By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Classical music aficionados may be disappointed by the cancellation of tours by a number of foreign orchestras, but performances by domestic troupes will be in full swing throughout April ― with the Seoul Arts Center's annual Orchestra Festival featuring 17 top Korean ensembles.
The 2009 program will take place from April 3 to 21, beginning with the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra. The opening night will feature Medelssohn's Violin Concerto with violinist Stefan Jackiw, a noted Korean-American who is known here as a member of the popular chamber ensemble Ditto and is the grandson of the famed poet Pi Cheon-deuk. The 17-day relay concert will continue with performances by a different orchestra each day.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the event, which began in 1989 with the opening of the center's concert hall. It has developed into a major music festival that gathers top national artists in one place.
Expectations for the event are high, as top musicians will appear as soloists for concertos ranging from Brahms to Beethoven and Berlioz. Future leaders of classical music will participate, including up-and-coming pianist Kim Tae-hyung (Daejeon Philharmonic, April 4); cellist Koh Bong-ihn (Jeonju Philharmonic, April 5), who is balancing a medical career at Harvard with playing alongside artists like Yo Yo Ma; and Lim Dong-min, who is a star pianist here along with his brother Dong-hyek (Suwon Philharmonic, April 17).