of Korea's Haeoreum Hall in Seoul. A stage like a 'gift box' combining orchestra, ballet, opera, and pansori is prepared.
Artistic director David Reiland will conduct, with African-American pianist Stewart Goodyear, sopranos Yoo Sungnyeo and Lee Haewon, baritone Jo Byungik, National Ballet dancers Park Jongseok and Shim Hyunhee, and pansori singer Kim Suin collaborating. The concert will showcase the National Symphony's versatile charm through ballet, opera, and Korean traditional music. A pas de deux from Tchaikovsky's ballet 'Swan Lake' will also be performed.
This performance will also feature a unique fusion of Western orchestra and pansori. They will perform 'Eosa Chuldu' from 'Chunhyangga' and conclude with 'Ari Arirang.' The crossover group Crezl and pansori singer Kim Suin will convey the charm of 'New-Gugak' (new Korean traditional music).
The National Gugak Orchestra will open the year of the Blue Dragon with a powerful performance blending tradition and modernity. The New Year's concert on the 12th at the National Theater's Haeoreum Hall will be conducted by Jeong Jiyong, featuring harpist Hwang Sehee, five percussionists from the National Gugak Orchestra, and the crossover vocal group Crezl on stage together.
National Gugak Orchestra and National Jeongdong Theater New Year's Concert [Photo by National Gugak Orchestra and National Jeongdong Theater]
The concert will open with Jo Wonhaeng's 'Cheongcheong (淸靑),' expressing the sounds of nature under a clear blue sky through rich gugak orchestration. Following this, Hwang Sehee will perform a harp concerto based on the theme 'Chunseol (Spring Snow).'
Additionally, percussionists Yeon Jeho, Lee Seungho, Lee Yujin, Kim Yesul, and Kim Insu from the National Gugak Orchestra will each play instruments such as the kkwaenggwari, janggu, buk, jing, and jaegeum in the percussion concerto 'Pado: Dance of the Blue Mist.' This piece depicts the waves dancing freely against rugged rocks and strong winds through intense percussion and gugak orchestra harmony. The finale of the concert will be the National Gugak Orchestra's New Year's signature piece, 'One Song, The National Anthem.'
Known as the 'Choir of Angels,' the Vienna Boys' Choir will hold a New Year's concert on the 23rd at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Composed of about 100 boys before their voice changes, this choir continues the legacy of the Vienna Court Orchestra alongside the Vienna Philharmonic and Vienna State Opera.
In this concert, the choir will perform Mozart's 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik,' Offenbach's 'Belle nuit, ? nuit d'amour,' Ennio Morricone's 'Nella Fantasia,' and David Foster's 'Prayer.' They will also present 'Missing Geumgangsan' by Korean composer Choi Youngseop.
The National Jeongdong Theater will hold a New Year's concert on the 12th under the theme 'Dragon Soaring,' presenting a stage where musicals, popular songs, classical music, gugak, and dance blend with media art. Musical actor Yang Junmo and Jeongga vocalist Ha Yoonju, who are responsible for Jeongdong Theater's brunch concert 'Jeongdong Palette' and 'Jeongdong Next,' will MC and introduce the diverse program themselves.
The concert will feature Austin Kim, leader of the crossover quartet 'Fortena,' who will take the stage. Departing from harmonies blended with members, he will showcase the charm of the contralto voice. Following this, Korean folk music master Yoon Hyungjoo, who appeared in the musical 'Secret Garden' and conveyed analog sensibility with warm guitar melodies, will perform a medley of famous songs.
The '2024 New Year's Concert: Vienna Style,' held on the 12th at Seoul Lotte Concert Hall, will open the new year with lively and bright Viennese waltzes. Sopranos Park Soyoung and tenor Kim Minseok will perform as soloists, with conductor Kim Kwanghyun leading the Korea Coop Orchestra, presenting a diverse program including operetta arias and duets.
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