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네이버 공유 카카오 공유 트위터 공유 페이스북 공유

‘Following the Traces of Antonin Dvorak’

Seoul Oratorio, which was founded in 1991 to preserve and promote oratorium music, currently operates a choir, orchestra, and music academy, that serve as cornerstones for the development of an oratorium complex.

Since 2001, Seoul Oratorio has conducted ex-change activities with various musical performance organizations in Europe. In particular, it concluded an agreement of cooperation with the Prague Con-servatory, the highly acclaimed music institute that was established in 1808. Antonin Dvorak was appointed head of its composition department in 1891, and later became the director of the conservatory. His student and son-in-law, Josef Suk, also served as a professor and director of the conservatory. In 2005, cultural exchange efforts of Seoul Oratorio yielded tangible results with the graduation of five Korean students from the conservatory.

Three Decades of Dedicated Efforts
This can all be attributed to the dedicated research and efforts of Choi Yeong-cheol, Director of Seoul Oratorio and its music academy, over a period of three decades. Since 2003, Seoul Oratorio has performed a series of Dvorak’s works in the Czech Republic, which have been greatly appreciated by Czech audiences, which has also served to bolster the exchange activities with the Prague Conserva tory. In addition, when Antonin Dovrak III, IV, and V, the grandchildren of Dvorak visited Korea to attend a concert of Seoul Oratorio, they bestowed the title of “Dvorak VI” to Director Choi, along with donating a bust of Dvorak, which had been housed at the Antonin Dvorak Museum, and contributing the original score of the New World Symphony d by Jim Locke (No. 9, that was originally published as No. 5).
In January this year, Director Choi was invited to the Antonin Dvorak International Concours to serve as a judge and executive committee member. Thereafter, Czech Ambassador to Korea Thomas Smetanka and President Choi Su-myeong of the Korea-Czech Friendship Association, founded in April 25, 2007, invited Seoul Oratorio to a five-performance concert tour of the Czech Republic under a project entitled “Following the Traces of Antonin Dvorak,” as part of various exchange events of the two countries to promote mutual understanding, friendship, and economic prosperity.

Rousing Performances
Above all, the concert tour, which was intended to pay tribute to Antonin Dvorak, the renowned Czech composer, featured a repertoire of his representative works. The concert performances were staged in the “abendmusiken” (evening music) format, in which Seoul Oratorio specializes. The concert performers were comprised mainly of graduates of the Prague Conservatory, who are currently appearing at global as well as Korean venues. “Abendmusiken” is a series of concerts staged more than 40 times a year so that performers can perfect their techniques and for the enjoyment of audiences. It includes various musical styles and repertoire works, as well as an effort to enhance the professionalism of performers through a feedback process.
The first and second concerts were staged at the Ledeburg Garden (July 15) and Palffy Palace (July 20), respectively, in Prague. The Ledeburg Garden, a palace courtyard, is an ideal outdoor venue, so well designed that no audio system or even microphone is needed. The performance on the grounds of this gorgeous garden area, designed like stairs that look out at Prague Castle, was followed by a post-concert reception, which enabled the musicians, faculty members of the Prague Conservatory, and concert-goers to socialize in a relaxed atmosphere.
The performance at Ledeburg Garden featured the favorite repertoire and ensemble works of Seoul Oratorio. In addition, Tenor Seong Yeong-gyu’s exceptional performance was highly praised as well. As for the concert at Palffy Palace, it mainly featured instrumental solos. Pianist Yu Che-rin, soprano Kang Su-jeong, and baritone Lee Jeong-shi rendered brilliant performances, which no doubt pleased the Prague Conservatory faculty and the concert audience.


Another concert was held at the Antonin Dvorak Museum on July 22, which was highlighted by arias from the “Rusalka” opera, as well as gypsy songs, biblical music, and Stabat Mater vocal quartet. This concert was all the more meaningful due to the attendance of Dvorak III and IV, along with local residents. Dvorak enjoyed a pastoral life and spent much of his final days in Vysoka, at his modest two-story Villa Rusalka. The picturesque scenery of Lake Rusalka and nearby areas are said to have inspired his musical themes.
The fourth and fifth concerts were presented at the Suk Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague (July 26-27). The facility is comprised of two performance venues, Dvorak Hall and Suk Hall, named after the legendary composer and his son-in-law, in Rudolfinum, which commemorates the life and achievements of Dvorak. Each hall has been intricately designed by acoustic specialists, which made it possible to detect harmonic resonance during a quartet's performance. And of note, a choir group provided graceful vocal accompaniment during the two concerts.
The performances of soprano Shin Ji-hwa, mezzo-soprano Mun Hye-gyeong, and bass Choi Seung-hyeok were truly superb, earning several curtain calls from a highly appreciative audience. Moreover, the obvious talent of violinist Im Gyu-hyeon and young tenor Won Yong-gi was also impressive, which definitely enhanced the admiration of Korean performers among Czech audiences. In fact, this would seem to set the stage for future collaborations between Korean and Czech musicians.

Korea-Czech Cultural Exchange
The tour concert was a special opportunity for the peoples of Korea and the Czech Republic to join together in their profound appreciation of Antonin Dvorak’s masterful music, in addition to gaining a better understanding of each other’s culture. This also served as an occasion to pave the way for Korean musicians to make their way onto the European stage, by demonstrating their world-class talent to heretofore unfamiliar audiences and industry professionals. In addition, the tour concert helped to firmly establish the reputation of Seoul Oratorio Director Choi as Dvorak VI.


In fact, Rudolfinum gives top priority to Seoul Oratorio for the rental of its concert venues. With high praise for the successful concert tour, the Antonin Dvorak Concours Association and the Prague Conservatory, as well as the Antonin Dvorak Museum in Vysoka, have invited Seoul Oratorio to again perform in next year’s concerts. Seoul Oratorio has already made arrangements with five performance venues for the 2008 concerts. To step up bilateral cultural exchange, Seoul Oratorio plans to organize an annual concert tour to the Czech Republic and also invite Czech musicians to Korea. Seoul Oratorio greatly appreciates the Korea Foundation’s generous support for the smooth organization of the tour concert and related exchange activities.


Above all, the Seoul Oratorio concert tour, which was intended to pay tribute to Antonin Dvorak, the renowned Czech composer, featured a repertoire of his representative works.

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