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Harmony with the World’s Leading Symphony Orchestras: The 16th Busan MARU International Music Festival Opens

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Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Heong-joon announced that the 16th Busan MARU International Music Festival (BMIMF, hereinafter referred to as the “Festival”) will raise its curtain today (September 2) with an opening concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Grand Theater of the Busan Cultural Center.

Since its inception in 2010, the Festival has grown remarkably, drawing not only national but also global attention, and celebrates its 16th edition this year.

From September 2 to 23, under the theme “Soul in Classics,” the Festival will take place throughout Busan, including at the Busan Concert Hall, Nakdong Arts Center, Busan Cultural Center, Geumjeong Cultural Center, Dongnae Cultural Center, Yeongdo Cultural & Arts Center, Eulsukdo Cultural Center, and Haeundae Cultural Center. The Festival is hosted by Busan Metropolitan City and organized by the BMIMF Organizing Committee.

The opening concert will be led by Gustavo Rivero Weber, a top-tier conductor and artistic director of the Festival Orchestra, and will commence with a piano concerto featuring the world-renowned pianist Alexander Yakovlev.

The stage will further shine with performances by Davide Alogna, a violin professor at the Verdi Conservatory; pianist Ben Kim, a guest professor at the Weimar Franz Liszt Music Academy; trumpet player Lukas Ripari, professor at the Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de Saint-Maur-des-Fossés; and flutist Luisa Sello, recipient of the Cavaliere al Merito honor from the Italian Republic. Together, they will bring a sweeping wave of classical music to the Festival.

Concerts at Newly Opened Classical Music Venues

This year’s Festival also features diverse performances at newly opened classical music-dedicated venues.

At the Nakdong Arts Center, which is currently in trial operation ahead of its official opening next year, audiences will experience the conducting of Zong Jie Yin and the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra. At the newly opened Busan Concert Hall, the Busan Philharmonic Orchestra will perform under the baton of its principal guest conductor Hong Seok-won.

With optimal acoustics and world-class stage equipment, these dedicated venues are expected to provide audiences with an even deeper artistic experience.

Competitions and International Collaborations

The Festival will also showcase the final round of the concerto competition and collaborative stages with world-class musicians and leading domestic orchestras.

On September 3, the Concerto Competition Gala Concert will feature finalists who were rigorously selected through preliminary rounds in July, accompanied by the Millennium Symphony Orchestra conducted by Choi Young-sun.

In addition, French violinist Camille Banchard, cellist Armand Safavi, and other young musicians will perform with the Festival Chamber Orchestra. The Korea-China-Japan Friendly Concert, featuring pianists from Korea, China, and Japan, the outreach concert “Healing Musician Huwah and Chinchin Tango,” and the program “Stories of Classical Music through Science and Sound” will further enrich the Festival with diverse performances from around the world.

Dream Project and Local Musicians

Finally, to foster Busan’s future musicians, the “Dream Project” and the “Busan Musicians Series” will provide platforms for local artists. Additionally, the “Fringe Concert” will be held to invigorate small-scale venues in Busan, contributing to the popularization of the city’s arts scene.

Additional Information

Further details on the Festival can be found on the official website (bmimf.co.kr).

Jo Yu-jang, Director of Culture Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated, “As the Festival celebrates its 16th edition this year, performances at the newly opened Busan Concert Hall and Nakdong Arts Center add even greater significance. We expect that this year’s Festival will not only offer high-quality performances to citizens of Busan and music lovers worldwide, but also serve as a stepping stone for Busan to leap forward as a global hub of music and culture.”