Classical Musicians Unite for Unique Concert 'Amigo' at Arts Center

On the night of December 14, a collaborative classical concert titled 'Amigo' took place at the IBK Chamber Hall of the Arts Center. This event featured a variety of instruments rarely seen on classical stages, including classical guitar, saxophone, and harmonica. Renowned guitarist 박규희, often referred to as the 'Fairy of Classical Guitar,' performed Bach's unaccompanied violin pieces arranged for guitar. Harmonica player 박종성 and saxophonist 브랜든 최 joined forces with piano, viola, and cello for a captivating sextet.

The concert was a joint performance by classical musicians from the same agency, Music & Art Company, and the name 'Amigo' translates to 'friend' in Spanish. The finale showcased pianists 케빈 케너 and 김송현 sitting side by side at one piano, while pianist 조영훈 added a twist by playing the triangle instead, creating a unique nonet performance.

The trend of collaborative concerts is gaining traction in the classical music scene, inspired by K-pop label concerts like SM Town Live, JYP Nation, and YG Family. 김보경, the head of Music & Art Company, noted that the idea emerged during the pandemic when performance opportunities dwindled, leading to the inception of small salon concerts, culminating in their first joint concert in 2022. She described these events as informal showcases of the musicians' projects, akin to an encore.

Similar to K-pop, collaborative concerts in classical music offer numerous benefits, including enhancing the agency's brand image, fostering artist collaborations, and expanding the fanbase loyalty towards the performers. These joint concerts typically flood the calendar at the end of the year, summarizing the year's musical achievements.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the concert planning company 크레디아, which is embarking on a nationwide tour titled 'Stars on Stage.' This tour features prominent musicians such as Korean-American violist 리처드 용재 오닐, violinists 양인모 and 장유진, cellist 문태국, and clarinetists 김한 and 김길우. Starting in 2018 with chamber music performances by renowned artists, the tour continues to thrive. This year's schedule includes performances in five cities: 부천시민회관 on December 20, 김해서부문화센터 on December 21, 인천중구문화회관 on December 22, 부산시민회관 on December 27, and 서울 예술의전당 on December 28. 김혜성, the head of 크레디아, expressed excitement about the diverse stages they can create, likening the experience to how fans of one K-pop idol group often develop an interest in other groups from the same agency.