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.
Asian hub of classical music
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 said.
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. Busan Citizens Park officially opened on May 1, 2014.
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.
gypark@heraldcorp.com
