Seoul performances also planned; French baroque ensemble Le Poème Harmonique to make debut Korea visit

Le Poème Harmonique, which will perform at Hanwha Classic 2026. [Hanwha]
Le Poème Harmonique, which will perform at Hanwha Classic 2026. [Hanwha]

Hanwha Group announced Monday that it will hold Hanwha Classic 2026, its annual classical music series, in Changwon and Geoje in South Gyeongsang Province as well as in Seoul in November. This year marks the first time in the event's 14-year history that performances have expanded to the South Gyeongsang region.

The featured ensemble, Le Poème Harmonique, will make its first visit to Korea, 28 years after the group's founding. The French baroque ensemble opens at Changwon's 3·15 Art Hall on Nov. 22, followed by a performance at the Geoje Culture and Arts Center on Nov. 24, and a final concert at Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 26.

The ensemble's conductor, Vincent Dumestre, has earned wide acclaim from international critics for his interpretive depth in French baroque and 17th-century music. The French government has recognized his contributions with the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres at the rank of Officier and the Ordre National du Mérite at the rank of Chevalier.

Hanwha Classic launched in 2013 with a Korea visit by Helmuth Rilling and has consistently brought world-renowned early music figures and ensembles to Korean audiences, including William Christie, Marc Minkowski and Jordi Savall. Last year, French soprano Patricia Petibon and the early music ensemble Amarillis performed in Korea for the first time as part of the series.

"Through Hanwha Classic, which we have sustained for 14 years, we are delighted to bring world-class baroque music to audiences in South Gyeongsang Province for the first time," a Hanwha Group official said. "We will continue to support cultural and artistic activities that engage with local communities."

Hanwha Classic 2026 has also been selected as part of the French Embassy in Korea's cultural program marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and South Korea.


yeongdai@heraldcorp.com