Suwon Special Municipality Hosts New Year Concert 'Confident! 2026!'

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Jung Jun-seong] Suwon Special Municipality will host a New Year concert titled 'Confident! 2026!' at 7:30 p.m. on January 29 at the Grand Theater of Gyeonggi Arts Center to mark the Year of the Red Horse in the Chinese zodiac.

The concert will be conducted by Kim Bo-mi, artistic director and principal conductor of the Suwon Philharmonic Choir, and will feature performances by the Suwon Philharmonic Choir and Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra. Pansori master Lee Bong-geun, musical actors Min Woo-hyuk and Chung Sun-a, and show choir group Harmonize will make special appearances, presenting diverse performances spanning classical music, traditional Korean music, musical theater, and popular music.

The concert will open with the overture to Johann Strauss II's operetta 'Die Fledermaus.' The upbeat and colorful melody will create dynamic momentum with the rich sound of the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra enhanced by collaboration with the Suwon City Ballet.

Pansori master Lee Bong-geun and the Suwon Philharmonic Choir will perform composer Woo Hyo-won's original composition 'Drum,' based on poet Kim Young-rang's poem, as well as an arrangement by composer Ji Hye-jeong of the 'Love Song' section from Chunhyangga, which presents a love story transcending social class in a contemporary manner.

There will also be a special stage featuring musical actors Min Woo-hyuk and Chung Sun-a along with Harmonize. The performance will showcase a dramatic stage presentation by actors with explosive vocal power and commanding stage presence.

In the latter half of the concert, the Suwon Philharmonic Choir and Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra will present a pop and K-pop stage. Audiences will enjoy the film 'About Time' soundtrack 'Il Mondo,' Queen's masterpieces 'Somebody to Love' and 'Don't Stop Me Now.' The final song is 'A Single Candle' by the band god. With familiar melodies enhanced by grand choral and orchestral sound, the concert will complete the festive atmosphere of the new year.

Tickets are available for reservation on the Suwon Municipal Arts Organization website (www.artsuwon.or.kr). Telephone reservations are also available at 031-250-5352~7 (Suwon Philharmonic Choir Office). Ticket prices are 20,000 won for R-class seats and 10,000 won for S-class seats. Children in elementary school and above are welcome to attend.

A city official stated, "The New Year concert 'Confident! 2026!' is a stage that demonstrates Suwon Special Municipality's cultural capacity and artistic vision through its cross-genre and multi-generational composition," and added, "We hope many citizens will join us at this concert, which conveys hope and courage through music."