Published: 24 August, 2007, 14:33
Edited: 24 August, 2007, 14:33
The first-ever Korean Arts Festival has started in Moscow. The week-long event embraces a wide range of genre of arts from ballet to cinema. The opening ceremony highlighted the National Orchestra of Korea.
It's obvious that Korean music is very different from European. It's mainly connected with the instruments the musicians play. Though they look similar to the violin and flute, the sound they produce is not the one the Europeans are used to.
“We decided it would be great to combine our traditional instruments with the instruments which look familiar to Europeans. It's very unusual and spruces up out traditional melodies,” Khvan Byon Gi, Artistic Director, noted.
Traditional costumes of the performers added
to the oriental chic and charm of the concert
Though the orchestra was founded just 12 years ago, it has already been recognised as a national treasure. Having traveled all over the globe the band has finally made its way to Russia.
“It's our first performance in Russia, but I strongly believe that it's just the first step towards long co-operation. Art is the best way for both countries to know each other better,” Yu Sun Rok, Orchestra Producer, believes.
Traditional costumes of the performers added to the oriental chic and charm of the concert.
However, the musicians came up with a surprise for their Russian audience and performed extracts from the Russian opera “Prince Igor”. The well-known Russian melodies performed with traditional Korean instruments got a real ovation.