With a four decade long international career as a soloist, composer, and recording artist, Sigmund Groven finally returns to South Korea. “I have happy memories of my visit to Seoul in 2001”, Mr Groven says. He will be accompanied by his regular piano accompanist for more than 25 years, Ivar Anton Waagaard. Groven is excited to go on tour in Korea: “both Ivar Anton and I are looking forward very much to seeing different parts of your country and of course to share music-making with you and to be able to meet Korean audiences”.
Sigmund Groven is an award-winning composer and has created a total output of more than 350 works, including music for film, radio, and TV, and a number of songs and instrumental works. His career in Europe has included performances with the Academy of St.Martin-in-the-Fields, Rotterdam Philharmonic, the radio symphony orchestras of Berlin, Munich, Brussels, Stockholm, Oslo, Hilversum, and BBC London, the Hong City Chamber Orchestra, concerts for EXPO Sevilla, UNESCO Paris, the Edvard Grieg Sesquicentennial Celebrations, Dartington Summer Music, and the Bergen International Festival. In 2002 he became the first harmonica player to appear as soloist with the Mozarteum Orchestra in Salzburg, and his concert at the 25th Budapest Spring Festival 2005 was described by a critic as ”the most moving performance in the history of the festival”.
In 1990, Mr Groven made his Carnegie Hall debut, which was followed by concerts at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC as well as major concert halls, orchestras and festivals across Canada and the US: Toronto, Guelph, Québec, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Anchorage, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Houston –and Dallas, where he was made honorary citizen of Texas. His career in Asia has included concerts and TV appearances in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Mr Groven starts his South Korea tour in Seoul on 2 September by giving a Master Class in cooperation with the Korea Harmonica Education Association. The Master Class is followed by two concerts, whereof the first is scheduled for 5 September at 8 pm at Gangdong Arts Center, and the second for 6 September at 8 pm at the IBK Chamber Hall (Seoul Arts Center). Mr Groven also gives a concert at Andong Culture and Art Center in Andong on 7 September, before ending his visit to South Korea with a concert at Hwasong City Cultural Foundation in Hwasong on 8 September at 7.30 pm.
For ticket information, please contact Seoul Arts Management by phone: 02 548 4480 or online at www.seoularts.com.