This September, Seoul's concert venues will showcase an extraordinary collection of Baroque music performances, featuring period instruments and authentic historical performance practices that recreate the musical atmosphere of three centuries past. The month presents an exceptional lineup of historically informed performances, with renowned artists Philippe Herreweghe, Fernandez Violons, and Richard Egarr bringing masterful early music interpretations to Korean audiences through works by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, and other Baroque masters.
The Baroque period of the 17th and 18th centuries marked a revolutionary era in Western classical music history. During this transformative time, tonal harmony developed its foundational structure, innovative instrumental forms including the concerto, suite, and sonata reached new heights of sophistication, and opera emerged as a dominant artistic medium. Sacred music also experienced remarkable growth during this period, ranging from magnificent large-scale oratorios to more personal and intimate cantatas that explored deep spiritual themes.
Historically informed performance groups, commonly referred to as period-instrument ensembles or early music specialists, employ authentic materials and techniques to recreate original sound qualities. These musicians use gut strings manufactured from animal intestines rather than modern metal strings on their violins, and feature harpsichords in place of contemporary pianos to achieve the authentic timbres composers originally envisioned.
"Performing on period instruments is not about nostalgia or purism – it's about finding the sound world Bach imagined," explained conductor Philippe Herreweghe in a recent email interview. The Belgian conductor, widely celebrated as a living legend in the early music movement, will lead his ensemble Collegium Vocale Gent in performances of Bach's Mass in B Minor from September 18-20 at three major venues: Seoul Arts Center, Daejeon Arts Center, and Art Center Incheon. This marks the first time in 19 years that the acclaimed ensemble has performed this monumental work in Korea.
Composed during the final years of Bach's life, the Mass in B Minor is universally recognized as the ultimate expression of his sacred vocal compositions. This masterwork skillfully weaves together monumental fugues, deeply expressive arias, and powerful choral passages to create both a spiritual and musical testament that represents the pinnacle of Baroque sacred music. Herreweghe has recorded this piece three times throughout his career, with each recording reflecting his evolving understanding and interpretation, making his upcoming Korean performances a highly anticipated event for classical music enthusiasts.
Korea's own Collegium Musicum Seoul will celebrate the brilliance of Antonio Vivaldi in their "Viva Vivaldi!" concert at Banpo Sinsan Art Hall on September 3. This performance is part of the ensemble's ongoing Viva series, which dedicates entire programs to exploring the complete works of individual composers. The program will showcase several of Vivaldi's most compelling compositions, including his Concerto for 2 Violins in A minor, Concerto for 4 Violins in B minor, and the passionate "L'Estate" (Summer) from his world-famous Four Seasons cycle.
Enhancing the program's artistic depth is the participation of Fernandez Violons, a distinguished duo featuring French Baroque violinist François Fernandez and Korean Baroque violinist Kim Yoon-kyung. This international collaboration brings together expertise from both European and Asian early music traditions, promising audiences an exceptional interpretation of Vivaldi's virtuosic violin repertoire.
Camerata Antiqua Seoul will commemorate the 20th anniversary of its founding with a special collaboration featuring Richard Egarr, the internationally renowned British conductor and harpsichordist, on September 6 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Egarr, recognized as one of today's leading interpreters of Baroque repertoire, brings extensive experience from his distinguished tenure with the Academy of Ancient Music, one of the world's premier period instrument orchestras.
Together, Egarr and Camerata Antiqua Seoul will recreate the magnificent grandeur of 17th and 18th-century European royal courts through their carefully curated program. The first half will feature Corelli's Concerto Grosso in D Major, Op. 6 No. 1, and Handel's Concerto Grosso in B-flat Major, Op. 3 No. 2, followed by his celebrated Water Music Suite No. 2 in D Major. After intermission, the program will continue with Hasse's "Cleofide" overture, building toward the grand finale of Handel's "Music for the Royal Fireworks," a work that perfectly demonstrates the brilliance and ceremonial splendor characteristic of Baroque court music.
For those seeking a more intimate encounter with Baroque chamber music, the ensemble Idioma della Musica will present Handel's complete recorder sonatas at the Seoul Arts Center IBK Chamber Hall on Sunday. Founded just last year by recorder virtuoso Jeon Hyeon-ho and Baroque cellist Cho Hyun-kun, this specialized group focuses exclusively on early music repertoire and authentic performance practices. For this particular concert, they will be joined by accomplished harpsichordist Lee Han-na to deliver all six of Handel's recorder sonatas, works that masterfully blend irresistible charm, technical virtuosity, and lyrical warmth.
Countertenor David DQ Lee will close September's Baroque celebrations with a recital titled "BaroQueLog" on September 30 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, coinciding with the release of his new album of the same name. Lee will be accompanied by an eclectic ensemble including French theorbist Bruno Helstroffer, jazz pianist Cho Yoon-seung, and bassist Sung Min-je, creating a unique fusion of historical and contemporary musical approaches.
The innovative program will feature both rarely performed Baroque treasures by composers such as Monteverdi, Kapsberger, and Rossi, alongside fresh and creative reinterpretations of familiar works by masters like Handel and Vivaldi. Lee, who is remarkably self-taught as a countertenor, has achieved international recognition by winning first prize at prestigious competitions including the 43rd Francisco Viñas Competition in Barcelona, the Musica Sacra Competition in Italy, and the George London Competition in New York. Since these early victories, Lee has graced the stages of the world's most prestigious opera houses, including the Vienna State Opera, Teatro Real in Madrid, and La Scala in Milan, establishing himself as one of the finest countertenors of his generation.
