🎻 From Chang Han-na's Inauguration as Seoul Arts Center President to May's Classical Outings! - 2026.04.30 | Classical Music

Hello, classical music fans! Your "음악의노예" (Slave to Music) is back this week with a bunch of hot news! 🎶 It's already the last day of April 2026. Doesn't the thought of a classical melody lingering in your ears on a breezy spring day make you feel good? We have a lot of rich and exciting news ready for the upcoming May, so keep your eyes wide open and follow along!

🏛️ Chang Han-na's Surprise Inauguration as Seoul Arts Center President!

There's huge news that our eternal cellist and charismatic conductor, Chang Han-na, officially took office as the 18th president of the Seoul Arts Center on the 24th ^[1]! It's amazing that she took the title of the youngest-ever and the first female musician president since the opening of the Seoul Arts Center in 1988 ^[1]. To think that the girl who surprised the world by winning the Rostropovich Competition at the age of 11 is now leading Korea's representative cultural and arts institution makes my fan heart swell! 😭

In her inaugural address, President Chang Han-na revealed her wonderful ambition to make the Seoul Arts Center a 'stay-type cultural space' bustling all day long where people come and come again, rather than just a place to watch performances and leave ^[1]. She plans to realize in Korea the role model of an era-leading cultural and arts institution that she has directly seen and felt while traveling the world for overseas performances for the past 32 years ^[2]. Despite concerns about her administrative experience, she promised to listen carefully to the voices from the field and improve structural problems one by one ^[2]. Let's all passionately support and look forward to the new and vibrant Seoul Arts Center ahead of its 40th anniversary in 2028! 🤩

🎼 A New Breeze on Stage, Conductor Lee Seung-won's KNSO Debut

On the 17th of next month, we can meet a very welcome face on stage! It's the news that conductor Lee Seung-won, loved for his delicate and passionate conducting, will stand on the regular concert stage of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra for the first time, meeting Korean audiences after about 1 year and 7 months ^[3].

In this regular concert, he will hold the baton for the 'Gershwin, An American in Paris' stage ^[3]. What's especially surprising is that he is the only Korean conductor named in the orchestra's conductor lineup this year ^[3]! Knowing how much preparation he must have put in since it's been a while standing on a home stage, and what fantastic synergy he will create with the KNSO members, my heart is already pounding. I sincerely envy the fans who succeeded in booking tickets for this concert! ❤️

🌷 May Family Month, Unmissable Classical Concerts & Movies

In May, perfect classical events to enjoy outdoors with family and friends await us. First, an outdoor opera 'La Traviata' will be splendidly performed at the Yeouido Hangang Park Floating Stage in the heart of Seoul from May 22nd to 23rd ^[4]. Opera arias echoing against the night view of the Han River, isn't it so romantic just imagining it?

And on May 2nd, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's 'SPO Kids Concert - Classical Music Journey' will be held at the Lotte Concert Hall in celebration of the upcoming Children's Day ^[4]. It's the best opportunity to teach the joy of music to children who think classical music is difficult, so if you have nieces, nephews, or kids around, be sure to recommend it!

We can't leave out special classical news meeting on the screen! The movie 'Vivaldi and Me', which deals with the secret story behind the birth of genius composer Vivaldi's hidden masterpieces, premiered just yesterday (29th) ^[5]. It tells the touching story of Cecilia, who was highly skilled but stayed in the shadows because she was a woman, stepping out into the world after meeting Vivaldi ^[5]. As the first feature film by opera director Damiano Michieletto, who was the general director of the Milano Winter Olympics opening ceremony, both the visual beauty and music seem perfect. How about a classical movie instead of popcorn this weekend? 🎬

😂 Classical Music is Solemn? NO! Fun and Thrilling Classical Compilation.zip

Lastly, I've gathered super fun videos that will blow away the stress of us fans!

The first one is a stage video of comedian-turned-conductor Kim Hyun-chul! Even though it's an authentic classical concert, it's excellent how he throws off rigid formalities and delightfully interacts with the audience ^[6]. When the audience's explosive applause and encore requests erupted, I burst out laughing at his witty charm as he playfully scolded them, asking since when they liked classical music so much 🤣 ^[6].

The second is a thrilling moment that makes your heart sink. During a performance, an accident was captured where a masterpiece 'Guadagnini' violin worth a whopping 2 billion won was hit by a baton 😱 ^[7]. Classical fans must have held their breath watching this dizzying video where an expensive instrument was almost shattered into pieces ^[7].

Lastly, the legendary comedy performance video of Danish authentic classical pianist Victor Borge! It's a brilliant setup where he suddenly pulled away the chair of a colleague trying to sit next to him during a performance, making the colleague hang precariously on the piano keys so as not to fall on the floor ^[8]. I highly recommend watching the stage of this great entertainer who pleasantly broke down the high entry barrier of classical music by combining wordplay and high-level piano playing! ^[8]

I hope you spend a happy and peaceful time with classical melodies this week too! I'll come back next week with fun news that will wildly stimulate your fan heart. Bye, everyone! 👋