Korean classical music ensemble Joy of Strings will hold a European tour with its art director Lee Sung-ju this month.

Their repertoire encompasses Austrian and Korean music including Corelli’s “Christmas Concerto,” Haydn’s Violin Concerto in C Major, Mozart’s Divertimento in D, Kreisler’s “Liebesfreud & Liebesleid,” Gounod’s “Ave Maria,” Lee Young-jo’s Arirang Variations for String Orchestra and several carols. Lee, a noted violinist, will participate as soloist.

The string ensemble will kick off the European tour with a Dec. 5 performance during the Haydn Festival in Eisenstadt, some 50 kilometers from Vienna. This will be followed by “Joy of Christmas” on Dec. 6 at the Korea Kulturhaus in Vienna. The concert in Vienna is co-organized by Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Austria.

On Dec. 8, the ensemble will perform at the Municipal House in Prague, Czech Republic, featuring Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” Mozart’s Divertimento in D and Grieg’s Holberg Suite, Op. 40.

The Joy of Strings ensemble was established in 1997 by Lee, a professor at the Korea National University of Arts.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/joyofstrings.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)