On March 7, 2019, the Korea Foundation hosted a concert by the renowned Paraguayan harpist Ismael Ledesma at the KF Gallery in Seoul. His recital marked the first concert of the “2019 KF Gallery Open Stage 1” program.

Ismael Ledesma is considered one of the leading Paraguayan harpists of all time and acts as Paraguay’s cultural ambassador, giving celebrated performances all around the world. He has participated in major international music festivals such as the Edinburgh International Harp Festival and the World Harp Congress in Prague.

The concert attracted a large audience curious about the “harpa,” the traditional Paraguyan harp. Ismael Ledesma played both his own compositions and traditional Paraguayan musical pieces, pleasing the audience’s eyes and ears with his graceful movements and the harpa’s elegant timbres. The audience was particularly touched when he played the traditional Korean folk song “Arirang,” arranged for the occasion by Mr. Ledesma.

The “KF Gallery Open Stage” is a concert series held by the Korea Foundation in cooperation with foreign embassies in Seoul to introduce performing artists from around the world to the Korean public. This year’s program features an outstanding lineup, including a Romanian violinist in June and a Brazilian guitarist in August. Please visit the KF website for further details closer to the dates of the upcoming events.