The renowned woodwind musicians of Les Vents Francais will return to the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center Thursday after three years.

Les Vents Francais, meaning "The Winds of France," is an ensemble of leading soloists: flutist Emmanuel Pahud, oboist Francois Leleux, clarinetist Paul Meyer, bassoonist Gilbert Audin, hornist Radovan Vlatkovic and pianist Eric Le Sage.

The group is celebrated not only for their technical mastery and refined interpretations but also for their commitment to expanding the woodwind repertoire. They have collaborated with composers such as Thierry Escaich, Thierry Pecou, Guillaume Connesson, Michael Jarrell, Misato Mochizuki, Fuminori Tanada, Donald Waxman and Qigang Chen to introduce new compositions for wind ensembles.

For this tour, which also includes performances in Japan, the ensemble presents another new work: a sextet commissioned by composer-oboist Gilles Silvestrini.

“We spend a lot of time with composers from the past … But we also have this continuity, and I think it's very important for all of us to be connected to what's happening today,” clarinetist Meyer said in a recent email interview.

Hornist Vlatkovic echoed this sentiment, emphasizing how working with living composers enhances their understanding of historical works. "I would love to ask Bach, Mozart or Beethoven what they meant with a passage, but we can only read what they wrote. Talking with contemporary composers gives us new insights into older music.”

The ensemble hopes the audience will appreciate both the individual charm of each instrument and the fresh perspectives on familiar works.

“The audience will have the joy of hearing some of the best flute, bassoon, horn and piano playing,” Meyer said. "Brahms and Verdi are well known, so they don’t require much effort from the listener. But with Roussel, Poulenc or Silvestrini, I hope the audience listens with curiosity to how different we will sound.”

Vlatkovic added, "Some audiences love recognizing familiar pieces, while others might say, 'Ah, I didn't know this piece could be so intimate and beautiful!'"

In the first half of the concert, the ensemble will present Brahms’ "Variations on a Theme by Haydn," arranged for woodwinds; Haydn’s "St. Anthony Chorale"; and Verdi’s Quintet in E minor, originally composed for string quartet.

The second half will add piano to the woodwind ensemble, presenting Albert Roussel’s Divertissement for Piano and Woodwind Quintet and Ludwig Thuille’s Sextet in B-flat Major for Piano and Woodwind Quintet. The evening will culminate in the Korean premiere of Silvestrini’s “New Piece.”

South Korea holds personal significance for some members of Les Vents Francais. Meyer, who served as an associate conductor for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra nearly 20 years ago, is excited not only to reunite with old friends but also to enjoy Korean BBQ.

For Vlatkovic, this visit is another opportunity to deepen his understanding of Korean culture. "On my last visit, Korean writer Han Kang had just won the Nobel Prize. I picked up one of her books and learned more about Korean culture through that," he said. "This trip will be short and intense, but I look forward to reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.”

Les Vents Francais will perform at the Seoul Arts Center Thursday. Ticket prices range from 60,000 won to 130,000 won ($41-$90).