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Classical and pop favorites for Seoul Arts Center’s birthday

Published: 01 Aug. 2008, 00:27

Summer music programs at the Seoul Arts Center will feature a number of orchestras and chamber ensembles such as the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra.Provided by the organizer

If rock music isn’t your musical inclination, don’t worry. The Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul is holding a series of concerts that might suit your taste this summer.
To mark its 20th anniversary, the center will be holding pop and classical music events in a quiet, air-conditioned concert hall.

“It’s like a buffet of different music genres,” said Kim Yeong-su, part of the center’s music programming division.

“The Best Classic” will feature a string of celebrated orchestras such as the Gunpo Prime Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Tutti Ensemble and French Chamber Orchestra. Beethoven, Mozart and Tchaikovsky will be on the program.

“It will be a beautiful panorama of the world’s best classical music, and the performers will play the most well-known movements of the most famous symphonies created by celebrated musicians,” Kim said.

The organizers are going to include a commentary by Hong Seung-chan, a music critic and professor at Korea National University of Arts because they are expecting a lot of students. Hong’s input should add an extra dimension to the concerts.

“Summer Chamber Music,” meanwhile, will make the music more personal this summer. The organizers have moved the program to the Recital Hall, which has 350 seats. The usual venue, the Concert Hall, holds 2,523 seats.

The chamber music ensemble Summer Chamber Music will feature performances by MusicaGlorifica using baroque-period instruments like the baroque violin, viola de gamba and cembalo, Korea National University of Arts Percussion Ensemble and Yur Eum Woodwind Quintet.

Cielos Ensemble. Provided by the organizer

“Pops Concert,” held every year since 2002, will feature conductor Kang Chang-woo, pianist Park Chong, violinist Pi Ho-young and the Korean Symphony Orchestra playing 20 hit songs that have dominated the Korean charts in the last two decades.

Songs include “Swallowtail Butterfly” by Kim Heung-guk, “Tell Me” by Wonder Girls and “I Won’t Love” by Baek Ji-yeong.

“The Best Classic” and “Summer Chamber Music” will be held from Aug. 9 to 15, at 8 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, and at 5 p.m. from Friday to Sunday. Tickets cost between 10,000 won ($10) and 15,000 won. “Pops Concert” will be performed from Aug. 16 to 17 at 5 p.m. Tickets range between 30,000 won and 60,000 won.

For reservations, call the Seoul Arts Center on (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.