Swiss festival brings everything to Seoul

Switzerland is a land of contrasts characterized by the diversity of its culture and economy.

The best way to experience this diversity is to hop on a plane and head straight for Switzerland, but if that is not possible then the next best option is the Swiss Festival going on right now.

"I am pleased that this festival can take place during the official visit of our Vice President, Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard, giving a tangible sign of the strengthening of our bilateral relations," said Swiss Ambassador Thomas Kupfer.

Later today, performers from both countries will get together for a concert that will for sure entertain.

Swiss jazz trombonist and composer Samuel Blaser will team up his daring virtuosity and engaging improvisations with Korea`s very own pianist Kae Soo-jung, whose music has been described as a melting pot of 20th century classical, free improvisation, punk and jazz.



Another concert featuring a dynamic duo will happen tomorrow night when Swiss flutist Philipp Jundt performs along with Korea`s Catherine Rechsteiner on the piano to bring the soothing sounds of classical music to Seoul.

They will perform music composed by Bach, Schubert, Charles-Marie Widor, Frank Martin and Jacques Ibert.

Both concerts start at 7:30 p.m. at the Raemian Gallery, next to Insa-dong.

No festival celebrating Swiss diversity is complete without a food festival.

Until tomorrow, visitors can taste some internationally famous Swiss dishes 30 minutes before each concert.

On these occasions, there will be cheese dishes such as raclette and fondue. For those with a sweet tooth, there will also be the world famous Swiss chocolate fondue.

Switzerland is also home to majestic mountains, beautiful landscapes and crystal-clear lakes, where nature lives in harmony with people.

To get a glimpse of this, the embassy is also showcasing a photographic exhibition that brings all these attributes together in one eye-popping presentation.

Under the umbrella of the Seoul Design Olympiad, the embassy also brought an exhibition that showcases research, design and technology.

The exhibition, titled "Architecture and Vision - From Pyramids to Spaceships," takes place at the main stadium of Jamsil Sports Complex until Oct. 29.

Also, in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute in Seoul and in the context of the Week of the Italian Language in the World celebrations, the two artists from this exhibition, Swiss architect Andreas Vogler and Italian architect Arturo Vittori, will hold conferences at different locations in the country. For more information call the Swiss Embassy at (02) 3704-4754 or the Italian Institute at (02) 796-0634.

Switzerland is also famous for its excellent educational system, which has provided its industries with highly qualified workers and researchers who have brought innovative ideas forward.

During the festival, Swiss Learning, an association representing a broad spectrum of Swiss learning institutions, will be around to answer any question regarding educational options in Switzerland.

For tickets, contact (02) 3704-4774. For directions to the gallery, visit www.raemian.co.kr (Korean only).

(yoav@heraldm.com)



By Yoav Cerralbo