KNUA Symphony Orchestra Performs at the Invitation of the Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, Poland

The KNUA Symphony Orchestra affiliated with the School of Music took a concert tour to the 27^th Ludwig van Beethoven Easter Festival, Poland, at the invitation to perform in the opening ceremony. Including the performance at the opening ceremony, the KNUA Symphony Orchestra gave 3 performances in 3 cities in Poland from 26 to 29 March. Conducted by emeritus professor Chung Chi-yong of K-Arts who is a representative conductor of Korea and awardee of the Austrian Culture Ministry Award, pianist Chloe Jiyeong Mun co-performed with the orchestra. Mun is an alumna of K-Arts and winner of the Concours de Geneva (Switzerland) and Busoni International Piano Competition (Italy).

Co-organized by the Korean Cultural Center in Poland and the Association of Ludwig van Beethoven, Poland, the festival tour this year gained momentum from the KNUA Symphony Orchestra’s online performance at the 26^th festival last year. Upon its revelation, the online performance earned a big acclamation throughout Poland. Thereafter, the Association of Ludwig van Beethoven decided to invite Korea as a guest country of honor.

Part 1 of the performance began with Beethoven’s “Egmont Overture, Op. 84” and continued to Frederic Chopin’s “Piano Concerto in F minor, Op. 21.” In part 2, the orchestra presented the musical pieces that could well show the colors of Korea. “Glory of Dawning” by composer Lee Young Jo, who devoted himself to tutoring young students for a long time at K-Arts, and “Symphony No.5 ‘Korean’” by Krzysztof Penderecki, a prominent Polish composer and conductor. Penderecki composed the work, commissioned by the late Minister of Culture of South Korea Lee O-young. Afterward, the composer himself came to Korea and premiered it. The unique sonic expression made by the Korean traditional musical instrument pyeonjong (metallophone) in the work captivates the audience.

Director Kang Eunyoung of the Korean Cultural Center Poland said, “The KNUA Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Penderecki’s work will be remembered as the most impressive moment in the history of cultural exchange between the two countries. I hope the performance to successfully deliver Korea’s tribute to Penderecki who commemorated the 50^th anniversary of the independence day of Korea and a wishful message for the friendship and harmony of the two countries.”