The Seoul Arts Center is presenting two matinée series — the "11 AM Concert" presented by Hanwha Life and "Classics from the Heart" presented by KT — each offering a distinct classical-music experience for audiences.
This May, the flagship matinée that has helped popularize classical music in Korea, the 11 AM Concert presented by Hanwha Life, marks Family Month with a program as cinematic as any film. Designed for families, newcomers to classical music and film-score aficionados alike, the concert spotlights works by American master Leonard Bernstein and leading film composer John Williams, promising performances that are both dazzling and lyrical.
The program opens with Bernstein’s flamboyant overture to the operetta Candide. Audiences will then be carried into iconic cinematic soundscapes with John Williams’ main theme from Star Wars and Hedwig’s Theme from the Harry Potter films. The Korea Coop Orchestra will close the set with rich, nuanced playing, from Bernstein’s Three Dance Episodes from On the Town to Star Wars’ Throne Room and Finale.
The May program of Classics from the Heart presented by KT gathers masterworks across eras—from Mozart to Khachaturian—into a single concert. Conductor Seo Jin, noted for his delicate yet dramatic interpretations, will lead the orchestra. A Dong-A Music Competition first-prize winner who has collaborated with major European ensembles, he now serves as conductor and music director of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Symphony Orchestra and is known for his deeply expressive approach.
Pianist Jo Ji-hyun joins as soloist for Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, delivering the work’s elegance and lyricism with assured technique and refined phrasing. Violinists Kang Bo-ra and Jeon Jae-sung pair for Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, where their secure ensemble and close musical dialogue are expected to capture the essence of Baroque style. Together, the selections offer a concentrated survey of representative repertoire across periods and forms.
The concert opens with the Vyšehrad movement from Smetana’s Má vlast, beginning with a harp line that swells into a grand, lyrical orchestral tableau. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, K.488, follows with graceful, intimate lines, and Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043, showcases two soloists in precise balance. The program closes with Khachaturian’s Spartacus Suite No. 2, whose dramatic arc of love, struggle and triumph culminates in an Adagio that leaves a lasting impression.
Both series, featuring leading Korean musicians, present high-caliber programs that welcome everyone from first-time listeners to seasoned aficionados. Each concert includes commentary to enhance audience understanding: the 11 AM Concert uses a familiar, accessible approach to introduce the pleasures of classical music, while Classics from the Heart offers deeper interpretive insight and performance nuance to reveal each work’s core appeal. Tickets are available through the Seoul Arts Center website, the call center and NOL Ticket.
