Latest news with #SeoulSpringFestivalofChamberMusic
Korea Herald
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Interview: French winds and familiar faces who sustain SSF's chamber music spirit
20-year-old Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music through eyes of four French wind players For a chamber music festival to continue for 20 years, many things must come together. Chief among them are a devoted artistic director, innovative programming, a stable operation and a growing interest in chamber music — a genre defined by its intimate scale, where a small group of musicians perform without a conductor. Equally vital are the musicians themselves — both the loyal artists who return year after year and new participants who bring fresh energy — who collectively sustain the festival's spirit and artistic quality. For this year's Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, which began April 22 and goes to May 4, 69 artists have gathered for 14 performances. Among them are four French wind players: oboist Olivier Doise, clarinetist Romain Guyot, flutist Matthieu Gauci-Ancelin and horn player Herve Joulain. Doise, Guyot and Joulain are SSF regulars who clear their schedules every year for the two-week event. 'It was not easy to bring audiences to a chamber music festival. Korean audiences tend to prefer big orchestras and grand productions. Director Kang Dong-suk still fights to attract the audience, discovering new pieces not only for the piano but for wind instrument as well," Guyot said during an interview last week. 'We know we will play new pieces together — it has become a priority in our schedule,' he added. The clarinetist, who is the principal clarinetist of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva and an acclaimed soloist and educator, has returned to the festival 12 times since the inauguration in 2006, making him the SFF's most frequently returning overseas musician. Doise, principal oboist of the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and a professor at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, also spoke about the unique energy he feels from Korean audiences. He has participated in the festival since 2015, missing only 2021 and 2022, when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted international travel. 'Chamber music festivals usually aren't this long,' Doise said. 'Here, for two weeks, we can work, practice and rehearse — it feels like our home. Everything is so well organized that we only have to think about the music we play.' For the past 15 years, the musicians have returned to the same hotel in central Seoul, where they stay, practice and rehearse — a small but telling detail that reflects the festival's stable and well-established operation. For Joulain, returning to Korea each spring has become an annual tradition since 2014. One of France's leading horn players, having held principal positions with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and Orchestre National de France, Joulain said "Korea feels like home now." Flutist Gauci-Ancelin joined the festival for the first time this year, stepping in as a last-minute substitution just two weeks ago. Over six days, he faces a demanding schedule, performing eight different pieces. A professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz in Austria and a member of the Karajan Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, Gauci-Ancelin said, "Although it's my first time here, I know many of the musicians," adding, "I really appreciate the familylike atmosphere." France, one of the world's woodwind powerhouses, has a long tradition of nurturing wind musicians. In many parts of Europe, including northern France, coal miners once formed amateur brass and wind bands as a core part of their community life, Guyot explained, noting that these musical traditions helped embed a deep appreciation for wind instruments in the culture. 'So originally, wind instruments were popular instruments — they were played for dancing, for parties, for funerals and even for military ceremonies," he said, explaining that today, woodwind instruments remain a popular choice in France, compared to the stronger preference for piano and string instruments often seen in Korea. Throughout the festival, the four musicians are performing in different ensembles alongside other instrumentalists, culminating in a joint appearance for the quintet of Bizet's 'Carmen' in the closing performance Sunday. Launched in 2006 by violinist Kang Dong-suk with support from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the SSF emerged in a musical landscape that lacked long-term, stable platforms for chamber music.
Korea Herald
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
April in Seoul a time for classical music
Two leading spring festivals -- Orchestra Festival and Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music -- shine in the capital Classical music takes center stage in Seoul this month with two standout festivals: the Seoul Arts Center's Orchestra Festival and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music. The Orchestra Festival brings together 18 symphony orchestras from across the country in one place while the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music celebrates its 20th anniversary. Seoul Arts Center's Orchestra Festival The Seoul Arts Center's Orchestra Festival, now in its 37th year, offers a rare opportunity to enjoy performances by 18 orchestras from around the country without ever leaving the capital. The 2025 edition, themed "The New Beginning," runs April 1 to April 20 at the Seoul Arts Center, featuring performances by leading Korean ensembles including the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Busan Philharmonic Orchestra and Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra. This year's festival highlights a new generation of conductors such as David Yi (Gangnam Symphony Orchestra), Yoon Han-kyeol (Korean National Symphony Orchestra), Hong Seok-won (Busan Philharmonic Orchestra), Kim Sun-wook (Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra) and Adrien Perruchon (Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra) and more and showcases a diverse repertoire that bridges classical traditions with contemporary works. The festival also hosts the Orchestra Festival Master Class in collaboration with the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, providing educational opportunities for young musicians. To reach a broader audience, the Seoul Arts Center offers free live streaming of all performances through its digital stage platform. Live broadcasts will also be available at the outdoor plaza of the Seoul Arts Center and the plaza of Busan Cinema Center, allowing audiences to enjoy the Orchestra Festival from anywhere. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won ($13.50) to 50,000 won. Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music will continue the celebration of classical music April 22 to May 4. Under the theme "20 Candles," symbolizing two decades of devotion to chamber music, the festival will feature 14 performances at various venues including the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and the historic residence of former President Yun Po-sun. Over the course of 13 days, 69 artists active on the global stage are preparing to stage 14 performances. Artistic Director Kang Dong-suk, the renowned violinist who has led the festival since its inception, has curated performances that emphasize the number 20, such as a recital with 20 musicians and concerts featuring Opus 20 compositions. On April 27, "Opus 20" will feature Beethoven's Septet in E-flat Major, Brahms' 3 Duets for Soprano, Alto and Piano and Mendelssohn's Octet in E-flat Major. Also to celebrate the festival's 20th anniversary, the family concert on April 26 will feature the return of the French clarinet ensemble Les Bons Becs, who last performed in Korea in 2008 and 2010. 'Sweet 20s" on May 3 will feature compositions that were written when the composers were in their 20s and many performers performing this day are also in their 20s. The festival's signature outdoor concert, which is to take place at former President Yun Po-sun's house, on April 26, will feature works inspired by spirituality and religion, featuring music by Florence Price, Andre Jolivet, Dvorak and Mendelssohn. A concert titled "All-Time Favorites" April 29 will present a collection of the most beloved and frequently programmed works from the festial's 20-year history. "Better Late than Never" on May 1 will spotlight masterworks which have never been performed at SSF before -- despite deserving a place long ago. All performances are priced between 20,000 won and 70,000 won, with the exception of the Yun Po-sun's House concert, which is priced at 150,000 won.
