Sayuwon, a mountain garden in Daegu, launches 3-day international music festival

Sayuwon, a sprawling mountain garden in Gunwi, Daegu, is known for its centuries-old trees, contemporary architecture and meticulously designed landscapes. Starting Friday, it will host the inaugural SAYA International Music Festival for three days.

Spanning approximately 495,000 square meters along the foothills of Palgongsan, the garden features 108 quince trees with an average age of more than 300 years, alongside architectural structures designed by Korean and international architects. In recent years, Sayuwon has expanded its programming beyond wellness to include exhibitions and performing arts.

The festival’s central stage is Symphony 6, an outdoor concert hall designed by Italian architect Andrea Liverani. Inspired by the concept of a “tent of steel and nature,” the structure features corten steel folded into an origami-like form. It was recently selected as a winner of the 2026 International Architecture Awards in the public spaces category. The awards ceremony will take place in Athens on the festival’s opening day.

The concert hall’s name references Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, also known as the “Pastoral” Symphony. The opening concert on Friday will feature the National Symphony Orchestra of Korea, conducted by French conductor Adrien Perruchon, performing Beethoven’s work against the backdrop of Mount Palgongsan.

The second day will feature bass Lim Chae-jun and soprano Cho Sun-hyung performing opera arias and Korean art songs in “Love Songs.” The Ahn Eun Me Company, a celebrated South Korean contemporary dance troupe led by Ahn Eun-me, will present the world premiere of “Dance of Thought: This Way and That Way,” a new work dedicated to Sayuwon.

On Sept. 20, the Picasso Ensemble will perform “Walking and Singing in Nature” at the Hanyusigyeong Waterfront Stage.

Symphony 6 will host the festival’s finale, “Opera Doppelganger: Verdi vs. Puccini,” a concert opera featuring works from Verdi’s “La Traviata” and Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.”