Tongyeong international music festival to kick off on March 26

By Park Ji-won

Poster for Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) Courtesy of TIMF

Tongyeong International Music Festival, one of the largest classical music festivals in Korea, will be held from March 26 through April 4, showcasing 23 performances by solo artists and rare classic and contemporary works under the theme “Changing Reality.”

The festival has been held since 2002 in the namesake southern city of Tongyeong, the hometown of contemporary composer Yun I-sang. Offering a variety of classical musical performances by domestic and overseas artists and orchestras, the festival was established to remember Yun's achievements.

This year, Venezuelan conductor Christian Vasquez will open the festival with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra playing Yun's “Fanfare ＆ Memorial.”

From March 26 to 28, a musical performance “Dear Luna” ― an interpretation of the works of Chopin and Alexander Scriabin interpreted by Korean American composer Kim Texu ― will premiere with a ballet performance and media art. Pianist William Youn will play the piece danced to by ballerina and artistic director Kim Joo-won and supporting dancers, while actor Han Ye-ri, who starred in the Golden Globe-winning film “Minari,” will narrate the new work.

Violinist Chung Kyung-wha will play Bach's works for violin from March 28 to 30, while pansori-based alternative pop band Leenalchi, who recently rose to fame, will hold a concert April 2. Experimental works by rising composers such as Jung Hun-joo, Kim Eun-sung, Lee A-reum, Kim Ji-hyun and Oli Jan in Asia will be showcased on April 3. Visit timf.org for more information.