Canadian pianist and composer and the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra are teaming up again for an encore concert in December in Seoul.

According to Barakatt’s agency, the New Age musician together with the Seoul-based ensemble will play his symphony “Ad Vitam Aeternam” on Dec. 5 at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. It follows the resounding success of a March concert in which he presented his largest and first symphonic composition to the Korean audience.

“I’m really honored to be presenting ‘Ad Vitam Aeternam’ again for Seoul audiences,” said Barakatt in a press release.

“2015 marks 20 years of a very meaningful relationship with Koreans, and I am delighted to end this year’s celebrations with my grandest production.”

Written in 16 movements for piano and a full-sized orchestra, “Ad Vitam Aeternam” is a musical journey through different stages of life and various aspects of the human condition ― from the physiological to the psychological, emotional and spiritual.

The upcoming concert will also feature “The Symphony of Greatest Hits,” a symphonic suite of his most popular compositions, such as “Rainbow Bridge,” “Flying,” “Dreamers,” “Day by Day” and “He is from Seoul, She is from Pyongyang.”

Led by conductor Kim Bong-mee, the Herald Philharmonic is a young ensemble founded last year by Herald Inc., publisher of The Korea Herald, with a philanthropic mission of making classical music more accessible.

By Lee Sun-young
(milaya@heraldcorp.com)