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Korea Herald
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Busan Concert Hall opens with finest talent, advanced infrastructure
Opening festival led by Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun showcases Busan's potential as a classical music hub BUSAN — After Maestro Chung Myung-whun concluded Sunday evening's concert at the new Busan Concert Hall, he traced a circle in the air with his finger before gently tapping his heart — a gesture that seemed to acknowledge not only the musicians on stage but also the audience, who responded with a standing ovation. It was a moment of gratitude and recognition, shared by all present at a historic milestone in Busan's classical music journey. The city's long-awaited concert hall finally opened its doors last weekend. Chung, who serves as the artistic director of Classic Busan, a municipal office of Busan Metropolitan City responsible for operating the Busan Concert Hall and the Busan Opera House, which is set to debut in 2027, took the podium three times over the weekend. Friday's performance was an invitation-only concert, attended by government officials and various dignitaries, many of whom were not seasoned classical music listeners, as evidenced by applause between movements. The program, featuring Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56 and Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 "Choral" was repeated Saturday afternoon. This time, classical music enthusiasts from Busan — Chung's hometown —filled the seats, and the atmosphere was entirely different: charged, attentive and emotionally resonant. On Sunday evening, Chung, who is also set to lead the prestigious Teatro alla Scala in Milan from 2027, conducted Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major "Emperor" with celebrated pianist Cho Seong-jin at the keyboard and Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 "Organ." For all three performances, the 72-year-old towering figure of Korean classical music performed works he had fully internalized, entirely from memory — except the Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, for which he both conducted and played the piano. Pipe organ, a rare instrument The weekend also marked the public debut of the concert hall's pipe organ — a rarity outside the Seoul metropolitan area. Crafted by Germany's Freiburger Orgelbau, the instrument features 4,423 pipes and 64 stops, capable of producing a range of tonal colors. Renowned pianist and organist Cho Jae-hyuck opened Sunday's concert with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565, showcasing the full dynamic range and architectural resonance of the new instrument. Returning for the second half of the performance on Sunday, Cho and the APO presented Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3 in C minor Op. 78 "Organ." 'This organ is large in scale and divided into multiple divisions, allowing it to accommodate a wide range of genres and performance contexts. Depending on how it's combined, it can produce majestic or harmoniously blended sounds, like a palette filled with a rich variety of colors. Each element isn't just optional; rather, every part serves a specific purpose with clear intent. Being able to perform using all of these thoughtfully designed components is incredibly rewarding,' Cho said during an interview over the weekend. 'I hope that Busan citizens will discover the unique charm of each stop (each referring to a particular set of pipes that produces a distinct sound) one by one,' Cho added. Top Asian musicians gather in Busan The Asia Philhamornic Orchestra comprises top-tier musicians from Korea, China and Japan — or those who have a strong connection with Korea. It has alternated between periods of activity and hiatus since its founding in 1997. Reconvening under Chung's direction for the opening of the Busan Concert Hall, the APO was responsible for showing the concert hall's full potential. The concertmaster was Park Ji-yoon, who also holds the distinction of being the first Asian and first woman to serve as concertmaster of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Other Korean musicians at the world's top orchestras also returned to perform on home soil, including Kim Han, principal clarinetist of the Paris National Opera, and Park Kyoung-min, violist with the Berlin Philharmonic. The orchestra also included musicians from the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, the China National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra and Alexander Baty, principal trumpet of the Munich Philharmonic. 'When we come together under Maestro Chung, the music flows more naturally because we understand his conducting so deeply," Park said in an interview ahead of Saturday's concert. The 2,011-seat Busan Concert Hall, located inside Busan Citizens Park, features a vineyard-style seating that wraps around the stage, offering visual intimacy and optimal acoustic distribution. A sound cloud suspended above the audience adjusts audio direction to ensure even acoustics throughout the hall. The concert hall also includes a 400-seat chamber hall. Choi Jin, Korea's top tonmeister, said that a new concert hall typically takes some time to settle acoustically, but 'The venue is remarkably well-settled for such an early stage of its opening.' Sunwoo Ye-kwon, the first Korean winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017, expressed his excitement for Busan's new addition. 'Musicians are grateful for this new venue for classical music," he said. On Monday, the celebrated pianist was set to take the stage with members of the APO to present "Beethoven and Romanticism," further showcasing the potential of the chamber hall. On Wednesday, Chung will again take the stage as a pianist at the chamber hall to present a selection of masterpieces of Viennese classical chamber music alongside APO members. The opening festival continues until Saturday, when a concert opera of Beethoven's 'Fidelio' will wrap up the festival.
Korea Herald
17-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Busan sets eyes on becoming Asia's classical music hub with new concert hall
Korea's second-largest city has brand new concert hall and maestro Chung Myung-whun BUSAN - Soon, Busan will be known for more than just films -- it's on track to become a major hub of classical music with the opening of a world-class concert hall in June and an opera house set to debut in 2027. Busan, Korea's second-largest city with a population of 3.28 million, on Monday unveiled its artistic vision and plans for Busan Concert Hall opening festival set to take place June 20-28 and more. After performing Brahms' Intermezzo Op.117, Chung Myung-whun, the artistic director of Classic Busan, a municipal office of Busan Metropolitan City responsible for operating Busan Concert Hall and Busan Opera House, said that he was very satisfied with the sound quality of the concert hall. 'Later, when the hall is packed with audience members, the sound will change, and we'll have to wait and see how it truly unfolds. However, the most important thing for a performer is the feeling of the hall while playing -- the atmosphere, the overall sensation. Based on our judgment, it turned out very well,' Chung told reporters during a press conference on Monday. With its 2,011-seat hall, Busan hopes Busan Concert Hall will become the much-needed solution to the city's shortage of performance venues. Busan has only one-third the number of performance venues compared to Seoul and half the national average, while the utilization rate of these venues is twice the national average. "There was an assessment that Busan's classical music base was weak, but it has grown significantly. By promoting new programs in the new concert hall, it can become a classical hub that encompasses Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province," Busan Mayor Park Hyeong-jun said. "Busan has often been excluded when orchestras go on nationwide tours, but this is expected to lead to an overall expansion of the market. Orchestras on tour tend to choose venues based on factors such as the size of the theater and the atmosphere of the region. Given its convenient location for traveling to China and Japan, I believe this is an advantage," Park Min-jeong, CEO of Classic Busan, noted. Maestro Chung has a bigger vision for Busan, however. 'Looking at the artistic vision for Busan, my dream is for this city to become a truly special musical star in Asia, a meeting point for music in Asia,' Chung noted. "Korea started as a poor country and has grown into a prosperous one. Now, it's time to become a great nation -- one that helps others. To become a great nation, wealth alone is not enough. As culture and the arts flourish, people find greater ease, fostering a spirit of sharing and deeper connection with others,' Chung told reporters during a press conference held at Busan Concert Hall in Busan on Monday. The opening concert will focus on a composer who redefined the history of classical music and who Chung has turned to at important moments -- Beethoven. The opening festival will kick off June 20 with Beethoven's 'Triple Concerto' and Symphony No. 9 'Choral,' on June 20, featuring violinist Sayaka Shoji, cellist Jian Wang, and the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra. The APO is a project orchestra formed for the opening of Busan Concert Hall and comprises Asian musicians who are members of internationally acclaimed orchestras. The festival will continue with a piano recital by Cho Seong-jin on June 22, chamber music performances by Sunwoo Ye-kwon on June 23 and Chung Myung-whun on June 25, featuring solo piano works and diverse ensemble formations, such as piano trios and quintets. Cho Seong-jin will focus on piano sonatas by Beethoven and Brahms, while Sunwoo and Chung will perform chamber music pieces with members of APO. On June 24, organist Cho Jae-hyuck will give an organ recital featuring Beethoven Symphony No. 5 and Mussorgsky's 'Pictures at an Exhibition,' showcasing the instrument's rich tonal depth. Busan Concert Hall is equipped with a pipe organ manufactured by the German company Freiburger, featuring 4,406 pipes and 62 stops. The festival will conclude with a concert opera production of 'Fidelio,' Beethoven's only opera, on June 27 and 28. The cast includes world-renowned tenor Eric Cutler, soprano Hratchuhi Bassenz and bass Wilhelm Schwinghammer, alongside Korean baritone Son Ji-hoon, the Busan City Choir and the National Choir. Busan Concert Hall, located within Busan Citizens Park, stands on a site steeped in 100 years of modern history. Originally used as a Japanese military training ground and later as a US military camp, the land was eventually returned to Busan after years of civic activism. The venue is expected to form a new cultural cluster alongside the nearby National Busan Gugak Center and Busan Opera House, which is set to open in 2027.
