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Everyone Together Creating a New Wave of Classical Music… “Busan Concert Hall 1st Anniversary Festival” to Be Held

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that Classic Busan will hold the “Busan Concert Hall 1st Anniversary Festival” at Busan Concert Hall from July 2 to 8.

The festival has been organized to commemorate the first anniversary of Busan Concert Hall and will present “a new classical music festival created together,” centered around Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun and the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), with participation from world-class soloists and young musicians from Busan.

Following its successful opening last year (2025), which attracted approximately 9,000 audience members, Busan Concert Hall plans to further explore the timeless resonance and emotional expansiveness of classical music through a wide range of programs as an extension of its opening festival.

The festival will feature performances ranging from large-scale orchestral works to chamber music, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral,” Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” and a chamber music series, showcasing the artistic identity and potential of the Busan Concert Hall Classical Festival.

The opening concert on July 2 will feature Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 “Choral,” performed by the APO, the Busan Metropolitan Chorus, and the Ulsan Metropolitan Chorus under the baton of Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun.

Leading Korean vocalists including soprano Lee Hye-ji, mezzo-soprano Yang Song-mi, tenor Kim Jung-hoon, and baritone Park Ju-sung will join the performance.

On July 5, Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun and the APO will perform Mahler’s Symphony No. 5, delivering an overwhelming musical experience through Mahler’s signature delicate orchestration and philosophical depth.

The July 7 performance, titled “Toward the New World, Together,” will feature Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto alongside Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World,” conveying a musical message that bridges different cultures and eras.

In the first half of the program, violinist Yang In-mo will appear as soloist to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto. The work, renowned for encapsulating Tchaikovsky’s emotional world, is expected to deliver both delicate and powerful musical storytelling.

In the second half, under the direction of Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun, the APO and twenty young musicians from Busan will perform Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 “From the New World.” Through this work, which embraces elements of the composer’s homeland folk music, African American spirituals, and Indigenous musical influences to create a new musical world, Busan Concert Hall aims to present a new artistic vision where generations, regions, and cultures come together in harmony.

In addition, a chamber music series will be held at the Chamber Hall on July 6 and 8. On July 6, pianist Bae Gil and APO members will present an intense chamber music performance featuring Schumann’s Piano Quintet and Shostakovich’s Piano Trio. On July 8, Chung Myung-whun himself will take the stage as pianist to perform Beethoven’s Piano Trio “Ghost” and Brahms’ Piano Quartet.

Meanwhile, tickets for the “2026 Busan Concert Hall 1st Anniversary Festival” will be available through membership presale beginning tomorrow (May 20) at 2 p.m., followed by general ticket sales starting at 2 p.m. on May 21.

Reservations can be made through the official Classic Busan website (classicbusan.busan.go.kr/Home/ko/Main) and the ticketing platform NOL Ticket. For further inquiries, contact Classic Busan at +82-51-640-8888.

Park Min-jung, CEO of Classic Busan, stated, “This first anniversary festival goes beyond a simple commemorative event; it is a festival created together by citizens and musicians as Busan Concert Hall advances toward becoming a world-class classical performance venue,” adding, “Through performances featuring globally renowned artists alongside young local musicians, we hope to demonstrate Busan’s potential to grow into a global cultural city.”