Mapo Immersed in Classics... 'M Classic Festival' Opens on the 31st

The 'M Classic Festival' hosted by the Mapo Cultural Foundation, which will fill various locations in Mapo-gu, Seoul with classical music, will open on the 31st.

M Classic is a large-scale pure arts festival hosted by the basic local government Mapo Cultural Foundation, now in its 9th year. Over the past eight years, it has featured a total of about 480 performances, involving over 6,000 artists, and attracted 660,000 spectators. This year, M Classic will present about 20 performances including symphony, chamber music, and art songs over a period of about two months until December 10.

This year’s M Classic, under the theme of 'Bohemian,' will focus on works by composers whose music and spirit embody Bohemian culture, such as Anton?n Dvo??k, Gustav Mahler, Leo? Jan??ek, Anton Reicha, and Bohuslav Martin?, showcasing a variety of performances including vocal music, chamber music, and symphony.

For the first time since the festival’s inception, an artistic director system will be introduced this year. Son Ilhun, a young composer gaining attention through collaborations with pianists Son Yeol-eum and Sunwoo Yekwon, has been appointed as the inaugural artistic director. Artistic Director Son Ilhun completed his master’s and postgraduate studies at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague in the Netherlands and is the resident composer of the 10-member chamber ensemble Club M.

The highlight of this festival is the chamber music series 'In the Forest of Bohemia,' where audiences can fully experience the music and spirit of the free-spirited Bohemians.

The first stage of 'In the Forest of Bohemia' on September 24 will be performed by clarinetist Shim Gyuho, bassoonist Kim Hyunjun, horn player Kim Hongbak, trumpeter Choi Mungyu, pianist Park Jonghae, and the string quartet Eden Quartet. They will perform Anton?n Dvo??k’s String Quartet No. 12 'American,' representing Czech composers, and Leo? Jan??ek’s septet 'Concertino,' which depicts animals with a unique ensemble of clarinet, bassoon, horn, violin, viola, and piano.

The 'In the Forest of Bohemia' performances will be held six times until December 10.

On September 6-7, a romantic outdoor concert titled 'Moon Sonata & M Park Concert' will be held at Mapo Saebit Cultural Forest, a city park bathed in moonlight at the threshold of autumn. On the 6th, violinist Kim Donghyun will perform Saint-Sa?ns’ 'Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso' and Grieg’s 'Violin Sonata No. 3' with pianist Song Jaegun. On the 7th, broadcaster and foundation ambassador Daniel Lindemann will join the Forestman Quartet for a classical stage, alongside performances by the talented indie band The Bowls and Korea’s representative yodeler group Echo Chorus. Lindemann will also perform piano pieces.

Symphony performances by the KBS Symphony Orchestra and the specially organized M Classic Festival Orchestra will be held three times on October 10, October 18, and November 13.

Other performances include the 'String Ensemble' on October 8 featuring haegeum ensemble Setndalm, cellist Lee Hochan, and pianist Jung Daseul; a solo recital by Trio Owon on October 17; a duo concert by pianist Kim Dohyun and violinist Choi Songha on November 15; and a solo recital by pianist Masaya Kamei on December 10.

Additionally, six art song concerts will be held featuring Korea’s leading vocalists such as bass Yeon Gwangcheol, sopranos Hong Hyeran and Kim Sunyoung, baritones Yang Junmo and Choi Hyunsu, and tenors Kim Hyojong and Choi Wonhui.

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