Incheon Culture & Arts Center Coffee Concert Takes the October Stage with the Song Cycle ‘A Couple’s Story’

The eighth edition of ‘2026 Coffee Concert,’ the signature matinee series of the Incheon Culture & Arts Center, will take place at 2 p.m. on October 21 at the Small Hall. This performance features ‘A Couple’s Story,’ a song cycle tracing the journey of one married couple’s life together.

[코리안투데이] A scene from the song cycle ‘A Couple’s Story’ © 장형임 기자

The Incheon Culture & Arts Center’s flagship matinee series, ‘2026 Coffee Concert,’ opens its eighth stage at 2 p.m. on October 21 at the Small Hall. This time, audiences are welcomed by ‘A Couple’s Story,’ a song cycle that depicts the life of a married couple with both humor and depth.

The song cycle ‘A Couple’s Story’ reflects on the meaning of life through the journey of a couple whose love begins in an era when even dating is no easy matter. A distinctive feature of the work is the way it blurs the boundaries of genre, blending theatrical structure and dramatic narrative into the traditional song cycle form.

The work was brought to life through a collaboration among leading creators and performers of Korea’s classical music scene. The music is composed by Ryu Jae-joon, artistic director of the Seoul International Music Festival, who has earned international recognition with works such as his Symphony No. 2 and the opera ‘Apartment,’ delivering melodies that are at once contemporary and romantic. The lyrics are written by Bong Jun-su, a Seoul National University professor and director known for works including ‘Living Like a Weasel’ and ‘The Far Side of the Moon,’ lending the piece wit and lyricism.

On stage, soprano Lee Sang-eun and bass-baritone Han Hye-yeol perform as the married couple, bringing lifelike acting and singing. Pianist Lim Hyo-sun goes beyond mere accompaniment to appear as another actor and narrator, organically connecting the entire drama and sensitively guiding the inner emotions and rhythm of each scene through her solo piano passages.

Set against an era of record-low birth rates, the story illuminates the life of a couple who, beginning with love, walk on together through marriage, childbirth, child-rearing, conflict and reconciliation. All the more genuine for being nothing out of the ordinary, their journey is expected to offer comfort and resonance to those living today.

Launched in 2008, the ‘Coffee Concert’ is a matinee series held at 2 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, and it has enjoyed steady affection, drawing a cumulative audience of more than 93,000 to date. Offering performances across a variety of genres alongside a fragrant cup of coffee, the series has established itself as a signature brand performance representing Incheon and is now expanding its popularity nationwide.

Admission is 15,000 won for all seats, and the performance is open to viewers of elementary school age and above. Further details are available on the Incheon Culture & Arts Center website, and inquiries can be made to the Incheon Culture & Arts Center (032-420-2731~9).

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