By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Though hints of the cold spell linger in the air, atmospheric melodies and the warm support of The Korea Times' family and readers drew the new season closer at the 60th anniversary Spring Concert, Friday in Seoul.
``The Korea Times, born on Nov. 1 in 1950 in the midst of the Korean War (1950-1953), has been striving to help the people from other parts of the world better understand Korea. We at The Korea times have also been concentrating on helping our younger generation learn English more effectively,'' said the newspaper's President Park Moo-jong.
Some 3,000 concertgoers ― including many distinguished guests such as diplomats, designer Andre Kim Pusan (Busan) International Film Festival Director Kim Dong-ho and readers invited through a draw ― gathered at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the founding of the nation's first English daily.
``I congratulate the nation's oldest English daily on its 60th anniversary. I am grateful to the company as a reader for holding such a cultural event. I do hope the paper will go on for 100, or even 200 more years, in the future,'' said fashion designer Andre Kim at the concert.
Talented musicians, particularly popular baritone Kim Dong-gyu and celebrated folksinger Jang Sa-ik, made sure the occasion ― six decades of providing a window to Korea ― was a memorable one.
The annual event provided guests with timeless staples of the classical repertoire that could be enjoyed by both aficionados of the genre and those who are rather new to it.
The Seoul Symphony, led by conductor Lee Jin-kwon, opened the performance with an animated rendition of the ballet suites from Tchaikovsky's beloved ``The Nutcracker.''
Afterward flutists Lee Seung-ho and Park Yong-ho joined the ensemble for the first movement of Cimarosa's Two Flute Concerto in G major. The bemused interplay between the two soloists gave flight to the cheerful allegro movement.
Kim Dae-hwan, pianist and Kookmin University professor, continued the enthusiasm by offering Sarasate's ``Zigeunerweisen,'' Op. 20. The tasteful vibrato of the strings gave way to an impassioned interpretation of the gypsy-inspired piece.
The first part of the concert wrapped up in no time as the audience was beckoned by yet another dynamic duo performance. Pianists Chang So-hyun and Lee Mi-young played excerpts from Saint-Saen's ``Le Carnaval des Animaux.'' The pair showed off excellent partnership in rendering dynamic phrasings _ pumping with pomp and circumstance for No. 1, ``Royal March of the Lion,'' marked by quick, feverish breaths in No. 3 ``Wild Assess'' and spiced up with clacking beats for No. 12 ``Fossils.''
In the second half of the show, baritone Kim Dong-gyu, one of the most well recognized classical singers in the country, appeared with his signature wispy mustache and electric presence. He immediately seized the stage with Yoon Yong-ha's ``The Barley Field,'' a popular ``gagok'' or folksong based on the poem by Park Hwa-mok.
The melancholic folksong seemed to be a warm up for his smooth yet full-bodied interpretation of Cardillo's ``Core 'Ngrato.'' His musicality peaked with an opera aria, ``Chanson du Toreador'' from Bizet's ``Carmen'' and a seasonal classic, Loveland's ``Serenade to Spring.''
Last but certainly not least, the already feverish atmosphere seemed to explode with Jang Sa-ik's soft yet infectious charisma. The musician, smiling as always, swayed rhythmically as he sang popular tracks, including ``Abeoji'' (Father) and ``Nimeun Meon Gose'' (My Love Is Far Away).
Particularly notable was ``Jjilekkot,'' named after the baby brier, one of the most commonly found plants in local woods. The song became popular during the latter years of the Japanese colonial period (1910-45) and conveys melancholy for home and continues to be loved as a pan-national melody. Jang gave an encore ``Bombi'' (Spring Rain).
The evening wrapped up with medleys of classics, with many concertgoers seen leaving the hall humming the catching melodies.