The bustling city of Busan is set to captivate its citizens with a riveting ‘A Sneak Peek at the Busan International Art Center: Classic Park Concert’. The event is scheduled to take place at the picturesque Hayariya Lawn Square in the Busan Citizen Park, from 6:30 pm on June 3rd and 4th.
This open-air classical concert is part of a strategic initiative to promote two of the city’s upcoming cultural landmarks – the Busan International Art Center, which is expected to open its doors in 2025, and the Busan Opera House, due to launch in 2026. The event seeks to democratize the enjoyment of classical music and foster its popularity among the city’s citizens, ahead of these momentous openings.
The June 3rd concert promises to be a grand spectacle, featuring the renowned KBS Symphony Orchestra, led by the globally acclaimed Maestro Chung Myung-whun, who enjoys the distinction of being one of the top five conductors worldwide. Adding to the concert’s allure will be performances by prominent opera singers currently gracing the global stage. The list of performers includes Soprano Park So-young, Tenor Mario Bahg, Baritone Kim Gihoon, Bass-baritone Gil Byung-min, along with the Busan Metropolitan Chorus and members of the 2023 Busan Opera House troupe. The program is set to enchant audiences with grand and beautiful opera arias and choruses by Puccini and Verdi, overtures from Rossini’s operas, and intermezzos from Mascagni’s operas.
The concert scheduled for June 4th will showcase the talents of the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra under the expert direction of Choi Soo-yeol. The orchestra will perform an array of globally-loved masterpieces, including Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture,” Edward Elgar’s “Salut d’Amour,” Antonín Dvořák’s “Slavonic Dances Op. 46 No. 8,” Johann Strauss II’s “Thunder and Lightning Polka,” Beethoven’s “Triple Concerto 1st Movement,” Bizet’s “Carmen Prelude & Habanera,” Bach’s “Air on the G String,” and Jan Sibelius’s “Finlandia.” These world-renowned pieces, handpicked by Director Choi Soo-yeol, have been curated to create a program that truly embodies the spirit of the Park Concert. For the performance of Beethoven’s Triple Concerto, the stage will be graced by Cellist Song Young-hoon, Violinist Lee Ji-hye, and Pianist Kim Tae-hyung.
The concert is open to all and free of charge, with seating allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. True to the park concert concept, the event will be conducted in a picnic-style setting. Attendees are therefore encouraged to bring along their picnic mats and immerse themselves in the enchanting ambiance of the Busan Citizen Park. This concert promises to be an exquisite blend of music, nature, and community, making it a must-attend event for all music and art enthusiasts.
