Songpa-gu's 'Happy Summertime Concert'

Free High-Class Diverse Performances Including Jazz, Tango, and Vocal Music at Lotte Concert Hall on the 10th at 5 PM
▲Brandon Quartet ▲Go Sangji Trio ▲Im Sunhye and Friends Featuring Top Korean Musicians

To relieve residents exhausted from more than half a month of tropical nights, Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) will present beautiful melodies on a midsummer night. On August 10th at 5 p.m., a diverse musical stage featuring jazz, tango, and vocal music, the ‘Happy Summertime Concert,’ will be held for free at Lotte Concert Hall.

Based on the district’s philosophy that all residents should be able to enjoy high-quality cultural and artistic performances in their daily lives, the district has been hosting various ‘Cultural Performance Planning Series’ in collaboration with the Songpa Cultural Foundation since last year. This year marks the third performance following the ‘2024 Songpa New Year Concert’ in February and ‘Pinkfong Classic Land’ in May.

In particular, this performance draws attention with the participation of top-tier star musicians in Korea. In the first half, the Brandon Quartet, presenting lively authentic jazz music, and the Go Sang-ji Trio, led by the ‘bandoneon,’ known as the ‘devil’s instrument’ due to its difficulty in playing, will perform. The second half features soprano Lim Sun-hye and friends delivering a grand musical and opera stage with splendid tones.

First, Brandon Choi, renowned for his solid skills, graduated from the highest performance course at the Lyon Conservatory in France and was the first Korean to perform at the Lincoln Center in the United States as a saxophonist. The quartet, consisting of saxophone, bass, drums, and piano, will showcase the essence of joyful and rhythmic jazz music. There will also be a collaboration with a captivating jazz vocalist.

Next, the trio led by Go Sang-ji, regarded as the country’s top ‘bandoneonist,’ will present a fantastic tango feast. This is a rare opportunity to experience the bandoneon performance, which is usually difficult to appreciate. A duo of professional dancers performing passionate tango dances will follow, captivating the audience’s eyes and ears.

Finally, soprano Lim Sun-hye, acclaimed as the top prima donna in the global early music scene, along with a cello and piano team, will conclude the performance. They will present familiar pieces to the public, including ‘Summertime,’ the title of the concert, as well as famous musical and opera numbers by Bernstein and Gershwin, representing the United States.

The concert has shown high popularity, with online reservations closing early. Ticket holders can be assigned designated seats on a first-come, first-served basis at the venue, and on-site admission is allowed only 10 minutes before the performance in case of ‘no-shows.’ The concert is suitable for ages 8 and above, with no separate intermission. For more detailed information, please check the official website of the Songpa Cultural Foundation.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “I hope everyone can forget the midsummer heat for a moment and enjoy a healing time listening to various genres of music,” adding, “We will continue to do our best to offer more refined and abundant cultural performances to residents thirsty for culture and arts.”