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| yna@yna.co.kr 2026-07-24 09:07:52
PYEONGCHANG, Gangwon Province, July 24 (Yonhap) -- The 23rd PyeongChang Music Festival opened Thursday evening with a captivating performance of Beethoven by pianist Sunwoo Yekwon at the Daegwallyeong Outdoor Concert Hall in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province.
Held under the theme "Heritage and Innovation," this year's festival explores how centuries of musical legacy have laid the foundation for contemporary creativity. The 11-day event set the tone from its opening night by embodying that theme on stage.
The highlight of the opening concert was Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 4," performed by Sunwoo, the PyeongChang Festival Orchestra (PFO) and conductor Hans Graf.
Among Beethoven's five piano concertos, the work is renowned for its poetic character and sense of freedom. Although its unconventional opening with a solo piano puzzled audiences at its 1808 premiere, it is now regarded as one of the composer's finest examples of dialogue between piano and orchestra.
Sunwoo captivated the audience from the opening piano solo of the first movement. His refined yet assured performance vividly realized Beethoven's vision of an imaginative conversation between the soloist and the orchestra. The orchestra's powerful passages intertwined with the piano's lyrical melodies, filling the venue with both classical balance and dramatic intensity.
The second movement featured a compelling exchange between piano and orchestra. Sunwoo's singing tone and Graf's restrained conducting brought to life the movement's central contrast between violence and gentleness.
In the final movement, Sunwoo's virtuosity and the orchestra's agile ensemble combined to deliver an exhilarating finale, bringing another of the work's defining themes -- a triumphant rush toward joy -- to vivid fruition.
Sunwoo's composed stage presence also drew admiration. Maintaining poise throughout the performance, he responded with a smile when audience members applauded between movements. Following a standing ovation, he returned for an encore, performing Satie's "Gnossienne No. 5."
Another highlight of the evening was Stravinsky's ballet score "The Firebird" (1910 version).
A landmark work that heralded a revolution in 20th-century music, "The Firebird" blends Russian folklore with innovative compositional techniques. Under Graf's baton, the PFO vividly portrayed the work's rich colors and exotic atmosphere, from its mysterious opening to "Infernal Dance of King Kashchei and Finale."
The sweeping string glissandos, pointillistic writing for the winds and the explosive energy of the climax effectively conveyed this year's festival theme of innovation.
The festival runs through Aug. 2, presenting a wide range of performances. The program includes 19 concerts at venues such as the Daegwallyeong Outdoor Concert Hall and Alpensia Concert Hall, 10 outreach performances at scenic locations across Gangwon Province, including Woljeongsa Temple, and mentorship programs for emerging musicians.
Despite rain earlier in the day, cool evening breezes greeted a large audience at the outdoor venue on opening night. Families, aspiring young musicians and local residents gathered together to enjoy the festival atmosphere.
The festival continues with a diverse lineup of performances. Friday's program, titled "From Song to Virtuosity," will showcase Baroque and Classical repertoire. On Saturday, chamber music concerts titled "From Intimacy to Dance" and "From Transparency to Brilliance" will be presented, followed Sunday by the Gangneung Symphony Orchestra performing Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique."
Other anticipated performances include the Abel Quartet performing Beethoven's "String Quartet No. 11" on July 30, an operatic aria recital by soprano Daniela Kohler and baritone Kim Ki-hoon on Aug. 1, and the closing concert by cellist Maximilian Hornung on Aug. 2.
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