Barenboim to hold concert at DMZ

By Lee Hyo-won

Daniel Barenboim, known for his peace-making efforts in the Middle East, will hold a concert by the demarcation line separating the two Koreas on Aug. 15, Liberation Day, the concert’s organizers said Thursday.

The maestro, joined by star soloists such as soprano Sumi Jo, will conduct the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, an ensemble comprised of youths from Israel and Palestine. It will be held at Imjingak, a tourist park located by the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province and will serve as a finale for a series of performances the orchestra will hold in Seoul.

The outdoor performance, titled Peace Concert, will feature Beethoven’s roof-raising Ninth Symphony “Choral.” “The iconic piece will be a special way to fete the country’s liberation and pray for peace on the divided Korean peninsula,” said concert organizer Credia. Korea was under Japanese colonial rule for 35 years, from 1910 until it was liberated on Aug. 15, 1945.

This is Barenboim’s first time performing in Korea in almost 30 years. The last time the pianist-turned-conductor was here was in 1984 with Orchestre Philharmonique de Paris. A firm believer that music can help mend conflicts, he proactively pursued the formation of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999. The musical community was initially fascinated by the novel idea behind the foundation of an international youth orchestra and has since taken notice of the ensemble’s riveting interpretations of Beethoven, Wagner, Tchaikovsky and many others. Barenboim himself is known for his approach to Beethoven, particularly for playing the full 32-piano sonata cycle from memory and leading the piano concerti as both conductor and soloist.

In addition to coloratura soprano Jo, other internationally renowned soloists will sing with the orchestra for the occasion: tenor Park Ji-min, who has appeared in lead roles at London’s Royal Opera House, mezzo-soprano Lee Ah-kyung and bass Hamm Suk-hun.

Members from the nation’s top choral groups including the Korea National Choir, Goyang Civic Choir and Seoul Motet Choir will join the singers for the famed 19th-century masterpiece, which was the first ever in the Western canon to incorporate vocals in a symphony.

All tickets for the picnic-style seating cost 35,000 won (individual mats will be provided).

Meanwhile Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra will hold a four-part series of concerts featuring an all-Beethoven program. The orchestra will perform Symphonies Nos. 1, 5 and 8 on Aug. 10; Nos. 3 and 4 on Aug. 11; Nos. 6 and 7 on Aug. 12; and Nos. 2 and 9 on Aug. 14. The same cast of singers for the DMZ concert will appear on the last evening.

Tickets cost from 50,000 to 150,000 won. Special discount packages are available and fans can save up to 15 percent by purchasing tickets to all four serial concerts at Seoul Arts Center.

Call 1577-5266 or visit www.clubbalcony.com for more information.