Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival
As the summer heat envelopes South Korea, the stage is set for an exhilarating lineup of arts festivals, captivating audiences with a diverse array of performances. Kicking off the season is the 23rd Miryang Summer Performing Arts Festival, which commenced on Friday and will run until July 29. The quaint city of Miryang, with a population of about 100,000, has transformed into a hub for the performing arts, welcoming 57 troupes from across the nation to showcase theatrical plays and enthralling performances.
Nature takes center stage from Wednesday to August 5 at the annual Music in PyeongChang festival in Gangwon Province. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, this year's edition will feature 20 concerts and eight outreach concerts, with a repertoire that highlights compositions such as Schumann's "Forest Scenes," Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons," and Schubert's "Trout Quintet," each intricately intertwined with the essence of nature. The festival, under the artistic direction of cellist Yang Sung-won, promises to enchant classical music enthusiasts with its harmonious blend of melody and scenery.
Dedicated to children and youth, the ASSITEJ Korea International Summer Festival will be hosted at the Asia Culture Center in Gwangju, presenting two plays that delve into understanding and embracing each other's differences and worlds. "A Square World" from the United Kingdom will grace the stage on July 29 and 30, while "Lady and Gentle Mime" from Thailand will captivate audiences on August 5 and 6.
From August 11 to 20, the Classical Revolution festival at Lotte Concert Hall will illuminate the works of American conductor, composer, pianist, and music educator Leonard Bernstein, along with composers who significantly influenced him, such as Brahms, Schumann, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Dvorak. Led by the renowned principal clarinetist of the Berlin Philharmonic, Andreas Ottensamer, the festival will feature a stellar lineup of gifted performers, including flutist Kim Yubin, soprano Hwang Soo-mi, cellist Han Jae-min, pianist Yoon Hong-chen, and tenor Shin Chang-yong.
In celebration of the Seoul Arts Center's 30th anniversary, the Summer Music Festival will take place from August 22 to 27, featuring celebrated Korean pianist Baik Kun-woo in a special chamber music performance with young musicians. The festival will be graced by esteemed Spanish conductor Antonio Mendez for the opening and closing performances, promising a grand finale to the summer festivities.
Rounding off the season with a harmonious chorus, the National Chorus of Korea's Summer Choral Festival will fill the Seoul Arts Center with resounding voices on August 30 and 31. Renowned singers will enchant the audience with a diverse range of genres, from traditional Western classical music to original choral works, leaving audiences immersed in the magic of human voices.
From captivating theatrical plays to classical masterpieces, this summer's arts festivals across South Korea offer a kaleidoscope of performances, promising an unforgettable experience for all who partake in the cultural festivities.
Sayart.net
Blue YIM, yimyoungseo1010@naver.com
