By Kim Se-jeong

One element of foreign diplomacy is bringing people from other countries together in hope of triggering interest.

Some effots succeed, others don’t. Luxembourg tried something last week that succeeded.

The Luxembourg Embassy in Japan presented a pianist named Francesco Tristano in Seoul.

The very first cultural activity by the Embassy of Luxembourg was to mark the 50th anniversary of Korea-Luxembourg diplomatic relations, and to celebrate the country’s national day which was last weekend.

A humble debut for Tristano with only a couple of hundred guests ended in loud cheering and an endless ovation.

Tristano, 30, showed up in jeans, white shirt and jacket. A strong green-colored scarf was hung around his neck. He stood in the middle of the stage, not the edge where he’d be closer to the crowd, making a very slow bow to the audience.

It didn’t feel at all that he was making a performance for the crowd. It was as if he was doing his daily practice in his studio, and people were invited to peak into the place. He didn’t seem to notice the presence of the audience.

What caught the audience by surprise and amazement was his free attitude, let alone his musical interpretations and technique.

People were completely moved by the musician’s act of sharing his happy moment of doing what he truly loves to do.

Rosy Oh, a student who was there to listen to him, said, “I could feel he was enjoying the time thoroughly.”

There was little doubt that people who were there would look up his name on google or find his YouTube videos when they go home, finding more information about him and Luxembourg.

Tristano, 30, was born in Luxembourg. He is dubbed as classical, experimental pianist and composer. He also plays clarinet, and composes classical and electronic music. He is based in Europe, and this was his first performance in Korea. (http://www.francescoschlime.com)