Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will Gioacchino Rossini's "Stabat Mater" on February 7 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, under the baton of newly appointed conductor Kwak Sung, for the first time in Korea.

A religious harmony of solos, choir vocals and orchestral music, "Stabat Mater" is a popular theme that has inspired many composers, including Josquin Desprez, Haydn, Schubert, Liszt, Verdi and Szymanowski. On hearing the premiere of Rossini's "Stabat Mater," poet Heine wrote that the theater seemed "a vestibule of heaven."

Maestro Kwak Sung will lead soloists soprano Lee Jeong-ae, mezzo-soprano Jang Hyeon-ju, tenor Kim Yeong-hwan and bass Kim In-su, accompanied by the National and Seoul City choirs.

Organist Kim Hee-song will then accompany the orchestra in a performance of Alexandre Guilmant's "Organ Symphony 1 Opus 42 in D Minor."

For more information, call (02) 399-1512~4.

(Kim Yong-un, proarte@chosun.com )