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A Reflective Journey with Beethoven: “Preview Lecture – Exploring Beethoven” at Busan Concert Hall

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The Busan Metropolitan City-affiliated office, Classic Busan, announced that it will host a special lecture series titled Preview Lecture: Exploring Beethoven, ahead of the June opening of the Busan Concert Hall. The program is designed to help audiences enjoy the upcoming performances on a deeper level.

The Preview Lecture series is a pre-performance program that examines the philosophy, history, and aesthetics embedded in composers and their music, broadening the audience’s understanding and appreciation of classical music.

Held over seven sessions between May 23 and June 14 (May 23, 24, 30, 31 and June 7, 13, 14), the lecture series will provide an in-depth examination of Beethoven’s works, which are central to the Opening Festival of the Concert Hall.

Organized in partnership with Pungwoldang, Korea’s premier classical music lecture institute with a 21-year history, the program reflects the vision of establishing Busan Concert Hall as a cultural platform for musical reflection and sharing—not merely a venue for performance.

The series will offer multidimensional perspectives on Beethoven’s compositions, including discussions on the essence of art, the dignity of human beings, and the emotional highs and lows of artistic creation. Lecturers will include classical music educators, journalists, conductors, and columnists.

Lecture Schedule and Topics

• ●May 23 (Fri), May 24 (Sat)
  Session 1: The Greatest Artistic Work of Humanity – Beethoven’s Opera “Fidelio”
  Lecturer: Park Jong-ho (President, Pungwoldang)
  This lecture will explore the themes of humanism and sincere marital love found in Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio.

• ●May 30 (Fri), May 31 (Sat)
  Session 2: Beethoven the Man – “From Suffering to Joy”
  Lecturer: Na Sung-in (Director, Pungwoldang; Music Columnist)
  This session will portray Beethoven as a man of his time who continued his creative journey toward joy despite immense suffering.

• ●June 7 (Sat)
  Session 3: Beethoven’s Choral Symphony through Film
  Lecturer: Kim Sung-hyun (Culture Journalist, The Chosun Ilbo)
  Through films such as Immortal Beloved and Copying Beethoven, this lecture will explore how Beethoven’s dramatic life and music have been reinterpreted through the cinematic lens.

• ●June 13 (Fri)
  Session 4: The King of Instruments – The Organ and Saint-Saëns’ Symphony No. 3
  Lecturer: Kim Sun-ah (Principal Conductor, Bucheon City Choir)
  This session will introduce various examples of symphonic works featuring the organ and explore its appeal through Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony.

• ●June 14 (Sat)
  Session 5: Beethoven’s Piano Music – “Emperor” and “Appassionata”
  Lecturer: Kim Moon-kyung (Music Columnist)
  Focusing on two of Beethoven’s most beloved piano sonatas, this lecture will explore his emotional world and the refined aesthetics of his piano language.

Program Overview

• ●Title: Preview Lecture: Exploring Beethoven

• ●Period: May 23 (Fri) – June 14 (Sat), 2025 (5 topics across 7 sessions)

• ●Venue: Chamber Hall, Busan Concert Hall

• ●Fee: 30,000 KRW per session (a gift will be given to those who attend all five lectures)

• ●Reservations: Available via the Busan Concert Hall website (Inquiries: 051-640-8826)

Related Events

In parallel with the lecture series, the Beethoven-themed Opening Festival will be held at Busan Concert Hall:

• ●June 21: Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Symphony No. 9 “Choral,” conducted by Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun

• ●June 22: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor,” performed by pianist Cho Seong-jin, conducted by Chung Myung-whun

• ●June 27–28: A concert performance of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio

Applications for both the lectures and Opening Festival performances can be made via the official website of Busan Concert Hall (classicbusan.busan.go.kr). For further inquiries, please contact the Performance Planning Team at the Classic Busan Office (Phone: 051-640-8822).

Park Min-jung, Director of the Classic Busan Office, stated,
“This lecture series will shed light on Beethoven’s historical era, human perspective, and artistic philosophy. We invite classical music enthusiasts to join us in great numbers.”