Relive the Magic: Why the 2019 Lotte Concert Hall New Year's Eve Performance with Hamsinik and Symphony Song Still Resonates

The roar of the crowd that filled the Lotte Concert Hall at the end of 2019 still rings in the ears. Now, seven years on, the magic of that very night is once again a hot topic among music fans. With a recent broadcast bringing the live performance back into the spotlight, even those who didn't experience 'the magic of that night' firsthand are joining in on the buzz.

The Unforgettable Synergy of Hamsinik and Symphony Song

The stars of this concert, which rang in the new year from 31 December 2019 to 1 January 2020, were unequivocally conductor Hamsinik and his orchestra, Symphony Song. As always, he directed his musicians with energetic gestures, and the audience was instantly under his spell. Symphony Song, an ensemble renowned for the warm resonance of its strings, perfectly rendered major works by Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, infusing them with their unique colour under Hamsinik's characteristically dynamic baton.

What Went Down That Night at Lotte Concert Hall

Among the countless concerts that mark the year-end, this one is still talked about because it transcended a simple performance to become a true celebration. The highlight was undoubtedly the impromptu jam session towards the end. The cheerful glances Hamsinik exchanged with his orchestra members, the spontaneous applause and laughter from the audience – that night, everyone threw classical concert etiquette out the window and simply revelled in the joy of being united by music.

• Repertoire: The 'Ode to Joy' solo from Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite, and a medley of Korean art songs personally arranged by Hamsinik.
• Special Moment: Just before the stroke of midnight, the mass 'sing-along' (if you can call it that) to 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik' involving the entire audience became the stuff of legend.
• Encore: After four rounds of encores, Hamsinik's witty encouragement to his visibly tired musicians brought the house down with laughter.

Revisiting the Record of That 2019 Night

The recently released live video and audio from that night have become treasured gifts for music fans. These records, which have only grown more brilliant with time, vividly show how the perfect acoustics of the Lotte Concert Hall space merged with Hamsinik's unique charisma. While some lament, "If only we could experience that 2019 energy again," we can still be grateful to trace the spirit of that night through the recordings.

A spokesperson from the concert hall shared, "The 2019 New Year's Eve and Dawn concert is one of the brightest moments in our hall's history. We will continue to discover and present such stellar performances." Here in 2026, we are still listening to the echoes of that night's cheers.