'Music to be played until Russian invasion of Ukraine ends'

Elena Litvinenko, a Ukrainian singer living in Seoul, sings the Ukrainian national anthem during "Concert for Peace" at Ewha Girls' High School in Seoul, May 6. Korea Times photo by Lee Yeon-woo

Cello professor holds concerts every day wishing for peace in Ukraine

By Lee Yeon-woo

From Handel's famous aria "Lascia ch'io pianga" to Korean singer Yang Hee-eun's "Morning Dew," beautiful cello melodies held busy office workers in rapt attention during lunch hour on May 6. The music was from "Concert for Peace," which is held every weekday at 12:30 p.m. for 30 minutes in front of Ewha Girls' High School in Jeong-dong, central Seoul.

The special project was started on March 21 by renowned cellist Bae Il-hwan, a professor of orchestral music at Ewha Womans University, hoping for peace in war-torn Ukraine, with the goal of continuing the concerts until the Russian invasion of Ukraine ends.

The location for the performance is only 300 meters away from the Russian Embassy in Korea. Bae initially sought to hold it in front of the embassy, but it was impossible according to the law, so they chose the current spot which is close by.

"I know this concert cannot terminate Russia's invasion. But I know music can move people's hearts. I hope the message reaches Russians whose eyes and ears are closed," Bae told the Korea Times after the May 6 concert.

Bae Il-hwan, cellist and professor of orchestral music at Ewha Womans University / Courtesy of Bae Il-hwan

Different musicians come to perform every weekday. Even though there is no payment or reward, a lot of musicians have contacted him about participating in the concert voluntarily, so the lineup for the upcoming month is already full. Graduates from Ewha Womans University, fellow academics and other acquainted musicians are the main performers of the concert series, but often there are also entirely new figures: one Russian pianist living in Korea also promised to take part.

"The pianist said that it was embarrassing to call me to perform in the concert as a Russian. However, the pianist said that even though something might happen (to himself or herself) after returning to Russia, he/she will gladly endure the struggle," Bae said, adding that the Russian pianist's performance will be held in June.

Performing every weekday is not an easy task to do, but the support of the audience provides great motivation, according to Bae. Around 30 people stopped and watched Friday's performance. One spectator ― assumed to be Russian or Ukrainian, according to Bae ― burst into tears while "Lascia ch'io pianga" was played the other day.

"First, I only thought about keeping my promise to perform. But I'm quite enjoying it now. It is more rewarding to play the cello in this street than in Carnegie Hall," Bae said.

The professor is also talking with the Ukrainian Embassy in Korea to arrange separate concerts there.

Bae Il-hwan from Ewha Womans University, left, and other musicians play singer Yang Hee-eun's "Morning Dew" as part of the "Concert for Peace" series at Ewha Girls' High School in Seoul, May 6. Korea Times photo by Lee Yeon-woo

Musicians participating in the concerts also show strong support for Bae's determination and their wish for the invasion to end.

Yang Guibee, a professor in Ewha Womans University's Department of Voice who took part in Friday's concert, said she hopes her participation contributes to making Ukraine's situation better even though she is far away in another country.

"I had many Ukrainian and Russian colleagues when I lived in Germany for 16 years until last year … Some of my fellow Ukrainian colleagues cannot even get on the stage due to the psychological shock," Yang told The Korea Times. "I don't know how my voice might become a help, but I hope my participation acts like a tiny drop of water boring through a rock."

Elena Litvinenko, a freelance Ukrainian singer performing both in Ukraine and Korea since 2017, was invited by Bae to sing the Ukrainian anthem in the concert. "I know a lot of Koreans are supporting Ukraine and it is so touching. I'm grateful that I can join this event," she said.

In addition to the concert, Bae has consistently raised his voice on many social issues. He is a board member of Beautiful Mind, a charity that offers music education to people with disabilities and low-income earners. The story of the organization's orchestra, which consists of both people with disabilities and amateur musicians without disabilities, was made into a documentary film in 2018.

"Music delivers a lot of messages. I'm an incomplete person, and I'm also secular. But I will try my best to be pure-hearted when doing these activities," he said.

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