Euro Asia Chamber Music Festival
When South Koreans think of Belgium, they probably think of waffles. In recent years waffle stands have been popping up all over the place there. But what they may have been less aware of up until now is that our country not only has a rich culinary heritage to offer but a rich cultural life as well.
From 5 to 16 August, the Euro Asia Chamber Music Festival took place in South Korea. A group of 38 young musicians from the EU countries together with a handful of South Korean musicians spent a full week demonstrating their skills. No fewer than 8 concerts at an equal number of locations throughout Seoul and environs drew a total audience of 3000 music lovers.
The festival was an initiative of the Belgian Embassy in South Korea. It was organised to mark a number of occasions, such as the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, the free-trade agreement between the EU and South Korea at the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.
“Bridging the cultural gap between the countries has always been a part of my job”, noted Pierre Clement Dubuisson, the Belgian Ambassador to South Korea. “Music is the ideal way to achieve this: it is not only an international language, but it also appeals directly to the emotions”.
During the festival, the celebrated Belgian cellist Didier Poskin directed the orchestra. The Belgian Quartz Ensemble also took part in the musical event, performing 8 European and Korean pieces.
“First and foremost the Euro Asia Chamber Music Festival provides an important cultural exchange between the EU and Asia”, added Dubuisson. “This event gives young musicians from different cultures the chance to communicate with one another and enrich each other through music.”
In South Korea, where Western classical music dominates the cultural scene, the festival certainly did not go unnoticed. It received extensive media coverage.“Belgium received widespread, positive attention in the press”, according to the ambassador.
Whether there will be a new edition of this classical music festival next year is still anyone’s guess at the moment. Many musicians and sponsors have already responded favourably to the prospect of repeating the experience next year .