Chicago Symphony Orchestra to play in Seoul

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra has not staged a concert in Korea in its 121-year history. Finally, the iconic ensemble is coming to Seoul to hold a two-day concert in February at the Seoul Arts Center, under the baton of Italian maestro Riccardo Muti. The CSO has built a reputation for its extensive repertoire, winning 62 Grammy Awards.

Prior to holding its first-ever concert, which has been generating buzz among classical music fans in the country, two of the principal musicians - violinist and concertmaster Robert Chen and principal oboist Eugene Izotov - decided to provide a one-day lesson to the general public by holding a “Master Class.”

“The Master Class will be a valuable opportunity for those who want to learn from two renowned principal players of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. This kind of chance doesn’t come very often,” said an official from the Hyundai Card Super Concert, the organizer.

To take advantage of this rare opportunity, anyone who plays either the violin or the oboe can apply by sending in an MP3 file of a recital of any music score of your choice along with an essay on why you want to take the course and a personal profile, via e-mail to superseries@hyundaicard.com by Jan. 8. Only four students (two per instrument) will be selected through two evaluations, first done by local music professors then by the CSO. However, 108 more people will be invited to sit in on the class. The four students will be presented with a ticket to the orchestra’s concert as well as a completion certificate upon finishing the class.

The concert, which is jointly organized by Hyundai Card and Credia, will be held on Feb. 6 and 7 at the Seoul Arts Center at 8 p.m. Tickets range from 70,000 won ($65) to 360,000 won. For more information, go to www.superseries.kr.

By Yim Seung-hye [sharon@joongang.co.kr]