'Seven stars' at chamber music gala

The sixth annual Seven Stars Gala Concert -- a chamber music concert led by Jung Myung-hoon -- will be held this month in Seoul, followed by a performance in Suwon.

In Korea, chamber music concerts are typically held less often than concerts of other classical genres. But this annual gala concert always attracts a steady group of classical music buffs.

The show started out five years ago as a "Seven Male Musicians Gala Concert," featuring local soloists such as the cellist Han Dong-il and the violinist Kang Dong-seok. Despite the hard economic times then, the show was a success.

In 1998 and 1999, the concerts added female musicians -- the pianist Baik Hae-sun and the violinist Alisa Park -- and continued to grow larger. The concerts in the following years grew into an international music event, and renowned soloists from abroad were invited, including Daishin Kajimoto and Dakashi Simitsu.

This year, the organizers have grown even more ambitious. The musicians included for this year are impressive: Myung-whun Chung, the conductor of the Radio France Philharmonic; Yeifim Bronfman, the Russian pianist; Dashin Kashimoto; Shlomo Mintz, the Russian violinist; the cellist Misha Maisky; another cellist, Young Chang Cho; and the Ukranian violinist Yuri Mashmet. Chung will play piano for this event.

The evening's program on June 11 will kick off with Debussy's Cello Sonata, followed by Bronfman's Piano Trio No. 2, one of the more difficult pieces by Shostakovich. The closing piece for the evening will be Brahm's Piano Quintet, played by Chung, Kashimoto, Bashmet, Masiky and Mintz.

The concert on June 11 takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

A second show on June 12 at 7:30 p.m. takes place at the Kyonggido Cultural Arts Center in Suwon. Ticket prices start from 30,000 won.

For more information, call 02-399-1111.

by Park Soo-mee