The National Symphony Orchestra of Korea (NSO) will embark on a European tour this October, highlighting the richness of Korean classical music, or "K-Classical." The tour, scheduled for October 1 and 3, will bring the NSO to prestigious venues in the Netherlands and Slovakia, under the baton of Artistic Director David Reiland. This marks the NSO's first overseas tour under Reiland’s direction and its debut performance in the Netherlands.

On October 1, the NSO will perform at Amsterdam's iconic Concertgebouw, one of the world’s top three concert halls alongside Boston Symphony Hall and Vienna’s Musikverein. The Concertgebouw has hosted legendary conductors like Bernard Haitink and Mariss Jansons. Following this, the orchestra will perform on October 3 at the Bratislava Music Festival in Slovakia, one of Eastern Europe’s most esteemed music festivals. This will be the NSO’s return to Bratislava after a nine-year hiatus, having last performed there in 2015 to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

The NSO’s European tour will feature several distinguished collaborators, including cellist Han Jae-min, who won the 2021 George Enescu International Competition at the youngest age in history. Han will perform Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme during the October 1 concert.

Adding to the tour’s prestige, world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo will perform as a special guest on both dates. Jo will showcase Italian opera arias by Donizetti and Bellini, and deliver a rendition of As Spring Comes Across the River by Korean composer Lim Geung-su, introducing the beauty of Korean art songs to European audiences.

David Reiland expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "It is a great honor for us to represent Korea at the heart of European classical music. With soprano Sumi Jo and rising star Han Jae-min, we are excited to share the depth of Korean music with the world."

Sayart / Sharon Jung, guhuijeong784@gmail.com