[Photo] Yeol Eum Son's Going Home Project: Conductorless orchestra opens exclusively at CGV on 17th

An electrifying performance by 'Going Home Project', a conductorless orchestra formed by some of the world's leading musicians, led by pianist 'Yeol Eum Son', is coming to the big screen. The film 'Going Home Project: Ravel & Shostakovich in Cinema,' opening exclusively at CGV on the 17th, is the first South Korean classical concert film to use 'Dolby Atmos' sound, recreating the awe-inspiring experience of a concert hall.

Lowering the barriers to classical music: Orchestra heads to the big screen

At a screening held on Oct. 12 at CGV Yeouido in Seoul, 'Yeol Eum Son' said she hoped people who find the formal atmosphere of classical concert halls unfamiliar would feel comfortable visiting a movie theater and experiencing the music's greatness. 'Going Home Project' was founded by Korean musicians active on the world stage and international musicians based in South Korea. Son serves as its creative director.

100-musician ensemble puts down the baton for the essence of pure music

The film focuses on a new side of Son, who performs as the orchestra's director and a member rather than as a soloist. It captures a live performance held last July featuring 'Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7, Leningrad' and 'Ravel's Boléro.' 'Yeol Eum Son' recalled, "It's on an entirely different level from playing solo. My part is smaller, but I have to appear at decisive moments, which brings enormous tension." The orchestra's defining identity is its status as a 'conductorless orchestra,' with more than 100 musicians relying solely on one another's breathing and eye contact to build a massive ensemble. Son stressed that the group sought to realize "the purest form of musical expression," adding, "The process of listening completely to one another and remaining intensely alert onstage gives rise to the distinctive music of 'Going Home Project.'"

A perfect blend of sight and sound, with a story told through the music itself

'Director Sung Yoo-jin', who has worked with the orchestra since its inaugural performance in 2022, focused on the audiovisual impact of the big screen. Sung said the film was designed so that even viewers unfamiliar with classical music could relax with popcorn and easily become immersed through rhythmic editing and visual elements. Addressing concerns that the long-form structure typical of symphonies could become tedious, the director said, "We captured the entire performance head-on." Sung added, "The musicians' explosive energy, subtle changes in expression and intersecting gazes build a complete narrative without a single line of dialogue."

Immersive sound completed: South Korea's first classical concert film in Dolby Atmos

The film's technical execution is another central attraction. The 'Dolby Atmos' format, used for the first time in a South Korean classical orchestra concert film, combines with a multiplex's large screen to deliver a vivid experience that can surpass the concert hall. 'Tonmeister Choi Jin,' who oversaw the sound, described Dolby Atmos as "an innovative technology that captures not only a sense of space but also the finest details of every instrument." He expressed confidence that experiencing a large orchestra's weighty low tones and three-dimensional resonance through a multichannel speaker system would offer "a completely different level of emotion" unavailable on smaller devices.

The film captures both the fine detail of the musicians' breathing and the majestic sense of space felt from the center of the audience. The production team hopes the theatrical release will go beyond a one-off event, serving as a powerful bridge to draw audiences to live performances and opening up a 'new possibility' for bringing classical music to a wider public. Director Sung said she hoped the film would leave audiences with a deep, lasting impression and serve as a springboard for more innovative efforts in the future.