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The Korea Times' Spring Concert treats enthusiasts to night of musical brilliance
Svetlin Roussev, left, and Son Yeol-eum perform at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday, for The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Pyo Kyung-min
Son Yeol-eum, Svetlin Roussev grace stage with pieces from ‘Love Music’ album
The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert took place at Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday, and drew a significant turnout of music enthusiasts, filling some 2,000 seats in the venue.
The evening event, hosted by The Korea Times and organized by Pie Plans, showcased a captivating collaboration between two esteemed musicians — celebrated pianist Son Yeol-eum and Bulgarian-born virtuoso violinist Svetlin Roussev — who enthralled the audience with their harmonious collaboration.
The attendees gathered outside the venue well before the concert commenced, while Son and Roussev added to the spectacle with their elegant presence. Son donned a stunning green gradient dress, reminiscent of the essence of spring, while Roussev complemented her attire with a matching suit, further enhancing the evening's ambiance.
Son, 37, gained international acclaim following her remarkable achievements at the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition, where she secured second prize and the prestigious Best Chamber Music Performance award. Particularly noteworthy are her interpretations of Mozart's compositions, notably her rendition of Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467. This performance, captivating audiences worldwide, has amassed nearly 23 million views on YouTube.
Violinist Svetlin Roussev and pianist Son Yeol-eum perform at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday, for The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
"In this global era, especially thanks to K-culture, I believe the role of The Korea Times has become more significant than ever before in garnering worldwide interest in Korea," Son said, sharing her sentiment about The Korea Times' concert.
"Personally, whenever I want to convey current issues in Korea to my international acquaintances, I often cite articles from The Korea Times because it's a very familiar media outlet to me. I'm delighted to be collaborating. I hope such opportunities will come again soon in the near future," she added.
Teaming up with Son since 2015, Roussev has solidified his reputation as a prominent figure in the music industry. In addition to his virtuosic performances, Roussev holds the esteemed position of artist in residence with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. Furthermore, he imparts his expertise as a faculty member at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Notably, Roussev is associated with the prestigious Amati-Stradivarius violin, which has been on loan from Amundi since 2011.
Svetlin Roussev, left, and Son Yeol-eum react to each other after the second part of The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
"I am truly happy and feel particularly privileged to collaborate with The Korea Times," Roussev said.
"In my opinion this is the reference regarding past, present and hopefully future stories and issues of this country. Connecting classical, and even more, universal music to The Korea Times with me as a part of it, I can only be so grateful."
The event also celebrated the debut of their latest collaborative single, "Love Music," delving into compositions from the late Romanticism era in the Austro-German region.
The program captivated the audience with an array of works, including Erich Wolfgang Korngold's “Much Ado About Nothing” op. 11, Gabriel Fauré's Sonata for Violin and Piano no. 1 in A major, op. 13, and Richard Strauss' Sonata for Violin and Piano in E-flat major, op. 18. These selections set the stage for encores, featuring more familiar pieces to delight the audience further.
An audience member takes a photo of her ticket for The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Many cultural figures and diplomats stationed in Seoul honored the concert with their presence, praising the performers for their remarkable prowess.
"We're very grateful to The Korea Times for inviting us to the spring concert featuring two wonderful, world-acclaimed artists," Philippine Ambassador to Korea Maria Theresa B. Dizon-De Vega said. "This concert shows the healing power of music and now in the midst of the global challenges that we all face, music unites people and strengthens us to face the challenges."
Ambassador Federico Alberto Cuello Camilo, representing the Dominican Republic in Korea, expressed gratitude for the marvelous evening.
"The concert was extraordinary. The ability of the performers, mastery of the work, it's just amazing. I am very grateful for the invitation. This has been an amazing experience. Every year, you keep on surprising us," the ambassador noted.
Past recipients of The Korea Times' Multicultural Youth Awards, including Kam Hyo-been, a 19-year-old student, also attended the concert.
"I never even dreamed that I would meet musicians like Son Yeol-eum and Svetlin Roussev ... Even though the melodies are complex, the harmony between the violin and piano resonated immediately," Kam said.
"Being able to listen to the artists' perform from such a close seat was touching and honorable."
Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin, right, and its sister paper Hankook Ilbo President Lee Sung-chul, left, applaud pianist Son Yeol-eum and violinist Svetlin Roussev after their performance for The Korea Times' annual Spring Concert at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk