Sunwoo Yekwon Collaborates with Warsaw Philharmonic on Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1

On February 14th at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall
Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 on the second half stage

Pianist Sunwook Yekwon will perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in collaboration with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Poland's representative orchestra.

The performance planning company Mast Media announced on the 12th that the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a concert in Korea at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on February 14.

The first part of the concert will be filled with works by Polish composers. They will perform "Little Suite," composed by Witold Lutosławski based on traditional Polish folk songs and dances, and Chopin's "Piano Concerto No. 1." Sunwook Yekwon, the first Korean to win the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in North America, will collaborate as the soloist.

Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon [Photo provided by Mast Media, (c)rohsh]

Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 is a piece very familiar to the Warsaw Philharmonic. This is because the Warsaw Philharmonic is the official orchestra for the world-renowned Chopin International Piano Competition. The Chopin Competition is held exclusively with Chopin's works, and especially the finalists are required to choose and perform one of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 or No. 2. The majority of participants choose No. 1. Moreover, except for ??ng Th?i S?n in 1980, all winners have performed No. 1 to claim their honor.

The second part of the concert will feature Beethoven's Symphony No. 7.

The Warsaw Philharmonic was founded in 1901, the earliest in Poland, boasting a history of over 120 years. During World War II, their dedicated concert hall, the Philharmonic Hall, was completely destroyed, and many members were lost, leading to the tragic disappearance of the orchestra itself. After the war, the orchestra was rebuilt, and the Philharmonic Hall was also reconstructed in 1955.

Conductor Andrzej Boreyko has been leading the Warsaw Philharmonic as Music and Artistic Director since 2019.

Andrzej Boreyko [Photo courtesy of Mastmedia, (c) Michał Zagorny]

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