Sejong Soloists announced on July 2 that the 9th Hic et Nunc! Music Festival will take place from August 25 to September 3.
Launched in 2017, this festival has established itself as an urban music event that integrates classical music with various art forms, including AI, visual arts, and literature.
Hic et Nunc, which translates from Latin to "here and now," reflects Sejong Soloists' commitment not only to perform classical masterpieces from centuries past but also to showcase new works by contemporary composers, highlighting the evolution of modern classical music. The festival is known for presenting world and Asian premieres, offering fresh performances each year.
This year's festival will feature 44 artists participating in a total of 10 performances and programs. The opening event on August 25 will be an "AI Salon," focusing on the intersection of AI and art, featuring a workshop led by visual artist David Shaunder.
On August 26, renowned tenor Ian Bostridge will perform Mahler's songs with Sejong Soloists. Bostridge, known as a singing humanist, will present excerpts from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" and "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen," arranged for string orchestra by Klaus Simon and Colin Matthews, respectively. The concert will be conducted by the young conductor Yoon Han-gyeol.
August 27 will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of contemporary music master György Kurtág with a performance of his notable work "Kafka-Fragmente." Soprano Seo Ye-ri and violinist Leonard Fugue will perform, alongside a new form of presentation that combines AI visuals and visual arts.
On August 30, a performance will recreate a salon concert from Marcel Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" at the French boutique hotel L'Escape, capturing the ambiance of Belle Époque Paris rather than a traditional concert hall.
September 1 will feature the "Young Virtuoso" series, introducing sibling performers David Burnett and Nina Burnett in their Korean debut.
On September 2, a classical concert will be held for infants and their guardians, with free admission for preschool children. That evening, Juilliard School professor pianist Lee So-yeon will present a recital featuring works by contemporary composers, including Asian premieres.
Since its founding in 1994, Sejong Soloists has performed over 700 concerts in more than 120 cities worldwide, establishing itself as a leading chamber music ensemble in Korea and nurturing prominent musicians in the classical music scene.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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