Busan Concert Hall, Busan’s First Classical Music Hall Unveiled
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Busan Concert Hall, Busan’s First Classical Music Hall Unveiled
□ With Busan Concert Hall, the city’s first classical music hall, set to open on June 20, 2025, Classic Busan has announced its opening festival lineup.
□ Operated by Classic Busan, Busan Concert Hall, with three above-ground floors and a basement, houses a concert hall (2,011 seats) and chamber hall (400 seats), along with cutting-edge facilities. Conveniently located within Busan Citizens Park, it will ensure accessibility as an open cultural space for all.
○ Notably, Busan Concert Hall will be the first venue in the non-capital region to be equipped with a pipe organ, sparking excitement among locals and classical music enthusiasts alike. The pipe organ* boasts 4,406 pipes and 62 stops.
*Known as the ‘king of instruments,’ the pipe organ can produce a vast range of tones using pipes and stops, enabling it to substitute for an entire orchestra.
○ The 2,011-seat concert hall, the largest outside the Seoul Capital Area, is designed in a vineyard-style layout, combining visual elegance with superior acoustics. It is meticulously optimized for classical performances, with audience seating arranged for optimal sound delivery, an ensemble reflector, and an automated stage system.
□ Under the theme of ‘Bringing Classical Music Closer,’ the opening festival, led by inaugural director Chung Myung-whun, will offer a dazzling array of performances from June 20 to 28.
○ Conducted by Chung and featuring violinist Sayaka Shoji and cellist Jian Wang, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto and Symphony No. 9 will open the festival.
○ The Chamber Series, headlined by Cho Seong-Jin, Sunwoo Yekwon, and Chung Myung-whun, will take place on June 22, 23, and 25, respectively. Cho will play Beethoven’s and Brahms’ sonatas, while Sunwoo and Chung will collaborate with principals in the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra**.
**The Asia Philharmonic Orchestra is a distinguished group of top Asian musicians from renowned symphonies, assembled specifically for the opening of Busan Concert Hall.
○ On June 22, violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Joo Hyung-ki will deliver a brilliant fusion of classical music and humor. On June 24, Cho Jae-Hyuck’s organ recital will highlight the newly installed pipe organ in an immersive experience.
○ The festival will conclude with Fidelio, Beethoven’s only opera, on June 27-28. This epic tale of justice triumphing over oppression will be performed by the Busan Metropolitan Chorus, the National Chorus of Korea, and internationally acclaimed vocalists, including tenor Eric Cutler, soprano Hrachuhi Bassenz, and tenor Son Ji Hoon.
□ Tickets can be reserved via the Classic Busan website (classicbusan.busan.go.kr); further details will be announced soon.
○ For inquiries, contact the Event Planning Division at 051-640-8822.
□ Since July 2024, Classic Busan has been working to establish Busan as a classical culture hub under the leadership of art director Chung Myung-whun, who is also regarded as one of the world’s most esteemed conductors.
○ Classic Busan will oversee the operations of Busan Concert Hall and the upcoming Busan Opera House (scheduled for 2027), making them central to Busan’s vibrant art scene.
Venue Overview
Name: Busan Concert Hall
Size: Land area of 29,408㎡ / floor area of 19,862㎡ (1 basement level, 3 floors above ground)
Space Composition: Concert Hall (2,011 seats), Chamber Hall (400 seats)
Major Features: Classical performances, educational programs, coffee shop, and more
