Seoul Philharmonic to Conclude Year with Performance at Seodaemun Prison History Hall... Video Released on 31st

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) will release an online performance titled "Miracle Seoul (美樂Classic) with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra - Seodaemun Prison History Hall" at 11:15 PM on the 31st, marking the end of 2020.

This performance signals the start of Seoul's online "New Year's Eve Bell Ringing" event, which begins at midnight, and can be viewed on the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's YouTube channel.

"Miracle Seoul" is a classical content series where the SPO performs against the backdrop of Seoul's historic landmarks. The performance is structured in a storytelling format within the Seodaemun Prison History Hall?where the history of the nation's patriots' hardships and perseverance is deeply rooted?featuring locations such as the prison cells, partition walls, and the Memorial Hall. It conveys a message of hope as 2020 ends and the new year begins.

The SPO selected the repertoire for this performance based on four themes: "Wall - Requiem - Memory - Reclaimed Light."

First, the SPO performs Bach's Cello Suite No. 2 "Prelude" at the partition wall of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall. The partition wall was installed by the Japanese colonial authorities to prevent prisoners from communicating or escaping during outdoor activities. At the center of prison cells 10, 11, and 12, Barber's "Adagio for Strings" is performed, a piece that consoles and soothes the spirits of ancestors who sacrificed their lives for the nation's fate, embodying the meaning of "requiem." Next, in the Memorial Hall, which holds over 5,000 prisoner records, Beethoven's String Quartet No. 15 is performed to remember and honor the independence activists. Finally, in front of the large Taegeukgi flag at the prison history hall, the performance concludes with the fourth movement of Beethoven's "Choral" Symphony, singing of sublime brotherhood for humanity, the power of Korean culture, and the joy of liberation.

The performance video was pre-recorded in November, before the implementation of the 2.5 social distancing level, while strictly adhering to quarantine guidelines.

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