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Korea Herald
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Tongyeong music festival sets eyes beyond Korea
TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- When the Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) was first imagined, it was little more than a hopeful vision on the southern coast of Korea -- a dream of celebrating contemporary music in a city once home to late composer Isang Yun. Now, over two decades later, the festival has become a cultural landmark. This year's edition, held under the theme 'Journey Inwards,' wrapped up its 10-day run on Sunday, led by its artistic director, Chin Unsuk, and pianist Lim Yunchan and Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrandez, serving as artists-in-residence. According to the foundation that runs the festival and the Isangyun Compeition, the 2025 festival recorded an average seat occupancy rate of nearly 82 percent, with six out of 29 performances sold out. But the path hasn't always been smooth. 'In the beginning, there was nothing,' said Kim Il-tae, CEO of the Tongyeong International Music Foundation, in a recent interview with The Korea Herald. 'No infrastructure, no audience, no real budget — but we had a vision.' Kim was among the original members who helped launch the festival in 2002. At the core lies the legacy of composer Isang Yun -- a legacy that remains central, though not without controversy. His works continue to anchor the programming, albeit with careful balance. 'We're not trying to overwhelm the lineup—but we can't neglect him either,' Kim said. The early years of TIMF were marked by trial and error -- driven by ambition but limited by scarce resources. One of TIMF's most unique assets is Golden Wave, a civic support group made up of Tongyeong residents who contribute financially and help promote the festival through grassroots campaigns. 'They've been incredibly important. In the beginning, we needed to create a culture of civic support. People would approach us and say, 'We want to help. What can we do?' That became a movement,' he said. Over time, the festival has realized long-standing goals: the opening of the Isang Yun Memorial Hall, the construction of a dedicated concert hall and the launch of an international competition. He also acknowledged the role of composer Chin Unsuk, who has led the festival as artistic director since 2022. 'With the artistic director already doing such an outstanding job musically, I see it as my responsibility, as CEO, to fully support her behind the scenes.' 'Now we have the ideal infrastructure and we're finally doing what we dreamed of,' Kim said. Reflecting on the journey, Kim noted that early hardships put today's challenges into perspective. 'Now we have systems in place and experience on our side, we can finally begin playing the role that matches our international reputation,' Kim said, adding that international ambitions were secondary to simply sustaining the core festival. With new cultural city funding and the recent success of several grant proposals, the foundation foresees greater freedom to expand globally, Kim said. In addition, private sponsorship and a more sustainable partnership model have also seen encouraging growth, he said. The foundation established a partnership with Apple Music Classical last year and recently signed a three-year agreement with Shinsegae Co. to develop premium local content. Kim admitted that Tongyeong's geographical limitations are difficult to overcome. 'Tongyeong is geographically isolated. There's no KTX, so travel can be difficult,' he said, referring to the lack of high-speed train service. Still, with two decades of experience behind them -- and the confidence that comes with it -- Kim believes the city's remoteness can serve as a setting for deeper engagement. "That also makes it a city where people stay longer," he said. 'We're finally ready to take the next step." gypark@
Korea Herald
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
TMIF begins on high note with Lim Yunchan's riveting performance
The festival continues until April 6, closing with Britten's 'War Requiem.' The Tongyeong International Music Festival opened with a performance by its Festival Orchestra, comprising both domestic and international musicians, under the baton of French conductor Fabien Gabel. The concert began with Overture (1973/74) by Isang Yun -- the composer in whose honor the festival was founded in 2002. Among the audience were former president Moon Jae-in and former first lady Kim Jung-sook, who reside in Yangsan, about 80 kilometers from Tongyeong. They returned to the festival after a two-year absence, having last attended in 2023. As the concert began, around 130 ticketless attendees gathered in the hall's lobby, where the performance was being broadcast. Following Yun's overture, pianist Lim Yunchan took the stage to perform Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18. Lim's involvement was more limited than that of the previous artist-in-residence, yet it significantly raised the profile of the festival, which takes place in a remote coastal city. This year's festival features only two performances by Lim — the opening concert and his recital on Sunday — both of which quickly sold out. In fact, the Tongyeong International Music Foundation stopped accepting new members for its sponsorship program as early as October, due to the overwhelming interest following the announcement that Lim would be the next artist-in-residence. Annual membership fees range from 300,000 ($204) to 1 million won. Members receive benefits such as discounted tickets, invitations to the TIMF's opening reception and sponsor event, priority booking for the festival and foundation-produced performances and exclusive opportunities to meet performers. 'The number of current sponsors has exceeded the foundation's capacity,' the foundation had announced in October. For the encore, Lim performed F. Liszt's Sonetto 104 del Petrarca from Annees de pelerinage: Deuxieme Annee (Italie), S. 161 No. 5. In the second half, Gabel returned to lead Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36, which drew a standing ovation. Gabel is a French conductor known for his expressive style and broad repertoire. Born in Paris in 1975 to a musical family, he started as a trumpeter and trained at top conservatories in France and Germany. He gained attention after winning the Donatella Flick Conducting Competition in 2004 and became assistant conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. He later led the Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec (2012–2021) and Orchestre Francais des Jeunes. On Saturday, Gabel returned to the Tongyeong Concert Hall to lead the festival orchestra's second performance, featuring Ravel's Une Barque sur l'Océan from Miroirs, Henri Dutilleux's Tout un monde lointain… for cello and orchestra (1967–70), with cellist Pablo Ferrández, and Strauss's Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40. The late composer Isang Yun, who passed away 30 years ago, was honored in a subsequent concert titled "Hommage à Isang Yun." Weiwuying Comtemporary Muisic Ensemble, conducted by Yang Su-han, featured two of Yun's works - Piece concertante for ensemble and Teile dich Nacht for soprano and ensemble (1980) - alongside compositions by his former students: Toshio Hosokawa, Pan Hwang-long, and Paik Byung-dong. gypark@
Korea Herald
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Chin Unsuk-led music festival opens with two emerging artists at forefront
Pianist Lim Yunchan, cellist Pablo Ferrandez take center stage at 23rd Tongyeong International Music Festival TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province — The Tongyeong International Music Festival, founded in 2002 to commemorate the late composer Isang Yun, opened Friday in the Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, along the southern coast as wildfires rage on near the city and political turmoil gripped the country. The annual classical music festival typically includes a slate of fringe performances in smaller or alternative venues across Tongyeong. However, this weekend's events have been postponed due to a major wildfire in neighboring Sancheong County — the birthplace of Isang Yun. The wildfires began March 21 and were still causing extensive damage in the region as of Friday afternoon. Renowned composer Chin Unsuk, now in her fourth year as the festival's artistic director, emphasized, "Many people are suffering due to the wildfire and both domestic and international affairs remain highly complex. With a sense of humility, we plan to carry out the festival." Explaining the theme 'Journey Inwards,' Chin — recipient of the 2024 Ernst von Siemens Music Prize and the 2025 International Classical Music Award for Contemporary Music — said, 'In a time when political and economic conflicts are erupting around the world, and everyone is having to endure so much, perhaps listening to music — even if only for a moment — can be a chance to take an inner journey and rediscover something within ourselves.' Running through April 6, the festival places two rising stars at its center: South Korean pianist Lim Yunchan and Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrandez, both serving as artists-in-residence. 'Even before I took the directorship, many musicians who had been to TIMF recommended it to their fellow artists,' Chin had remarked three years ago, her first year in the role, adding, 'TIMF is perhaps more recognized outside Korea.' While the festival has long been a destination for classical music enthusiasts in Korea, it is drawing broader public attention this year thanks in large part to the soaring popularity of Lim Yunchan, the 20-year-old pianist who became a global sensation after winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022. Tickets for the opening concert — featuring Lim with the TIMF Orchestra under the baton of conductor Fabien Gabel — and Lim's solo recital sold out within one minute and 58 seconds, respectively. 'After Isang Yun's music, I believe my mission is to support and foster young musicians from Korea,' Chin said. 'That's why I invited artists like Yang In-mo and Kim Sun-wook in previous years. Thankfully, Lim Yunchan, who considers Tongyeong a place that feels like home, was available to join this year.' Lim shares a deep connection with the festival: In 2019, he became the youngest winner of Korea's Isangyun Competition, which is organized by the Tongyeong International Music Foundation. 'Cellist Pablo Ferrandez is an emerging artist who is rapidly gaining recognition,' Chin added. 'We invited him this year, and I have high expectations for his performance.' This year marks both the 30th anniversary of Isang Yun's passing and the 100th anniversary of Pierre Boulez's birth, with major works by the two composers featured in the festival program. Composer-in-residence Hans Abrahamsen's works will be also introduced.
