Symphonic Spring: 2026 Seoul Symphony Festival Opens April 1
Creatrip Team
6 months ago
The 38th annual Symphony Festival at Seoul Arts Center runs April 1–23 in the Concert Hall, featuring 19 national and municipal Korean orchestras and one foreign ensemble. Esteemed international chief conductors including Roberto Abbado, Jaap van Zweden, and Sasha Götz will appear, along with prize-winning young soloists and principal players from domestic and overseas orchestras. Repertoire spans classical symphonies, 20th-century works, and new compositions. The festival opens April 1 with the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by music director Roberto Abbado performing Mahler’s Symphony No.1 and Bartók’s Piano Concerto No.3 with Malaysian pianist Vincent Ong (Vincent Ong placed fifth in last year’s Frédéric Chopin Competition). Notable programs include the Seoul Metropolitan Orchestra on April 9 (Mozart Clarinet Concerto, Tchaikovsky Symphony No.5), Ulsan City Orchestra on April 23 (Brahms Piano Concerto, Respighi’s Pines of Rome) with soloists Lim Sang-woo (clarinet) and Ahn Jong-do (piano), and the Swiss Verbier Festival Chamber Orchestra on April 7 featuring Mozart and Beethoven with Chopin Competition 2005 winner Rafal Blechacz. All performances will be streamed live for free on a digital platform; tickets start at 10,000 won (except the Verbier program). General ticket sales begin March 12.
