Hanwha Classic '2020' Held... Two Performances Only in Seoul

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The classical concert brand 'Hanwha Classic 2020,' hosted by Hanwha, will take place twice on December 12 (Sat) and 16 (Wed) at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. Amid many performances being canceled or postponed due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Hanwha Classic is carrying out a more meaningful project with world-renowned early music star performers from Korea.

Soprano Lim Sun-hye, who has continued wonderful projects with world-class early music masters, and Baroque artists active both domestically and internationally have come together to form the 'Hanwha Baroque Project Orchestra,' presenting Bach's concertos and cantatas, as well as Pergolesi's concert opera.

Hanwha Group decided to hold the 'Hanwha Classic 2020' concert to deliver a message of hope to the public weary from COVID-19 and the shrinking cultural and arts sector. After much deliberation until the last moment on whether to proceed, 'Hanwha Classic' turned the crisis into an opportunity and is promoting two performances in Seoul with Korean performers active on the world stage, including Lim Sun-hye, Kim Na-yeon, Kwon Min-seok, and Kim Ki-hoon.

The concert seating will be conducted with thorough safety measures in compliance with quarantine rules to prevent coronavirus infection. The number of seats has also been reduced by 50%. Ticket prices remain the same as previous years: R seats at 50,000 KRW, S seats at 35,000 KRW, and A seats, including choir seats, at 20,000 KRW. All performances on December 12 and 16 will be broadcast live via Naver TV.

This year's concert will be led by star soprano Lim Sun-hye and Baroque violinist Kim Na-yeon, who has shown brilliant activity, as concertmasters of the Hanwha Baroque Project Orchestra. Under the baton of conductor Kwon Min-seok, who is active both domestically and internationally, about 20 Baroque specialist musicians gathered under the name 'Hanwha Baroque Project,' including recorder player Jung Yoon-tae and oboist Shin Yong-cheon, along with baritone Kim Ki-hoon, who was widely reported last year as the runner-up of the Tchaikovsky competition, will illuminate the stage.

On December 12, under the theme 'Falling in Love with Bach,' Bach's Brandenburg Concertos and the so-called 'Wedding Cantata,' 'Now, O Shadow of Sorrow, Disappear,' will be performed. On December 16, Pergolesi's short and delightful concert opera 'La Serva Padrona' will be sung by Lim Sun-hye and Kim Ki-hoon.

Meanwhile, Hanwha Group, emphasizing the companion value of 'Together Far,' as stressed by Chairman Kim Seung-yeon, contributes to the development of domestic culture and arts by hosting or sponsoring various performance programs ranging from popular shows to high-quality classical music. Since 2013, Hanwha Classic has introduced masters of the world classical music scene to Korea. Its main features include a repertoire centered on early music and invitation stages of early music specialist ensembles that are difficult to invite easily.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.