Rhythmical orchestral tunes reverberated throughout the Seoul Arts Center concert hall Wednesday evening as the Herald Philharmonic Orchestra delivered a dynamic performance ― featuring everything from Russian opera, staple Korean folk songs and classical string symphonies to a jazz-infused New York rhapsody ― in celebration of May, the month of family.

Filled with cheerful melodies, theatrical entertainment and informative narrations in between pieces, the concert provided a night of lighthearted family-fun for listeners of all ages.

Opening the show was the overture to opera “Ruslan and Ludmilla,” an exuberant piece celebrating the wedding of Prince Ruslan and composed by the Russian classical master Mikhail Glinka. 

Applause erupted as Kim Bong-mee, one of Korea’s rare female conductors and a graduate of Germany’s prestigious Academy of Music in Detmold, flicked her baton to a halt and greeted the audience with a warm welcoming speech. Currently the residing conductor of HPO, Kim was also the first female conductor to win at the 2010 Budapest International Music Competition, where judges professed to have “fallen in love with her music.”

Baritone Lee Jung-geun and tenor Jeon Byung-ho proceeded with entertaining Korean-language interpretations of scenes from the popular comic opera “L’Elisir d’Amore” by Gaetano Donizetti, one of modern Italian opera’s greatest composers. Soprano Kim Kyung-ran’s tender notes followed in a classical rendition of the soulful Korean folk anthem “Arirang.”

The soft tooting of muted trumpets marked the beginning of “Rhapsody in Blue,” one of famed composer and pianist George Gershwin’s best-known jazz-classical pieces. A frolicking piano solo followed, intricately delivered by acclaimed pianist Kim Yong-bae, who majored in aesthetics at Seoul National University before pursuing music and later served three years as president of Seoul Arts Center.

All the while exuding energy from her petite frame, conductor Kim steered the orchestra with a graceful charisma.

“May is a time for us to express affection and gratitude to our loved ones,” said Kim. “Our performance tonight is a gift to everyone here.”

Symphonic Suite “Scheherazade,” Op. 35 by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and an encore performance of beloved songs such as “The Sound of Music” and “Edelweiss” wrapped up the captivating night.

The Herald Philharmonic Orchestra was established by Herald Corp. ― publisher of The Korea Herald ― in efforts to give back to society and expand the reach of orchestral music in Korea. Comprised of some 80 musicians educated at the finest music institutions in Korea and abroad, the HPO covers a wide range of performances from small-scale ensembles and chamber music to full symphonies. Since its debut concert in September 2014, the HPO has collaborated with celebrated Canadian pianist and composer Steve Barakatt in staging his symphony “Ad Vitam Aeternam” in Seoul this March.

By Rumy Doo (bigbird@heraldcorp.com)