Experience the Daeegu Philharmonic’s 35th Anniversary Gala Concert: A Must-See for Classical Music Lovers!

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On Tuesday, May 19, at 7:30 p.m., Daegu Concert House’s Grand Hall will host a gala concert in celebration of Korea’s Family Month, featuring the Daegu Philharmonic Orchestra — the region’s leading independent orchestra — which marks its 35th anniversary with a richly textured and varied program.

Since its founding in 1990, the Daegu Philharmonic has operated as a fully private symphony orchestra of professional musicians and has been a driving force in the region’s classical music scene. Presented as a Daegu Concert House production, this evening’s program promises greater breadth and polish.

Maestro Jang Han-up will conduct. He trained at the Detmold University of Music in Germany and the Maastricht Conservatory in the Netherlands and won first prize at the 25th Dong-A Competition. He maintains an active career across opera and symphonic repertoire, leading works such as Aida, L’elisir d’amore (The Elixir of Love) and Lucia di Lammermoor.

The program features cellist Park Jin-kyu, chairman of the Daegu Philharmonic; soprano Koo Soo-min; mezzo-soprano Park Joo-yong; pianist Ha Hyo-kyung; tenors Ahn Se-jun, Cha Kyung-hoon and Choi Ho-up; and the Union Choir.

The first half opens with the finale of Gioachino Rossini’s William Tell Overture. Pianist Ha Hyo-kyung will then appear as soloist in Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1, delivering dazzling virtuosic flair and intense energy.

The second half presents a sequence of familiar operatic highlights: the Toreador Song and Habanera from Georges Bizet’s Carmen; “La donna è mobile” from Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto; and the ardent aria “My Lips That Kiss So Hot” from Franz Lehár’s operetta Giuditta.

Cellist Park Jin-kyu will perform Lucio Dalla’s Caruso, and tenors Cha Kyung-hoon, Choi Ho-up and Ahn Se-jun will offer Agustín Lara’s Granada. The concert will culminate in a sweeping finale — Giacomo Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” from Turandot — sung with the Union Choir.

Over the years, the Daegu Philharmonic has collaborated with prominent Korean musicians such as Geum Nan-sae and Lee Il-jae, building a distinct identity as a private orchestra. Its programming moves fluidly between classical, contemporary and pop, and the ensemble regularly stages performances for underserved communities, contributing to the vitality of the local arts scene. Tickets are 10,000 KRW (approximately $7.50); the performance is open to elementary-school students and older.