Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's K-Pop Crossover Concert

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra recently hosted a K-Pop concert titled 'SM Classics Live' on February 14 and 15 at the Seoul Arts Center and Lotte Concert Hall, respectively. This event featured orchestral arrangements of popular hits from SM Entertainment, including Red Velvet's 'Red Flavor', EXO's 'Growl', and Girls' Generation's 'Into the New World'. This marked the first time the Seoul Philharmonic performed a concert exclusively featuring K-Pop music, with the second day’s performance, featuring Red Velvet's Wendy, selling out quickly.

The concert opened with Elgar's 'Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1', adding a grand touch to 'Into the New World'. 'Growl' began with the iconic opening melody from Beethoven's 'Symphony No. 5', transforming into a chorus reminiscent of a march. Experiencing the lively and vibrant K-Pop music through the rich harmonies and colors of an orchestral performance provided a unique enjoyment. This musical endeavor, which crosses genres, is referred to as 'crossover'. But how exactly does crossover happen?

The Fusion of Rock Bands and Orchestras

It is a common misconception that orchestras only perform classical music such as symphonies or concertos. However, orchestras also play a significant role in popular music, including light music and classic pop standards. A pivotal moment in the history of crossover occurred in 1969 when the British rock band Deep Purple collaborated with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This groundbreaking performance is still celebrated in rock history due to the unexpected combination of a hard-hitting rock band with an orchestra.

Their live album was titled 'Concerto for Group and Orchestra', named after a concerto composed by Deep Purple's keyboardist Jon Lord. This piece, lasting over 50 minutes, follows the traditional three-movement structure of classical concertos. Deep Purple returned to the Royal Albert Hall in 1999 to perform the same piece with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Since the collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic, many orchestras have partnered with rock bands. In 1999, the San Francisco Symphony performed with the heavy metal band Metallica, resulting in a concert titled 'S&M', which stands for Symphony and Metallica. The concert began with the theme from the Clint Eastwood film 'The Good, the Bad and the Ugly', followed by a series of Metallica's greatest hits. There was considerable curiosity and concern about how Metallica's aggressive sound would mesh with an orchestra, but the arrangement and conducting by renowned composer Michael Kamen received widespread acclaim. Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony reunited for 'S&M2' in 2019.

The Berlin Philharmonic also released an album titled 'Moment of Glory' in 2000, featuring a collaboration with the German rock band Scorpions. Their song 'Wind of Change', inspired by their experience at the 1989 Moscow Music Peace Festival, became an anthem for the liberation movements in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The Berlin Philharmonic and Scorpions performed together again at the 2000 World Expo in Hanover, Germany.

From Film Scores to Video Game Music

Orchestras have also made their mark in film music. Russian composers like Prokofiev and Shostakovich were not only exceptional classical composers but also excelled in film scoring. Many composers fled to the United States during the rise of the Nazis and World War II, continuing their work in film music. One of the most recognizable orchestral film scores is from the 1977 movie 'Star Wars', composed by John Williams. The iconic theme that begins with the subtitle 'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away' and the 'Imperial March' associated with Darth Vader are both part of this score, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Williams' direction. Williams has also conducted the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic, showcasing his film scores from 'Star Wars', 'Jaws', 'E.T.', 'Indiana Jones', and 'Harry Potter'. Music columnist Yoo Jung-woo noted that "John Williams' film scores are transcending the realm of popular music and entering the domain of classical music."

Since 1935, the London Symphony Orchestra has participated in over 200 film scores. Recently, the crossover has expanded beyond film and television to include video game music. In this context, Korea is beginning to open up new avenues for crossover projects. There is hope that K-Pop music will reach a wider audience through more orchestral performances worldwide.