The musical celebration of Poland's Independence Day in 2018 would not have been complete without the concert of the Sinfonia Varsovia Orchestra. The ensemble, which since its founding has been actively promoting Polish music around the world, celebrated the centenary of Poland's independence in South Korea. On 10th November 2018, the orchestra performed at the Ulsan Culture and Arts Center, and on 11th November at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul.
The programme of both concerts was a unique combination of elements of Polish and Korean culture. The orchestra under the baton of maestro Grzegorz Nowak performed the symphonic poem Returning Waves, Op. 9 by Mieczysław Karłowicz and Stabat Mater, Op. 53 by Karol Szymanowski. The programme was completed with Sinfonia da Requiem by the Korean composer Jeajoon Ryu, who had studied composition under Krzysztof Penderecki at the Academy of Music in Kraków. During both concerts Sinfonia Varsovia was joined by the National Chorus of Korea, as well as three Korean soloists: Jae-Eun Paik (alto), Chae-Il Kim (bass-baritone) and Lee Myung Joo (soprano).
On the eve of the concerts, the Adam Mickiewicz Institute held a seminar titled Polish Music Around the World. The presentation, which focused on the AMI’s projects in the field of classical music and Map of Polish Composers, the first comprehensive, interactive online resource dedicated to Polish classical music in the 20th and 21st centuries, took place on 9th November 2018 at the Seoul Arts Center.
Sinfonia Varsovia's concerts in Korea were organised in collaboration with the Seoul International Music Festival, whose artistic director is composer Jeajoon Ryu.
The project was co-organised by the Adam Mickiewicz Institute operating under the Culture.pl brand as part of POLSKA 100, the international cultural programme accompanying the centenary of Poland regaining independence.
Financed by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland as part of the multi-annual programme NIEPODLEGŁA 2017-2022.
Programme of the Concerts:
Mieczysław Karłowicz: Returning Waves, Op. 9 symphonic poem for orchestra
Karol Szymanowski: Stabat Mater
Jeajoon Ryu: Sinfonia da Requiem
Performers:
Lee Myung Joo (soprano)
Jae-Eun Paik (alto)
Chae-Il Kim (bass-baritone)
National Chorus of Korea
Sinfonia Varsovia
Grzegorz Nowak (conductor)
Source: press release, compiled and translated by AW, Oct 2018