Korean musicians in Japan plan pre-summit concert

Asian Economic News, May 22, 2000

TOKYO, May 15 Kyodo

(EDS: FURTHER INFO ON CONCERT CAN BE OBTAINED AT TOKYO'S BREMEN HOUSE CO. AT 03-3335-4641)

South Korean violinist Jung Chan Woo and North Korean conductor Kim Hong Je, both renowned musicians residing in Japan, will give a Tokyo concert in June ahead of the summit of the leaders of South and North Korea, to express hope for the peaceful unification of the two Koreas, organizers said Monday.

The concert to be held on June 8 in Mitaka, western Tokyo, will precede the June 12-14 summit meeting of South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the organizers said.

Jung and Kim once planned a joint concert in Osaka in 1985, but the South Korean government would not allow Jung, who lived in Seoul at that time, to leave the country for Japan, Bremen House Co., a sponsor of the concert, said. The 1985 concert was held without Jung.

Jung, who attended the Toho School of Music in Japan, has served as concertmaster for the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Korea National Symphony and KBS Symphony orchestras in South Korea, according to Bremen House.

Kim, who is from Kobe, western Japan, has conducted an orchestra in Pyongyang, it said.

The program for the June concert will include "Lina in the garden" by Isan Yun, "Sweet Home Memory" by an unidentified Korean composer, "Elegy for String Orchestra" by Tschaikovsky, and Vivaldi's "Four Seasons."

The concert, in which the two musicians will play with the Bremen Ensemble, a Tokyo group, will take place at the Mitaka City Arts Center starting at 7 p.m.