The Seoul International Music Festival is making its highly anticipated return this year with an exciting lineup of six performances centered around the theme "Dance with Me," running from October 30 through November 6. The festival aims to invite audiences to experience the energy and joy of music through the universal language of dance, showcasing how this art form has been integral to Western music history for centuries.
This year's festival celebrates the vitality and joy of life that classical music conveys through dance, spanning various forms from waltz to tango to ballet. The prestigious lineup features internationally acclaimed cellist Gary Hoffman, horn virtuoso Radek Baborak, and conductor Kirill Karabits, all performing alongside the SIMF Orchestra. The orchestra will be led by a trio of distinguished concertmasters: Kim Dami, Baek Ju-young, and Kim Jae-won.
The festival opens on October 30 at Lotte Concert Hall with a concert titled "From Mozart to Tango," which will trace the fascinating evolution of dance from aristocratic grace to fiery modernity. The opening performance will culminate with Astor Piazzolla's tango, specially arranged for full orchestra by composer Kim Hong-geol, with Baborak conducting the ensemble.
Following the opening night, the festival continues with intimate chamber music performances that explore different cultural dance traditions. On October 31, audiences can attend "German Dance" at Seoul Arts Center, followed by "Slavic Dance" at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on November 1. These performances will showcase the rich diversity of European dance forms through classical music.
November 2 brings a special celebration as the SIMF String Orchestra commemorates the bicentennial of Johann Strauss II's birth with a performance featuring "Frühlingsstimmen" alongside beautiful serenades by Dvořák and Tchaikovsky. This concert will also mark the festival debut of soprano Shin Ju-yeon, adding a vocal dimension to the dance-themed programming.
One of the festival's highlights arrives on November 5 when Gary Hoffman returns to perform an all-Beethoven Cello Sonata cycle under the evocative title "Dancing with Beethoven." This performance promises to showcase the composer's rhythmic brilliance and wit through his masterful cello compositions, demonstrating how dance elements permeate even the most serious classical works.
The festival concludes on November 6 with a historically significant performance conducted by Kirill Karabits that commemorates 60 years of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations. This finale will feature the Korean premiere of Toru Takemitsu's "A String Around Autumn," performed by violist Park Ha-yang, who trained under the renowned Nobuko Imai. The closing concert will also include Bruch's Double Concerto featuring violinists Song Ji-won and Kim Sang-jin, as well as Rachmaninoff's powerful "Symphonic Dances."
All performances will take place at Seoul's premier performing venues, including the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center, and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the festival are affordably priced, ranging from 20,000 won to 60,000 won, making world-class classical music accessible to a broad audience. The festival represents Seoul's commitment to bringing international-caliber cultural programming to Korean audiences while celebrating the timeless connection between music and dance.
