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“ACC Brunch Concert” poster

On the last Wednesday of each month, a group of people eagerly awaits this day. I, too, am one of those who start their morning with elated hearts. “Why?” you might ask. That day was when I went and attended the “ACC Brunch Concert.” Perhaps because of the beautiful May weather and my anticipation of the Brunch Concert, I found my steps to the ACC to be lighter than usual. I was not the only one heading to the ACC Theater. From solo visitors like me to groups of friends, couples, and families, everyone who had gathered in front of the ACC Theater bore the same anticipation toward the “ACC Brunch Concert” on their faces.

As luck would have it, the Brunch Concert for May was the first concert to be held after the social distancing requirements in the COVID-19 pandemic were eased. With the lifting of the restrictions that had emptied the theater for the past two years, the seats in the ACC Theater filled up quickly, so much so that I had a hard time finding a vacant seat among them. I was pleased to see the anticipated return in the theater hall, the lights, and the props arranged on the stage, as well as the whispering and anticipation from the audience.

Since its launch in 2016, the “ACC Brunch Concert,” now in its seventh year, has established itself as one of the most recognizable performance series offered by the ACC. This year’s offerings continue the tradition of combining artistic excellence and popular appeal across various genres, from classical music to musicals, gugak (traditional Korean music), and circus musical theater.

“The Drawing Scene” from the May performance

“The Juggling Scene” from the May performance

“The Live Music Scene” from the May performance

“The Chair Stacking Scene” from the May performance

For the third “ACC Brunch Concert” of the year this May, Team Funniest put a circus musical theater piece onstage called “Chair, Table, Chair.” “Chair, Table, Chair” is a new interdisciplinary performance combining different artistic genres with comedic acting. The performance comprises 15 scenes, each characterized by a genre of nonverbal performance like miming, magic, bubbles, fluorescent drawing, and juggling. These masterful performances were accompanied by the live music of Team Funniest, written and produced for the Chair, Table, Chair performance, which added dynamic and powerful energy to the stage. I particularly found myself impressed with the participatory routines integrated into the performance and the witty facilitation of the performers in inviting the audience members to participate. The impression left by the performance was palpable in the faces and the conversations of the people leaving the theater.

Cellist “Jinho Hong”

In June, cellist Jinho Hong of Hoppipolla, winner of the JTBC audition program “SuperBand,” will take to the stage in his recital “Cello Tanz.” “Tanz” is the German word for dance, and the Brunch Concert Program is likewise organized around the passionate elegance of dance music. These songs include Brahms’ Hungarian Dances and M. Ravel’s Bolero, which will be joined by songs with folk colors and a nontraditional atmosphere like Heitor Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5, Luis Bonfa’s Black Orpheus, and Shostakovich’s Jazz Suite No. 2, all filtered through Jinho Hong’s unique style.

Ha Yoon Joo, the “Jeongga” vocalist

July’s program will showcase Ha Yoon Joo, a traditional vocalist with contemporary sensibilities, bringing her “Jeongga” to the stage. “Jeongga” is a rather uncommon genre of traditional Korean music, traditionally enjoyed by the intellectuals in the Joseon period. It is known for its clear and refined sound. Ha Yoon Joo expresses today’s stories through a voice that hearkens back to the noble character of the bygone days. Her storytelling brings its power to reopen the world of emotions for its listeners. The theme of the performance, “Jardin du Son (garden of sounds),” represents Ha Yoon Joo’s wish to create a beautiful garden with her sounds.

The center of August’s ACC Brunch Concert program is William Youn, a pianist known for his presence on European stages. William Youn is a next-gen talent hailed as a “poet on piano,” whose robust technique and emotional acuity have earned him rapturous praise in Europe. In August, Youn will present his romantic mastery of the instrument under the theme of Reminisce. Note that the August performance will be held on the 24th, Wednesday, and not the last Wednesday of the month.

In September, pianist Song Young Min and distinguished soloists will bring “Meet Ghibli through Chopin,” a musical event transcending the bounds of time and space between the Romantic giant “Frédéric Chopin” and Studio Ghibli, the producer of OSTs for “My Neighbor Totoro” and “Howl’s Moving Castle.” Visitors will be delighted to note that “Meet Ghibli through Chopin” will showcase the best songs of the ensemble program.

October’s “ACC Brunch Concert” will feature the guitarist Byeong Woo Lee, a true artist whose music expresses the mystical property of mundane life. Lee is the only multi-guitar player in Korea, capable of performing all music created with the instrument, and the first Korean guitarist to take up the fingerstyle guitar. His repertoire, comprising classic, acoustic, and electric guitars, expertly combines elements of pop, jazz, blues, rock, and ballads upon a robust foundation of classics. Lee is also the composer behind the remarkable soundtracks to renowned films like “The Host,” “King and the Clown,” “Mother,” and “Haeundae,” whose uniquely emotional melody will be brought to its full expression in the “ACC Brunch Concert.”

Scheduled for November, the performance Musical Gala Concert brings together Chun Soo-kyung, one of the most recognizable stars of the Korean musical world, and MUSE, the team behind the Musical Gala Concert. A notable master of songs, dance, and witty conversations, Chun Soo-kyung will join forces with the extravagant performance put onstage by the team MUSE to create a memorable stage for the audience.

The “ACC Brunch Concert” has a unique charm—an opportunity to experience the different performance genres, often found only in the capital region, through a program that has something for everyone. If you want a special and unique performance to end your month on a high note, come to the “ACC Brunch Concert” at 11:00 every last Wednesday of the month.
Tickets to the “ACC Brunch Concert” can be reserved online on the official ACC web page (www.acc.go.kr) and on-site.

For more information on the “ACC Brunch Concert”Click to proceed to the web page.