The Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF), widely regarded as the "Salzburg Festival of Asia," raises its curtain on March 27. Launched in 2002 to honor modern music composer Yun Isang, the festival — alongside the autumn Isang Yun International Competition — has established Tongyeong as a world-class music city.
Now in its 25th edition, the festival presents a broad musical landscape spanning classical and contemporary, East and West, under the theme "Face the Depth." Expectations are running high as composer Chin Unsuk, who has served as artistic director since 2022, recently bolstered the festival's international standing by winning Spain's BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award.
The opening concert on March 27 features the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra under the baton of David Robertson. The program begins with Yun Isang's "Réak" (1966), a work that reinterprets the spirit of Korea's Royal Ancestral Shrine music through Western orchestral idiom, underscoring the festival's identity. Pianist Cho Seong-jin then performs Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, and the evening closes with Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring." Widely considered a starting point of modern music, the Stravinsky work resonates with the festival's theme of "depth."
Cho returns on March 30 for a recital featuring a repertoire that traverses eras: Bach's Partita No. 1, Schoenberg's Suite for Piano, Schumann's "Florestan" from Carnaval, and Chopin's complete waltzes. On March 29, he also holds a masterclass, engaging directly with young musicians.
Beyond Cho, several prominent Korean musicians take the stage. Conductor Kim Sun-wook, himself a past winner of the Isang Yun International Competition, leads the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra in Dvořák's Symphony No. 7. Violinist Park Su-ye and flutist Kim Yu-bin also appear in recitals and concerto performances. Dutch piano duo brothers Arthur and Lucas Jussen present distinctive programs including Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos.
Among international artists, violinist Augustin Hadelich draws particular attention. One of the world's busiest violinists, Hadelich serves as this year's artist-in-residence. He appears in recitals and concerto performances and extends his presence to chamber music through the "Hadelich and Friends" project with violist Park Ha-yang and cellist Choi Ha-young.
A performance by the Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra, led by cellist-conductor Nicolas Altstaedt, is another highlight. Comprising members of the world's top orchestras including the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic, the Verbier Festival Orchestra has been participating as members of the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra since last year.
Another hallmark of TIMF is its array of premiere performances showcasing contemporary music. Works by Sir George Benjamin, a master of modern composition, are featured across multiple programs, while new pieces by Jo Yun-je and Zhu Yiqing receive their world premieres. Sir Benjamin meets audiences after his March 28 concert for a direct conversation. Chin Unsuk's "Graffiti" also receives its Korean premiere. Percussionist Dominique Vleeshouwers' "Water Ripples," combining electronics and percussion, promises a unique musical experience that harmonizes with Tongyeong's seascape.
Korean traditional music forms another pillar of the festival. On March 31, master singer Wang Gi-seok, accompanied by drummer Cho Yong-an, performs key passages from "Sugungga," a pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) piece, delivering a sound that encompasses both the bold style of the dongpyeonje school and the delicate nuances of the seopyeonje school.
Programs to discover and nurture the next generation of musicians are also abundant. "Discovering Tomorrow," a showcase for emerging artists, runs for three days from March 31. It opens with a keynote address by Peter Paul Kainrath, president of the World Federation of International Music Competitions, followed by forums with concert promoters and recording industry professionals and showcases of young performers.
As the quality of performances and the scope of programming have expanded, audience response has been enthusiastic. Major concerts are already sold out, and inquiries from music professionals at home and abroad are rising. "Interest is growing not only in the concerts but across the entire festival, including forums and educational programs," an official at the Tongyeong International Music Foundation said. "TIMF is making a leap forward as Asia's leading music platform."