Superstar pianists Yunchan Lim, Seong-Jin Cho, and Sunwook Kim will grace the stage in Busan, delighting classical music enthusiasts. Following Classic Busan’s signature program, the Classic Park Concert, an outdoor performance of “Carmen” will be held at the North Port landmark site, offering free admission to all. The event will also feature a “Lecture Concert” for classical music novices and an “Organ Week” showcasing the concert hall’s renowned pipe organ.
On January 10th, Classic Busan unveiled the 2024 performance lineup for the Busan Concert Hall, with general ticket sales commencing on the 13th (12th for paid members). Since its grand opening last June as Busan’s first dedicated classical music venue, the concert hall has welcomed 120,000 visitors and promises an exciting array of performances this year.
The Busan Concert Hall stage will host a star-studded lineup of classical music luminaries. The World Star Series will feature performances by In-mo Yang with the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra (March 14), cellist Sung-won Yang’s Trio Owon Recital (April 10), Yunchan Lim’s Recital (May 9), Seong-Jin Cho with the Berlin Chamber Orchestra (July 15), Rudolf Buchbinder with the Lucerne Festival Strings (September 19), the Metz National Orchestra commemorating the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations (September 20), Minsoo Sohn’s Recital (October 18), and Maxim Vengerov with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra (October 20). The Chamber and Duo Series will showcase intimate performances by acclaimed domestic and international musicians, including a duo recital by Clara-Jumi Kang and Sunwook Kim (May 29) and a duo recital by Yoo-bin Kim and Richard Yongjae O’Neill (August 20).
The Busan Concert Hall’s 1st Anniversary Festival will run from July 3 to 8. The Asia Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), under the baton of Artistic Director Myung-whun Chung, will be in residence during the festival, presenting classical masterpieces including Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral,” and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.” Additionally, the “Maestro’s Room” program will allow Maestro Chung to conduct open rehearsals with local music students.
Building anticipation for the Busan Opera House, set to open in 2027, new programs are being introduced. In conjunction with the opening festival, the APO will present an outdoor production of “Carmen” at the North Port landmark site, free for all, on July 11 and 12. Some roles may differ from the full concert version of “Carmen” performed at the Busan Concert Hall last December. Later in the year, Myung-whun Chung and the APO will present a concert version of “Otello” (October 10-11).
Entering its second year, the Busan Concert Hall is actively working to broaden its audience base. The Classic Park Concert, held annually in June at Busan Citizens Park since 2023, will continue, though the schedule for early June may be adjusted due to local elections. A “Classics for 1,000 Won” series will also be offered. Beginning with the “Spring Music Concert with Nan-Sae Geum,” which pioneered the lecture concert format (February 22), the series will continue with the 2024 Opera Gala Concert (March 19) and the “Classic Concert” led by the “dancing conductor” Yoonhak Baek (June 27). Classic Busan’s signature educational program, the HELLO SERIES, will offer classes on classical music, ballet, opera, and organ.
The organ programs at the Busan Concert Hall, home to the first large-scale organ outside the Seoul metropolitan area, are particularly noteworthy. The Pipe Organ Series will feature performances throughout the year starting in April, with a special Organ Week planned for August 21-28 as its inaugural festival. Confirmed performances in the organ series include Isabel Demers and Shenwen Yuan’s “Four Hands” (April 8), Thomas Ospital’s Recital (June 20), and Karol Mossakowski’s Recital (October 23).
Min-jung Park, CEO of Classic Busan, stated, “This year, we’ve curated a comprehensive season celebrating our first anniversary. It includes a festival featuring Artistic Director Myung-whun Chung and the APO, performances by world-class artists like Yunchan Lim and Seong-Jin Cho, self-produced operas, educational programs, and outdoor concerts. We believe this series will establish the concert hall as a cultural hub, propelling Busan’s artistic capabilities and marking a pivotal moment in the city’s journey to become a global cultural destination.”
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