Rome is preparing to welcome the voices, melodies and emotions of Korea. On Monday, September 15, 2026, at 8:30 PM, the evocative Chiostro di Campitelli at the Teatro di Marcello, located at Piazza Campitelli 9, Rome, will provide the setting for “Voices of Korea – Arirang (K-Gagok)”, a special evening dedicated to the encounter between Korean and Italian musical culture.
In the historic heart of the Italian capital, surrounded by centuries of art and memory, Korea and Italy will come together through one of the most universal languages of all: music.
The event on September 15 promises to be an elegant musical journey across seemingly distant worlds, brought together through the power of the human voice: from the Korean vocal tradition to the passion of Neapolitan songs and some of the most celebrated arias from the operatic repertoire.
The very title of the evening, “Voices of Korea – Arirang (K-Gagok)”, immediately evokes the musical identity of Korea.
Arirang is one of the musical symbols most deeply connected to Korean culture and sensibility: a melody that, through its many regional and stylistic variations, has crossed generations, territories, collective memory and emotions.
Alongside this musical universe is K-Gagok, an expression of the Korean tradition of lyrical and art song, in which poetry, interpretation and vocal artistry come together to create a refined and deeply evocative musical form.
Bringing these sounds to Rome offers a precious opportunity to discover Korea through a dimension that differs from the one most familiar to the Italian public.
In recent years, contemporary Korean culture has captivated an enormous international audience through K-pop, cinema, television series, fashion and cuisine. Yet behind this extraordinary contemporary vitality lies an immensely rich musical heritage that deserves to be discovered and heard.
“Voices of Korea – Arirang” offers precisely this opportunity: to encounter another soul of Korea through its vocal tradition.
One of the most fascinating aspects of the evening will be the dialogue created between different musical repertoires.
The Korean vocal tradition will meet the Neapolitan song, an Italian musical heritage known and loved throughout the world, as well as some of the most celebrated arias from the operatic repertoire.
Korea and Italy have profoundly different musical histories, yet both cultures attribute an extraordinary narrative and emotional power to the human voice.
Song thus becomes their meeting point.
On one side, the delicacy, poetry and intensity of the Korean tradition; on the other, the warmth, passion and theatricality of Italy’s great musical heritage.
Rather than simply presenting a sequence of pieces, the evening ideally creates a musical bridge between Seoul and Rome, between East and West, between different sensibilities capable of recognizing one another through emotion.
The venue chosen for the concert will make the occasion even more evocative.
The performance will take place at the Chiostro di Campitelli at the Teatro di Marcello, at Piazza Campitelli 9, Rome, in the heart of one of the capital’s most fascinating historic and artistic areas.
Korean and Italian music will therefore resonate within a Roman setting steeped in history, creating an encounter in which the venue itself becomes part of the story.
This combination is precisely what makes the evening so fascinating: Rome welcomes Korea without relinquishing its own identity, while Korea brings a precious part of its musical tradition to the Italian capital.
In recent years, cultural relations between Italy and South Korea have become increasingly vibrant.
Events, exhibitions, performances, cinema, music and cultural initiatives are allowing the two countries to know one another more deeply, moving beyond stereotypes and demonstrating how dialogue between cultures can generate curiosity, respect and new opportunities for connection.
Within this dialogue, music holds a privileged place.
It needs no translation to convey nostalgia, joy, love, melancholy or hope.
And perhaps this is the most beautiful meaning of an evening such as “Voices of Korea – Arirang (K-Gagok)”: allowing two cultures to tell their stories through their voices and, above all, to listen to one another.
Voices of Korea – Arirang (K-Gagok): Event Information
Date: September 15, 2026
Time: 8:30 PM
Venue: Chiostro di Campitelli at the Teatro di Marcello
Address: Piazza Campitelli 9, Rome
Event: Voices of Korea – Arirang (K-Gagok)
Theme: Korean and Italian music and culture
The evening promises to become a journey through tradition, beauty and cultural exchange, bringing together K-Gagok, Korean melodies, Neapolitan songs and the great operatic repertoire.
It is an event of particular interest not only to those who love Korea, but also to enthusiasts of singing, classical music and international culture.
On September 15 at 8:30 PM, in the heart of Rome, the voices of Korea will meet those of the Italian musical tradition.
And for one evening, within the walls of the Chiostro di Campitelli, Arirang will speak Italian too.
