Top orchestra will visit Korea for the first time in 9 years
The Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra announced on Feb. 1 that the ensemble would return to Seoul midway through next month for the first time in almost a decade.
The orchestra, which was founded in 1808, is scheduled to perform at the Lotte Concert Hall located in eastern Seoul at 7:30 p.m. on March 13.
A few famous Korean musicians will be part of the show, like violinist Won Hyung-joon, pianist Hwang Sang-hyeok, and the country’s Beautiful Mind Orchestra.
The Harvard Club of Korea, which is an association of Harvard University alumni here, hosts the musical event.
With more than 200 years of history, the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra is the oldest continuously active symphony orchestra in the United States.
Under the stewardship of music director Federico Cortese, the orchestra has more than 100 current members. The number of its alumni is over 2,800, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma and conductor Leonard Bernstein.
Since 1962, the orchestra has set its eyes outside of the United States through tours across the world.
Over the past four decades, it has toured the Philippines, Canada, the former Soviet Union, East Asia, Central Europe, Italy, and Mexico. In total, it has toured more than 18 countries across four continents.
“Tours are an important part of the orchestra’s culture, and we strive to share our artistry with audiences all over the world,” the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra said.
“Our upcoming tour destination is South Korea, where we are returning for the first time since 2015. Building on the success of our previous tour, we are thrilled to form new friendships, take part in cultural exchanges, and share our beloved music with a global audience once again.”