SAC Int'l Music Festival brings global and emerging talent to Seoul for six days
Launched in 2021 as a summer platform for local talent, the festival has since evolved into a full-fledged international event, helping to position Seoul as a major summer destination for classical music.
The festival opens and closes with the SAC Festival Orchestra under conductor Lawrence Renes, best known for his work at the Royal Swedish Opera. The ensemble features a roster of international-caliber musicians, including double bassist Im Chae-moon of the London Symphony, cellist Moon Tae-guk, trumpeter Alexandre Baty of the Munich Philharmonic and flutist Han Yeo-jin from Hamburg's NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Together, they will perform a gala of Richard Strauss on opening night on Aug. 5 and close the festival on Aug. 10 with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, featuring Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki, followed by Mahler's Symphony No. 1 'Titan.'
Debuting in Korea, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, a Carnegie Hall affiliate, will take the stage on Aug. 6, led by conductor Gianandrea Noseda, to present Mendelssohn and Rachmaninoff, joined by violinist Clara-Jumi Kang.
Pianist Jan Lisiecki returns later in the week for a solo recital on Aug. 9, offering an unusual program of preludes from across the centuries -- from Bach to Chopin to Messiaen and Gorecki. Cello fans can look forward to a rare duo appearance by Steven Isserlis and longtime collaborator Connie Shih on Aug. 8, while the revered Trio Wanderer returns to Seoul on Aug. 6, two years after their last appearance.
Making their Korean debut is the Geister Duo on Aug. 7, who, along with pianists Zhang Haochen on Aug. 9 and Kim Se-hyun on Aug. 8, represent a new generation of artists gaining global attention. All three have won top international prizes, including the Van Cliburn, Long-Thibaud and Munich ARD competitions.
This year's open-call program focused exclusively on chamber music, resulting in five distinctive ensembles that cut across genres. Ensemble Hwadam on Aug. 5 premieres a commissioned nonet, while Jeong Ji-soo & Baroque in Blue on Aug. 5 explore the intersection of jazz and baroque. Novelty Quartet on Aug. 7 brings a socially conscious string program, while BrassArts Seoul on Aug. 8 highlights the richness of brass quintets. Ast Quartet on Aug. 9 offers a refined, European-informed string sound.
Held at the Seoul Arts Center's Concert Hall, IBK Chamber Hall and Recital Hall, the festival provides a diverse classical experience at prices ranging from 20,000 won ($15) to 110,000 won.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Korea Herald
SAC Int'l Music Festival brings global and emerging talent to Seoul for six days
From Aug. 5 to 10, the Seoul Arts Center will host the fifth edition of its International Music Festival -- its most expansive yet. The 2025 festival boasts 11 concerts featuring artists invited from around the world, alongside five chamber ensembles selected through a competitive call, and a lineup that spans symphonic powerhouses, intimate baroque ensembles and contemporary innovators. Launched in 2021 as a summer platform for local talent, the festival has since evolved into a full-fledged international event, helping to position Seoul as a major summer destination for classical music. The festival opens and closes with the SAC Festival Orchestra under conductor Lawrence Renes, best known for his work at the Royal Swedish Opera. The ensemble features a roster of international-caliber musicians, including double bassist Im Chae-moon of the London Symphony, cellist Moon Tae-guk, trumpeter Alexandre Baty of the Munich Philharmonic and flutist Han Yeo-jin from Hamburg's NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Together, they will perform a gala of Richard Strauss on opening night on Aug. 5 and close the festival on Aug. 10 with Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3, featuring Canadian pianist Jan Lisiecki, followed by Mahler's Symphony No. 1 'Titan.' Debuting in Korea, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, a Carnegie Hall affiliate, will take the stage on Aug. 6, led by conductor Gianandrea Noseda, to present Mendelssohn and Rachmaninoff, joined by violinist Clara-Jumi Kang. Pianist Jan Lisiecki returns later in the week for a solo recital on Aug. 9, offering an unusual program of preludes from across the centuries -- from Bach to Chopin to Messiaen and Gorecki. Cello fans can look forward to a rare duo appearance by Steven Isserlis and longtime collaborator Connie Shih on Aug. 8, while the revered Trio Wanderer returns to Seoul on Aug. 6, two years after their last appearance. Making their Korean debut is the Geister Duo on Aug. 7, who, along with pianists Zhang Haochen on Aug. 9 and Kim Se-hyun on Aug. 8, represent a new generation of artists gaining global attention. All three have won top international prizes, including the Van Cliburn, Long-Thibaud and Munich ARD competitions. This year's open-call program focused exclusively on chamber music, resulting in five distinctive ensembles that cut across genres. Ensemble Hwadam on Aug. 5 premieres a commissioned nonet, while Jeong Ji-soo & Baroque in Blue on Aug. 5 explore the intersection of jazz and baroque. Novelty Quartet on Aug. 7 brings a socially conscious string program, while BrassArts Seoul on Aug. 8 highlights the richness of brass quintets. Ast Quartet on Aug. 9 offers a refined, European-informed string sound. Held at the Seoul Arts Center's Concert Hall, IBK Chamber Hall and Recital Hall, the festival provides a diverse classical experience at prices ranging from 20,000 won ($15) to 110,000 won.
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Belgian National Orchestra to make Korea debut, reuniting with pianist Paik Hae-sun after 34 years
BNO and pianist to tour six cities in Korea The Belgian National Orchestra will make its long-awaited Korean debut this fall. From Sept. 24 to 30, the ensemble will present six performances across the country, beginning at Seoul Arts Center. The program will feature Paik Hae-sun, one of Korea's most iconic pianists and a renowned educator, in a long-anticipated reunion with the orchestra after 34 years. Paik will join the BNO and conductor Antony Hermus to perform Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, the 'Emperor.' Their last collaboration dates back to 1991, when Paik was a finalist at the Queen Elisabeth Competition, performing Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1" and Patrice Challulau's "Vers La Cite Du Chagrin" under the baton of Ronald Zollman. The BNO, which serves as the resident orchestra of Brussels' BOZAR Centre for Fine Arts, is a longtime partner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition. Paik placed fourth at the 1991 Queen Elisabeth Competition, which is still the highest result for a South Korean pianist, matched only by Han Ji-ho in 2016. While Korean musicians have taken top prizes in violin, voice and composition categories, the piano division remains elusive. Paik, now 60, made history as a laureate of nearly every major international competition she entered, became the first Korean pianist to sign with EMI ClassicsCand was appointed to the faculty of Seoul National University at age 29. The tour will feature a traditional repertoire, opening with the overture to Mozart's "La Clemenza Di Tito," which was composed in the final year of his life. The second half will feature Brahms' "Symphony No. 1." Dutch conductor Hermus, who took over as music director of the Belgian National Orchestra in 2022 following Hugh Wolff's tenure, will be returning to Korea for the fourth time. He previously led the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Both Hermus and Paik are deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of musicians. Hermus holds visiting posts at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and the National Master of Orchestral Conducting program, and regularly teaches at the Sibelius Academy and the Royal Northern College of Music. Paik serves as chair of the piano department at the New England Conservatory and continues to mentor young talents, including 2025 Long-Thibaud winner Kim Se-hyun. The BNO traces its origins to the Brussels Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1931 by Belgian conductor Desire Defauw (1885-1960). In 1936, the ensemble was renamed the Belgian National Orchestra, which is considered its official founding year. The Korean tour will include stops at Andong Arts Center in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, on Sept. 25; Gyeonggi Arts Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 26; Gongju Culture and Arts Center in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, on Sept. 27; Daegu Concert House in Daegu on Sept. 28; and Goyang AramNuri in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 30 as part of the DMZ Open Festival.
Korea Herald
22-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Ateez scores career-high on Billboard Hot 100 with ‘In Your Fantasy'
Back-to-back entries on Hot 100 and Billboard 200 highlight group's growing impact Ateez has achieved a new career milestone by debuting at No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100 with their latest single, "In Your Fantasy," marking the group's highest-ever placement on the chart. Billboard announced Monday that "In Your Fantasy," the title track from the boy group's recent 12th EP "Golden Hour: Part.3 — In Your Fantasy Edition," entered the Hot 100 for the week ending July 26. The single was released, July 11. This marks the group's second appearance on the Hot 100, following their historic debut last month with "Lemon Drop" from the original version of "Golden Hour: Part.3," making Ateez only the third K-pop boy band to enter the chart. The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the US based on a weighted formula incorporating physical and digital sales, streaming activity, radio airplay and YouTube views. Just days earlier, the group re-entered the Billboard 200 at No. 7 with the same EP edition — further proving their increasing chart momentum. "In Your Fantasy Edition" also made notable appearances on Spotify's Weekly Top Albums chart in several regions, including the US and Germany, and achieved a new personal best on the platform's Global chart. In the UK, the album stood out on the Official Album Download Chart, while the title track charted on both the Official Singles Download and Singles Sales charts — reinforcing Ateez's cross-market appeal. The group is currently in the middle of its 2025 world tour "In Your Fantasy," having already completed shows in Atlanta, New York, Baltimore and Nashville. The tour continues through 12 stops in the US, including Orlando, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City, before heading to Japan for shows in Saitama, Nagoya and Kobe.
