The Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Eastern Europe’s finest and Ukraine’s premier symphony orchestra, will hold its first-ever performance in Korea on October 2 at Aram Concert Hall, ARAM NURI ARTS CENTER in Goyang. This concert is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) under the 2024 Interactive International Cultural Cooperation Support Project, aiming to deliver a message of peace through music despite the hardships of war.
Under the baton of Hobart Earle, who has led the orchestra for 32 years and holds the title of People’s Artist of Ukraine, the concert will feature Kim Jun-hee, the winner of the 2017 Vladimir Horowitz International Music Competition. Notably, this performance will include the Korean premiere of several Ukrainian works, including Bortkiewicz’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
Kim Jun-hee had originally planned to perform with the Odessa Philharmonic right after winning the Horowitz Competition, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war, the collaboration had to be postponed for seven years. Recognized for his reputation across Europe, Kim Jun-hee is set to strengthen his special connection with Ukraine through this performance.
Currently, Ukraine is facing severe difficulties due to the war. Electricity and water supply are limited to only four hours per day, and a travel ban on men has resulted in a significant number of female musicians participating in this tour. Despite these challenges, the orchestra remains dedicated to delivering a message of hope through music.
This Korea-Ukraine Collaborative Classical Music Concert will be free of charge, allowing a wider audience to experience its emotional depth. Beyond a simple cultural exchange, this historic performance is expected to serve as a heartfelt prayer for peace.
Meanwhile, MooAm, a leading K-content production company, will produce a documentary capturing the preparation process and the personal stories of the Ukrainian musicians. Directed by Harry Hyun, a two-time Cannes Series nominee and New York International Film Awards winner, the documentary will include behind-the-scenes footage of the tour and interviews with the orchestra members.
More than just a concert recording, the documentary will deeply explore the lives of Ukrainian artists enduring the pain of war, their passion for music, and the cultural connection between Korea and Ukraine. It aims to convey the power of music as a message of peace to an even broader audience.
The beautiful harmony between the two nations, forged through music beyond the scars of war, will serve as a prayer for peace. This concert is expected to deliver a meaningful message of hope and unity across borders through the power of art.
Kim Jun-hee shared, "To bring the Odessa Philharmonic to Korea, I maintained close communication with Hobart Earle for a long time. Despite the war, they have expressed their determination to deliver their best performance in Korea. I also chose to participate in this concert pro bono, as a donation of my talent." He continued, "I hope that the audience in Korea, a country that has also experienced the pain of war, will unite in filling the concert hall and amplifying this message of hope that will resonate back to Ukraine."
This concert is expected to go beyond cultural exchange, providing a stage of hope for Ukrainian artists facing difficult times and a message of peace for Korean audiences. It is hoped that the resonance of peace through music will extend beyond these two nations and spread across the world.
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