Actor and Girls' Generation member Seohyun took on a sincere challenge.
Seohyun appeared as an amateur soloist and special guest at the Sol Philharmonic Orchestra's 8th regular concert held at Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the evening of the 13th. That day Seohyun successfully completed the performance amid warm applause from an audience that filled about 2,000 seats.
This performance attracted great attention even before the show because it came only about seven months after Seohyun picked up the violin again since childhood. When news spread that she had accepted the amateur soloist offer after deeply sympathizing with the concert's purpose of "pure passion for music," encouragement followed from musicians including world-renowned violinist Kim Bom-so-ri. Among classical music fans there was support saying, "The meaningful steps of a popular artist serve as a bridge that lowers the threshold of classical music," raising expectations for the stage.
During the preparation period Seohyun showed a serious attitude toward the stage, practicing intensively for eight to 10 hours a day. In particular, Vittorio Monti's "Csárdás," which she selected to perform, is a difficult piece characterized by dazzling technique and rapid tempo changes, making it a very bold challenge for an amateur. But Seohyun completed the piece with her characteristic immersion and passion, proving that this performance was a "pure challenge" toward music, not a one-off event.
Officials at the scene praised her, saying, "Rather than the perfection of a major-level performer, it was impressive to see the pure passion of enjoying the stage and the attitude toward the piece," and "Her will to interpret the piece and complete it as a performer rather than simply appearing as an event was enough to prove the seven months of preparation."
The encore that closed the concert was Seohyun's debut song, Girls' Generation's "Into the New World." The familiar melody played on violin to the orchestra's strains moved the audience, and the concert hall was soon filled with a standing ovation.
The meaning of the concert went beyond the melody on stage. Seohyun participated as a form of talent donation without a separate appearance fee, and she and others agreed to donate the concert proceeds to socially vulnerable groups such as orchestras for the disabled, demonstrating the epitome of "positive influence."
Immediately after the concert Seohyun, through her agency, modestly and warmly said, "Although my skills are lacking, it was a time I prepared joyfully with all my heart," and "I sincerely hope my performance became a small courage for someone to start anew and a warm comfort to tired hearts."
[Photo] Provided by KKUM ENT.
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