Honoring Patriotic Martyrs in Partnership with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
‘Masters Series IV’
June 16, Seoul Arts Center
Ham Shin-ik and Symphony Song will present the fourth performance of the ‘2026 Masters Series’ at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on June 16 at 7:30 PM.This performance is a special event co-planned with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Korean War and the 70th Memorial Day. The program is centered around the masterpiece ‘Requiem (Messa da Requiem, Op. 48)’ by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. A Requiem is music offered during the Catholic Mass liturgy for the souls of the deceased, and Verdi’s work is considered a masterpiece among them for its scale and dramatic perfection.Leaded by conductor Ham Shin-ik, four top-tier vocalists from Korea and abroad—soprano Oh Mi-sun, mezzo-soprano Kim Sun-jung, tenor Kim Dong-won, and bass-baritone Samuel Yoon—will participate as soloists. The Bucheon City Choir and the Incheon City Choir will form a large-scale choir to create an overwhelming soundscape together with the orchestra.Symphony Song announced that it plans to “invite domestic and international war veterans, their bereaved families, and diplomatic representatives stationed in Korea to dedicate Verdi’s Requiem, delivering a message of international solidarity and peace through the universal language of music.”This performance is part of the ‘Masters Series’ that Symphony Song has been continuing since the beginning of this year. Previously, the series has continuously illuminated themes of life and death, as well as inner human emotions, through works such as Mahler’s ‘Resurrection’ in February, ‘Scheherazade’ in March, and Shostakovich in May.
Conductor Ham Shin-ik stated, “Verdi’s Requiem is the most dramatic and operatic work among existing requiems,” adding that “rather than a praise of God, it is filled with the fear of death of frail humans and a desperate plea for mercy.” He further remarked, “You can look forward to passionate young musicians, four fantastic soloists, and high-quality performances by the Bucheon City Choir and the Incheon City Choir.” Tickets can be purchased through the Seoul Arts Center and Nolticket.
Source of original article : https://www.womennews.co.kr