Pianist Cho Seong-jin draws largest audience to Lotte Concert Hall
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Pianist Cho Seong-jin, winner of the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, performs during a competition winner’s gala concert at the Seoul Arts Center, Feb 2, 2016. / Courtesy of Credia
By Park Jin-hai
Popular pianist Cho Seong-jin, winner of 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, has topped ticket sales for the Lotte Concert Hall, which celebrates its first anniversary Aug. 19.
According to the concert hall, Cho’s recitals on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4 drew 4,009 people, the hall’s largest audience, reflecting the young pianist’s popularity among music fans. The number indicates that the 2,036-seat concert hall was almost filled to capacity for two consecutive days.
Chinese pianist Lang Lang, often called a “musical superstar,” was second, drawing an audience of 1,995 to his Dec. 8, 2016, concert. Third was conductor Chung Myung-whun and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra’s November performance last year that gathered an audience of 1,991.
Other high-ranking ticket sales concerts included French organist Jean Guillou’s pipe organ recital and conductor Chung and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s performance on the concert hall’s opening day.
Lotte Concert Hall’s special concerts were also successful. Popular pianist Son Yeol-eum’s first “Musical Letters” concert series on April 22 sold 1,587 tickets, while the concert hall’s “Easter Concert” sold 1,505 tickets.