By Lee Hyo-won
Staff reporter
There’s nothing quite as challenging as putting together an orchestral performance ― 100 or so people playing different instruments at different times can easily create cacophonic concoctions. In an international project ensemble, the universal language of music may speak pluralistically, but verbal communication is still vital and much is bound to get lost in translation. Teamwork and inspiration can ultimately bring people, and melodies, together.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War (1950-53), and musicians from 21 U.N. member nations that supported South Korea throughout the conflict will gather ― to fete the meaning of peace and harmony through music.
The World Orchestra concert will be held Tuesday evening at Seoul Arts Center featuring a thematic program: Prokofiev’s ``Ode to the End of the War’’ and the upbeat William Tell overture, which conjures up the image of the victorious Swiss army triumphantly riding back home, as well as the lilting 4th Adagietto movement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 ``Resurrection’’ and Brahms’ pastoral Symphony No. 2, which both evoke the feeling of peace and calm.
The orchestra project was two years in the making, to bring together Christoph Poppen, the esteemed principal conductor of the German Radio Philharmonic, and one artist from each of the 16 nations that fought alongside Korean soldiers ― Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States ― and the five that provided medical aid ― Denmark, India, Italy, Norway and Sweden.
Unfortunately, the Ethiopian member was unable to participate and so a second British artist was asked to join ― interestingly, however, this was none other than Victoria Harrild, a cellist whose grandfather lost his life on the battlefield in 1951.
The rest of the members, both Korean and non-Korean, are from local ensembles such as the Seoul Philharmonic, Bucheon Philharmonic, Korean Symphony, Eurasian Philharmonic and Prime Philharmonic.
Tickets cost from 30,000 to 100,000 won. Call (02) 599-5743 for more information.