The Classical Bridge International Music Festival, which brings together world-class musicians, will be held in Seoul next month.
The festival is a project led by pianist Clara Min as artistic director, who personally oversees planning, casting and performance. Launched in New York in 2018 and continued through Bordeaux, Seoul and Paris, the festival marks its sixth edition this year. A total of 21 artists from around the world will participate this year, performing in seven concerts at Seoul Arts Center, Lotte Concert Hall and Goyang Aram Nuri.
As in previous years, performers active on the global stage will participate in large numbers. Mikhail Pletnev, who works as a conductor, pianist and composer, will join alongside other maestros including cellist Mischa Maisky and violinist Augustin Dumay. They will be joined by leading contemporary performers such as cellist Gautier Capuçon, violinist Daniel Lozakovich and cellist Edgar Moreau. Pianist Hélène Mercier, wife of Bernard Arnault, chairman of LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy), the world's largest luxury group, will also take the stage as a featured performer. Next-generation pianists David Chen and Luka Shishi will also participate, creating cross-generational collaborations.
Participation by Korean performers is also notable. Violist Kim Sang-jin, Yoon Jin-won and clarinetist Cho Dong-hyun will share the stage with international performers. This year's festival carries added significance as a platform for musical exchange between the two countries, with the Embassy of France in Korea serving as a sponsor to commemorate the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations.
At the opening concert on June 4, Mischa Maisky will take the stage with violinist Sascha Maisky and pianist Lily Maisky.
At the chamber concerts held June 5-6 at the IBK Chamber Hall of Seoul Arts Center, Augustin Dumay, Mischa Maisky, Kim Sang-jin and Clara Min will perform a varied repertoire including works by Stravinsky, Shostakovich and Brahms.
A piano recital by David Chen and Luka Shishi is scheduled for June 10. The two performers will build their program around works by Schubert, Chopin and Rachmaninoff.
The festival will close with performances by the Rachmaninoff International Orchestra on June 11 and 12. Pletnev will conduct, with Daniel Lozakovich, Gautier Capuçon and Hélène Mercier performing as soloists. The concerts will feature works by Beethoven and Rachmaninoff, along with the Korean premiere of Pletnev's "Rachmaniana."
The Classical Bridge International Music Festival has continued as an international project connecting cities with cities and performers with audiences. Following this year's Seoul performances, the festival is set to be held in Cannes, France, in 2027.
