SM Classics, the classical and jazz label of SM Entertainment, successfully held its first K-pop orchestra concert, marking a milestone in its ongoing projects.
On February 14, the ‘SM Classics Live 2025 with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’ took place at Seoul Arts Center, celebrating SM Entertainment's 30th anniversary. Conducted by Kim Yoo Won, the performance featured orchestral versions of songs from SM Classics' first full-length album, ‘Across The New World’, released last month. The project highlights SM’s efforts to expand its musical spectrum by blending classical, jazz, film scores, and world music with K-pop.
The setlist included 17 songs, such as Red Velvet’s ‘Red Flavor’ and ‘Psycho’, EXO’s ‘Growl’, aespa’s ‘Black Mamba’, SHINee’s ‘Sherlock’, and TVXQ’s ‘Rising Sun’. Some songs incorporated classical music elements, like EXO’s ‘Growl’, which sampled Beethoven’s ‘Symphony No. 5’, and Jonghyun’s ‘End of a Day’, which featured Debussy’s ‘Clair de Lune’. The concert also integrated media art effects, enhancing the storytelling of each performance.
SM Classics, launched in 2020, aims to reinterpret K-pop through orchestral and classical arrangements, broadening SM’s musical vision under its SM 3.0 strategy. Following this concert, the company plans to expand its live performances and sheet music licensing business globally.
The second concert of ‘SM Classics Live 2025’ will be held on February 15 at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul.
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