KSM hosts 2020 Unification (Tong-il) New Year’s 'Hana Concert'

The Third annual Unification (Tong-il) New Year’s Concert was held at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul on Wednesday, February 5th. Sponsored by the Ministry of Unification and Hana Bank and hosted by Korean Sharing Movement (KSM) and the news agency News1, the concert is unique in including North Korean music performed by an orchestra in the south. The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra performed with a sense of purpose under conductor Park Tae-Young.

 

Due to current strains in the South – North relationship it was not possible to invite a North Korean orchestra to perform collaboratively in Seoul this time. However, after receiving permission from the Ministry of Unification, the Philharmonic premiered ‘A Flower Girl’ < 꽃 파는 처녀 >, a revolutionary North Korean symphony, in celebration of the 100th year anniversary of the Battle of Bongwoo dong and Chungshan Ri, focal points of the resistance against Japanese colonialism.

The first movement of the symphony reverberated around the concert hall, whilst the second and third movements led by the strings serenaded the audience. The fourth movement ended in a climactic crescendo drawing a standing ovation from the audience.

 

In the second part of the programme, the orchestra also premiered an arranged version of ‘Girl on a Swing’ <그네 뛰는 처녀>, formerly a North Korean folk song orchestrated for the symphony.

 

Aside from these symphonies there was the chance for solo violinist Yang In-Mo to demonstrate her prowess with the famous Korean folk song Arirang as well as baritone soloist Kim Hak-Joon to sing the Yanbian piece ‘Memories are the Sky’ <추억은 하늘> over an excellent performance from the Gyeonggi Philharmonic. This was in turn followed by a duet performance from Kim and Soprano singer Katlyn Kim, singing ‘Nella Fantasia’ which again received a rousing reception.

 

The novel coronavirus scare did not stop the hosting of the 2020 Unification New Year’s Concert as around four hundred KSM donors and supporters found their way to the concert hall to attend the performance.

 

This year’s concert once again reminded all of us that South-North exchange is not and should not only be possible at inter-government level. Art knows no borders and music has the ability to bring people closer together. One spectator of the concert commented that “there is nothing quite as powerful as the art of music for us to acknowledge and feel the beauty that surround and connects us.”

 

The Korean Sharing Movement vision is of a ‘just and healthy Korean Peninsula Peace Community’ and to this end KSM will strive to foster inter-Korean exchange in various areas including culture and the arts. KSM will continue to make efforts to provide opportunities for KSMs’ supporters and ordinary citizens to engage with and experience a sense of peace in their everyday lives.

 

* Former Pyongyang University of Music and Dance attendee Park Tae-Young conducted the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra at the concert with accompanied performances from the Yanbian Performance Group’s baritone Kim Hak-Joon, soprano Katlyn Kim, and violinist Yang In-Mo.