Music from Korea and Israel will share the same stage as the United Philharmonic Orchestra presents Great Korea, a gala concert commemorating the 64th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations. Scheduled for July 16 at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center, the event brings together orchestra, chorus, instrumental soloists, and vocalists in a program built around themes of friendship, memory, hope, and cultural exchange.
Under the baton of conductor Bongmi Kim, more than 80 musicians of the United Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by cellist Younghoon Song, clarinetist Orit Orbach, soprano Hyejung Kang, tenor Kyucheol Lee, violinist Hyunji Kim, and the Winner Opera Chorus. The evening spans national anthems, concert works, operatic choruses, art songs, and ceremonial marches.
The concert opens with selections representing both nations. Themes from Ahn Eak-tai's Korea Fantasy bring the familiar melody of Korea's national anthem into a grand symphonic setting, while Samuel Cohen's Hatikvah, the national anthem of Israel, offers a musical expression of hope. Presented side by side, the two works underscore the spirit of friendship and mutual respect that defines the anniversary celebration.
Israeli clarinetist Orit Orbach takes the spotlight in Gioachino Rossini's Introduction, Theme and Variations. Drawing upon Rossini's operatic gift for melody, the work combines lyrical cantabile passages with dazzling technical display, allowing the clarinet to move effortlessly between vocal warmth and virtuosic brilliance.
Violinist Hyunji Kim performs the finale of Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26. One of the most beloved movements in the violin repertoire, the finale demands rhythmic vitality, expressive breadth, and close collaboration between soloist and orchestra. As concertmaster of the United Philharmonic Orchestra, Kim brings a unique familiarity with the ensemble's sound and musical character.
Vocal highlights include Dicitencello Vuie, performed by tenor Kyucheol Lee, and Ari Arirang by Korean composer Jungjoon Ahn, sung by soprano Hyejung Kang. The first half concludes with Vangelis' March with Me, featuring both vocal soloists and the Winner Opera Chorus in a work that transforms individual voices into a collective statement of hope and solidarity.
Following intermission, cellist Younghoon Song performs Bruch's Kol Nidrei, Op. 47, inspired by traditional Jewish liturgical melodies. The work unfolds as a deeply introspective meditation, requiring sustained lyrical expression rather than virtuosic display. Song's rich tone and expansive phrasing are expected to shape one of the evening's most reflective moments.
The program also includes Giuseppe Verdi's celebrated Va, pensiero from Nabucco, a chorus long associated with themes of exile, longing, and freedom. Naomi Shemer's Jerusalem of Gold, one of Israel's most cherished songs, follows with performances by Kang, Lee, and the Winner Opera Chorus.
Another internationally recognized anthem of resilience, Richard Rodgers' You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel, adds a message of encouragement and unity, amplified by the combined forces of orchestra and chorus.
The concert's orchestral finale features Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Marche Slave, Op. 31, a work of dramatic contrasts and mounting momentum, before concluding with Edward Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1. With its triumphant melodies and celebratory spirit, Elgar's iconic march provides a fitting conclusion to an evening dedicated to friendship, cultural dialogue, and shared aspirations.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
Copyright ⓒ 뉴스컬처 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지
본 콘텐츠는 뉴스픽 파트너스에서 공유된 콘텐츠입니다.
