Hosted by United Pharma at Seoul Arts Center

Chairman and CEO Kang Duk-yung of Korea United Pharma in Seoul hosted a classic music concert at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-dong, Seoul on July 7, 2014 for the distinguished from Korean guests and the Diplomatic Corps in Korea.

The concert was conducted by Ms. Kim Bong-Mi and featured the United Philharmonic Orchestra and a number of noted lady and male vocalists, including Trumpeter Ahn Hee-Chan, Soprano Kim Soo-Yun and Tenor Kim Dong-Yup.

Chairman Kang who concurrently is chairman of the United Culture Foundation, said that he hosts the concert for the distinguished guests to forget the sultry summer heat and enjoy an evening with classic music to refresh their mind for the revitalization of energy with music.

Then he expressed his appreciation for the kind attendance of the guests as well as the ambassadors and their spouses adding to the ambience of dignity and refinement at the concert. Chairman Kang also expressed his hopes that the distinguished guests will continue to have the same kind interest in the United Pharma and the United Culture Foundation.

An estimated total of over 2,000 guests filled the concert hall, who represented all walks of life, including the government, business, social and cultural circles?as well as the diplomatic community.

Guests from the Diplomatic Corps of Korea included Ambassadors Dusan Bella of the Slovak Republic with Mrs. Eugenia Bellova, Krzysztof Ignacy Majka of Poland with Mrs. Zofia Majka, Torbjorn Holthe of Norway and William Paterson of Australia with Mrs. Helen Paterson. (See other guests from the Diplomatic Corps at the end of this Article.)

After each performance of the vocalist, the Korean and international guests gave a warm applause for the performance well done.

The repertoire consisted of the following:-
Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904), Carnival Overture Op. 92, which was presented by the Orchestra. Presented at the current concert was the second one of the three overtures for performance and it features the Bohemian people enjoying themselves at a carnival with the folk music melodies and indigenous rhythms. They are presented mixed with the slow and fast movements of the Slovonic dances. It reminds the audience of a carnival procession of excited people.

It was followed by G. Gershwin (Rhapsody in Blue) which was presented by Choi Hun-rak at the piano. George Gershwin was an American composer who wrote Rhapsody in Blue in 1924. It was one of the representative works of Gershwin together with “An American in Paris” and “Porgy and Bess.” It was based on classic music but it also has elements of Jazz. It was one of the representative Symphonic Jazz which was for Jazz-Piano Concerto for the piano and orchestra.

The next number was E. Morricone (Bagriel's oboe) presented by Trumpet Ahn Hee-Chan. George Gershwin is an American composer who wrote Rhapsody in Blue in 1924. It is one of the representative works of Gershwin together with “An American in Paris” and “Porgy and Bess.” It is based on classic music but it also has elements of Jazz. It is one of the representative Symphonic Jazz which is for Jazz-Piano Concerto for the piano and orchestra.

Then came G. Puccini: Opera Laboheme (Quando me'n vo [When I walk alone to the Street]) presented by Trumpet Ahn Hee-Chan). La Boheme is the fourth opera work created by Puccini, and is rated to be the most successful one of all his works for the rich melodies and pathetic details. This piece, which is also called “Musetta’s Waltz,” is a waltz-like aria where Musetta is encountered at Cafe Momus with her old boyfriend, Marcello, and makes all kinds of seductive gestures to attract the attention of Marcello who feigns ignorance of her to show his absence of interest in her.

Laboheme was followed by W.A. Mozart: Der hoelle rache kocht meinem Herze (My heart burns with a hellish demand for revenge) presented by Soprano Kim Soo-yeon. Presented here is Der hoelle rache kocht meinem Herze (Sensation of a hellish revenge flares up in my mind) from the “Opera Magic Flute” which is considered to be all the more famous because it is the last opera work of Mozart. This is work was composed in such a way as to provide space in the middle for the dialogs of the common people of the time, which made it all the more popular among the common people. This work is the only one opera done in the German language.

In the aria, the Queen of the Night tells her own daughter to kill Sarastro. It requires the use of the highest techniques that can be shown by a Coloratua Soprano.

Then came Giusepee Verdi (1813-1901), La donna e mobile (A Woman’s Heart) from Opera Rigoletto, which was presented by Tenor Kim Dong-Yup. Italian Composer Verdi completed Opera Rigoletto in 1851 based on the Le Roi S’amuse (“Dissipated King”) written by Victor-Marie Hugo. In Act 3, lustful Duke Mantova appears clad in military uniform at the Tavern of Assassin Sparafucile and sings the song, “Woman is Fickle.” It is the most famous aria in the opera.

The next number was Jaques Offenbach (1819-1830), Les oiseaux dans la charmille (Little Birds Sit under the Shade of Tree) from the Opera, Les Contes d Hoffmann (“The Tales of Hoffmann) presented by Soprano Kim Soo-yeon. “The Tales of Hoffmann” composed by the great opera maestro, Offenbach, is the only one opera of his. It is an omnibus opera composed of 3 Acts, a prolog and an epilog. Each Act shows the different story of love experienced by Hoffmann. It is a Coloratura Aria where the song is sung by a doll named Olympia made by Spalan Zari in Act 1.

The next number was Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924), Messun Dorma from Opera Turandot, Nessun Dorma (Nobody will sleep) presented by Tenor Kim Dong-Yup. Nessun Dorma here means that no one is going to sleep. Princess Turandot sets three puzzles. Notices are pasted on the walls saying, “Whoever solves all three puzzles will marry with me. However, he who fails to do so will get a death penalty.” Wise Prince Khalaf bravely challenges the puzzles and solves all of them. However, Princess Turandot refuses to marry him. Prince Khalaf counterproposes to Princess Turandot, “Princess, please find my correct name before tomorrow. If you find name, I will gladly die for you. However, if you do not find my name, you have to marry me.

The princess sends out people to all places to find out his name.

The day dawns and the princess cries out to her people “Nessun Dorma” (never go to sleep) before you find out his name.

However, on the other side Prince Khalaf wears a triumphal smile and says, “You will never find out my name.” Then he sings Vincero, the song of victory.

It was followed by Peter Ilyich Tschaikovsky (1840-1893), Capriccio Italien Op. 45 (Italian capriccio), which was presented by the Orchestra. Of the many orchestral works of Tschaikovsky, Capriccio Italien Op. 45 is known to be the best organized work and is noted for its brightness in contrast with most of the Italian works that are pathetic and melancholic.

In 1877, Tschaikovsky went to Clarans Lakeside for convalescence and after recovery of his health, he went to Italy where he composed the work.
The United Pharma, according to Chairman and CEO Kang, aspires to grow into a Giant Tree-like Corporate Social Responsibility, which provides a wide umbrella of protection and shares its fruits with all the peoples of the world.

Conductor Kim Bong-mi, a lady conductor, which is not very common in Korea, emulated any male conductors in Korea and, perhaps, in many countries of the world. Conductor Kim was not only a beautiful lady in appearance but also a thorough conductor who wanted to be second to none in the area of conducting. There was something more to her, however. It was the unmistakable presence of feminity and subtle sensitivity that were unique to women.

She is the full-time conductor of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and the Siheung Symphony Orchestra.

In 2012, Ms. Kim won the Conductor’s Award at the 5th Grand Opera Award of the Republic of Korea.

Trumpet Ahn Hee-chan is the representative trumpet player in the Republic of Korea. He has worked as a senior member of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, the Korean Symphony, the Asia Philharmonie and various other noted philharmonic orchestras. Presently, Ahn is a professor at Chugye University for the Arts.

Soprano Kim Su-yeon is noted for her outstanding vocal charm and expression of delicate emotions. She also has a wide range of excellent techniques and continues to attract attention as a noted coloratura soprano.

She has performed with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bucheon City Philharmonic Orchestra and various other well-established and philharmonic orchestras, including the KBS.

Tenor Kim Dong- yup graduated from the Seoul Art High School and the Seoul National University College of Music summa cum laude and then from the Indiana University College of Music and the University of San Francisco College of Music where he earned his Master of Art degree all as a scholarship student. This year, he has performed at the Davis Hall in San Francisco and took part in the 2014 International Vocal Competition audition.

Pianist Choi Hun-rak graduated from Keimyung University with a major in piano, went over to Germany and graduated from Stuttgart National University for Music where he completed the Kuenstlerische Ausbilug Course and the Trossingen National University for Music completing the Solstiche Ausbildung. Choi started playing piano at the age of six and won Genius Award at the age of 13 from the Daegu City Education Office’s music concours (competition). Kim has lectured at the Daegu Keimyung University and the Andong University and is now a professor at Daegu Arts University.

(Other diplomats at the Concert: Mr. Antonio Tavoada Bilbao (spouse of Ambassador of the Republic of Bolivia, Representative Mikhail B. Bondarenko of the Russian Trade Representation, Deputy Head of Mission (DHM) Jorge Icaza of Ecuador (with Mrs. Mariana Magdalena Ruiz Salazar), DHM Kanat Tursunkulov of the Kyrgyz Republic, DHM Vitalii Chepeliuk of Ukraine (with Mrs. Oksana Chepeliuk), Defense Attach Col. Emmanuel Fernandez of Spain, Investment Counsellor Nguyen Thi minh Hien of Vietnam, First Secretary Nguyen Dinh Tam of Vietnam and Consul Melis Mamadaliev of Kyrgyzstan.)

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