Gyeonggi Arts Center to Open 'Korea Piano Festival' on the 26th... Yuhki Kuramoto Makes His Debut

Gyeonggi Arts Center announced on the 15th that its signature music festival, the Korea Piano Festival, will be held from the 26th of this month through November 1.
Now in its eighth year, the festival began in 2011 under the name 'Peace & Piano Festival,' the nation's first single-instrument festival.
The program will include not only traditional classical repertoire but also popular performances, introductory concerts for beginners, and stages where the audience can participate as performers, with a total of eight concerts scheduled.
With a diverse lineup that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, the festival aims to showcase the broad spectrum of piano music.
Notably, 2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel's birth and the 50th anniversary of Dmitri Shostakovich's passing. Under the theme 'Ravel 150 & Shostakovich 50,' the festival will spotlight masterpieces by both composers.
The festival will open on the 26th with a screening of the film 'Boléro: Immortal Melody,' which tells the story behind the creation of Ravel's orchestral piece 'Boléro.'
On the following day, the 27th, the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sunwook Kim, will present Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major and Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 2, officially launching the festival.
Pianist Ilya Rashkovskiy, who has won top prizes at major international competitions, and Jong Hai Park, known for his bold and expressive performances, will each appear as soloists.
On the 28th, pianist Jae-Yeon Won will give a recital featuring the delicate lyricism of Ravel and Erik Satie, the powerful sonatas of Sergei Prokofiev, and four works by Alessandro and Domenico Scarlatti.
Also drawing attention is the first appearance of pianist Yuhki Kuramoto, who has fostered vibrant musical exchanges between Japan and Korea.
Yuhki Kuramoto is widely beloved for his broad musical spectrum, with his annual concerts in Korea consistently selling out. At the concert on the 29th, he will perform signature pieces such as 'Lake Louise' and 'Romance,' bringing warmth to the deepening autumn.
All performances of the Korea Piano Festival can be reserved through the Gyeonggi Arts Center website and NOL Ticket.

jjang@fnnews.com Jang Choong-sik Reporter