Kumho Art Hall has revealed its complete lineup for the 2026 Beautiful Thursday concert series, placing 24-year-old baritone Kim Tae-han at the center of its prestigious year-round program. Kim makes history as the first vocalist to be selected for the hall's artist-in-residence program since its inception in 2013, marking a significant milestone for the venue's flagship initiative that features Thursday evening recitals combining emerging talents with internationally renowned masters.
The 2023 Queen Elisabeth Competition winner has crafted an ambitious four-part series titled "Persona," which explores the diverse characters and emotions found in operatic and art song performances. Kim's residency will unfold throughout the year with a New Year's gala featuring opera arias on January 8, followed by an opera gala focusing on relationships on April 23. The series continues with a French melody program centered on love on July 2, and concludes with Schubert's complete "Winterreise" cycle on October 15.
Since 2013, the art hall, which is operated by the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, has maintained its tradition of selecting classical musicians under 30 years old for its artist-in-residence program, providing them with a regular performance platform to develop their careers. Last year marked another historic moment when the Arete Quartet became the program's first ensemble-in-residence, expanding the scope beyond solo artists.
The 2026 season presents an extensive range of programming that spans various themes and performance formats. The "Kumho Exclusive" series will feature Dutch fortepianist Ronald Brautigam on May 28, who will perform Classical-era repertoire on authentic period instruments. Under the "International Masters" banner, acclaimed pianist Paul Lewis returns with "the Mozart series" on October 21-22, an innovative program that explores Mozart's multifaceted musical world while drawing connections to other composers including Poulenc, Debussy, and Chopin. The series also welcomes Stephen Hough on November 19.
"The Great Composer" series offers intimate encounters with classical music's most revered figures through carefully curated performances. Violinist Han Soo-jin will present Bach on September 10, while pianist Kim Tae-hyung explores Beethoven on September 7. Pianist Mun Ji-yeong will showcase Schubert on November 12, and a violin-cello duo featuring Yoo Day-oon and Jung Woo-chan will perform on March 12.
Two innovative new programming strands, both titled "Young Odyssey," will showcase the next generation of classical musicians through comprehensive sonata cycles. "Young Odyssey: Beethoven" in July will feature five promising young violinists performing all 10 of Beethoven's violin sonatas, while "Young Odyssey: Mozart" will present five young pianists covering the complete set of 18 Mozart piano sonatas.
The established "Kumho Rising Star" platform continues its mission of highlighting emerging talent with performances by clarinetist Park Sang-jin on February 12, double bassist Ryu Si-heon on February 26, violist Lee Hae-soo on March 26, and pianist Heesuk Elias Ackley on June 18.
A new thematic series called "Johannes," dedicated to the works of Brahms, will bring pianist Yoon Hong-chun to the stage on April 16. The series continues with violist Lee Han-na performing alongside pianist Kim Da-sol Kim on June 4, and concludes with a trio performance featuring Kim Jae-young, Mun Tae-guk, and Park Jae-hong on November 26.
Special programming for the season includes a recital by cellist Lee Jae-ri, who was awarded the 2025 Isang Yun Competition Seong-Yawng Park Special Prize, which recognizes promising Korean musicians. This performance adds to the hall's commitment to supporting and showcasing Korean classical music talent alongside international artists throughout the comprehensive 2026 season.
