An ensemble with the mission to spread the joy of music will launch next week with a debut concert at Seoul Arts Center.

The orchestra ― the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra ― was established by media group Herald Corp., the publisher of The Korea Herald, as part of its efforts to give back to society. Directed and conducted by Kim Bong-mee, it is comprised of about 70 mostly young musicians who were educated at some of the finest music institutions in Korea and abroad.

It aims to expand the reaches of orchestral music in Korean society and spread the spirit of harmony through music. 

“We have gathered under the mission of making classical music more accessible to the public,” the orchestra said in its official statement.

At its debut concert on Oct. 8, the HPO will perform familiar orchestral pieces as well as opera arias, featuring the country’s top singers and solo instrumentalists.

“We programmed the debut concert with the hope that audience members would fall in love with orchestral music and, perhaps, become our fans,” director Kim said.

The concert will open on a festive note with “Triumphal March” from Verdi’s opera “Aida,” before presenting a composition by Saint-Saens ― Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso in A minor, Op. 28 ― featuring international renowned violinist Kim Eung-soo as the soloist.

Veteran trumpeter Ahn Hee-chan will then take the stage, presenting the “Carnival of Venice” by Arban.

Soprano Oh Eun-kyung and tenor Lee Jung-won will each sing two of the most popular opera arias ― “Caro nome” (from Verdi’s “Rigoletto”) and “Nessun dorma” (from Puccini’s “Turandot”). They will sing a duet, “Libiamo ne lieti calici” from Verdi’s “La Traviata,” which will wrap up the first half of the concert.

In the second half, the orchestra will demonstrate its musical capability with a 48-minute symphonic masterpiece and a crowd favorite ― Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.

“Music’s healing power is most needed now, because our society has so many conflicts and divisions. It is because of that the debut of Herald Philharmonic Orchestra has special meaning, an ensemble devoted to soothing our minds,” Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said in his congratulatory message.

On Oct. 18, the Herald Philharmonic will perform a free outdoor concert at Seoul Arts Center as part of a community festival.

The debut concert on Oct. 8 will start at 8 p.m. at the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won to 150,000 won. For details, call (02) 586-0945.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)