Industrial smelting and classical music may seem an unlikely pairing. However, Lee Woon-hyung, the late chairman and CEO of steel conglomerate SeAH Group, spent over a decade of his lifetime promoting the opera and supporting cultural causes.

In a tribute to Lee’s efforts, the Woon-Hyung Lee Foundation for culture and arts will host its first opera concert under the theme “spreading beauty in the world,” featuring both world-class and up-and-coming musicians.

“This concert aims to uphold the late chairman’s wishes of making the opera genre accessible to a wider public and providing a platform for cultural exchange to musicians,” said Park Eui-sook, widow of Lee and director of the foundation. 

The program consists of familiar pieces from renowned opera masterpieces “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Falstaff,” which are also the very first and last performances, respectively, that Lee sponsored.

The stage will see a collaboration of internationally renowned vocalists Samuel Yoon (bass), Betsy Horne (soprano) and Jung Soo-yeon (mezzo-soprano) and four young opera talents under the foundation’s patronage, Park Hye-sang (soprano), Kim Seung-jick (tenor), Kim Beom-jin (tenor) and Choi In-sik (baritone). 

Lee was appointed in 1995 as chairman of SeAH, a steel, auto parts and wielding materials conglomerate. A dedicated supporter of various cultural endeavors and an acknowledged opera aficionado, Lee became director of the Korea National Opera in 2000.

Some of his charitable projects include donations for installing the Korea exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Arts and support to music departments at Seoul National University and Korea National University of Arts.

The Woon-Hyung Lee Foundation was established in August 2013 to commemorate and continue Lee’s patronage of the arts. It currently provides scholarships and academic support, sponsors classical concerts and aims to cultivate Korea’s culture and arts fields.

The 70-minute concert will take place at 8 p.m. on March 18 at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House. Cellist Lee Kang-ho, the Asian Classical Players orchestra, the Gwangmyeong City Choir and the SeAH Group Choir will also perform for the occasion.

By Rumy Doo (bigbird@heraldcorp.com)