A Night of K-pop Meets Classical in the Heart of Tokyo
To celebrate three decades of K-pop history, SM Entertainment hosted a special concert—‘SM CLASSICS LIVE 2025 in TOKYO’—at the Tokyo International Forum Hall A. This wasn’t your typical fan-chant-filled K-pop concert. Instead, it was a soulful fusion of K-pop legends and symphonic elegance, featuring full orchestral reinterpretations of hit songs from the SM vault.
Leeteuk Guides the Audience Through 30 Years of Sound
Super Junior’s Leeteuk stepped in as the MC of the night, taking on the role of a musical guide. With warmth and charm, he introduced each piece, offering fans behind-the-scenes stories and musical tidbits even casual listeners could appreciate. For many in the audience, this was their first classical concert—and Leeteuk made it feel like home.
Ryeowook’s Voice Transcends Genres
Fellow Super Junior member Ryeowook took the spotlight as the evening’s special vocalist, performing orchestral renditions of his solo hits like “The Little Prince” and “It’s Okay.” His tender, powerful vocals wove seamlessly with the orchestral backdrop, turning familiar tunes into cinematic experiences.
SM’s Greatest Hits, Reinvented with Classical Flair
Led by conductor Hideaki Matsumura and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, the concert reframed SM’s iconic discography with a high-art twist. Here are some standout mashups:
- EXO’s “Growl” met Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, reimagined with dramatic tempo shifts and classical flourishes.
- TVXQ’s “Rising Sun” collided with Vivaldi’s “Summer” from Four Seasons, creating a thrilling, high-energy blend.
- Red Velvet’s “Feel My Rhythm” danced with Bach’s “Air on the G String,” blurring the line between pop and baroque.
- Girls’ Generation’s “Into The New World” was elevated by Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” turning the girl group anthem into an orchestral tribute.
The setlist also included BoA’s “Tree,” aespa’s “Black Mamba,” NCT U’s “Make A Wish,” and SHINee’s “Sherlock,” each arranged with creative classical elements that honored the originals while offering something utterly new.
A Symphony for the Ages—and for the Fans
This Tokyo concert marked the first time the SM Classics series performed overseas. What began in 2020 as SM’s experimental classical and jazz label has grown into a full-on genre-bending celebration of K-pop’s musical depth. With orchestras, idols, and nostalgia converging, it wasn’t just a concert—it was a love letter to 30 years of Hallyu history.
As one fan at the show said, “It felt like watching the soundtrack of my youth played live—by a symphony!”
If this is how SM embraces 30 years, we can’t wait to hear what 40 sounds like.
