Experience the dazzling skills of gold medal winners Hungarian István Várdai (cello) and Korean Sunwook Kim (piano) who are teaming up to present a virtuosic recital of gems of the cello/piano repertoire. Sunwook Kim came to international recognition when he won the prestigious ‘Leeds International Piano Competition’ in 2006 at age 18, making him the competition’s youngest winner for 40 years. István Várdai is the only cellist in the world to have won Gold Medals at both the International Cello Competition in Geneva (2008) and the ARD Competition in Munich (2014), the two most important contests for cellists.

Programme
de Falla:
Seven Spanish Folksongs
Schubert:
Arpeggione Sonata, D. 821
Kodály:
Hungarian Rondo for Cello and Piano

Intermission

Bach:
Sonata in G Major for Viola da Gamba, BWV 1027
Franck:
Sonata in A Major

Violinist Kyoung-Joo Sung has performed across Europe, United States and South Ko-rea, as a soloist with orchestras such as the Seoul National Symphony, KBS Symphony Orchestra, and in prestigious halls such as Musikverein Golden Hall in Vienna, Smeta-na Hall and Dvorak Hall in Prague, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall in the US. He is a professor at Gangwon National University in South Korea, and a member of Erato Ensemble, Seoul Virtuosi Ensemble, committee member at Chuncheon Cultural and Arts Foundation and Artistic director of string ensemble “The Bridge”. Mr. Sung will play Sibelius Violin Concerto with Pro Arte Orchestra of Hong Kong under conductor Ho-man Choi.

The true story of the Roman Empire ‘Spartacus’－War & Resistance

‘Spartacus’ is based on the real story of the Roman Empire. Crassus, the General of Roman Empire, won a battle and gained incredible momentum to territorial expansion. Spartacus was enslaved by Crassus, he had been subjected to brutal tortures until he led a revolution against the Roman Empire to pursue freedom.

The foundation of Korean National Ballet: Spartacus is according to Yuri Grigorovich’s special version created in Bolshoi. While ballet has been traditionally regarded as a dance which illustrates elegancy with feminine characteristics, he presented ‘Spartacus’through the masculine and spectacular movements by male dancers to develop a new interpretation of ballet.

Established in 1962, Korean National Ballet has been leading ballet in Korea through its wide repertories. It has successfully spread an incredible reputation worldwide, and is proactively reaching out to the public and putting on more regional performances.

Korean National Ballet prepared Spartacus, which is based on the true story of the Roman Empire. Yuri Grigorovich’s special version of Spartacus was created in ‘Bolshoi’ in 1968, where Pas de Deux of Phrygia and Spartacus were presented through spectacular movements of the male group dancers. This year, his production of Spartacus reached its 50th birthday.