JAKARTA — An unusually refreshing sight greeted visitors at the Ciputra Artpreneur lobby this past weekend. While orchestral performances are typically synonymous with rigid, formal atmospheres, TRUST Orchestra successfully transformed the venue into a full-blown K-Pop fandom festival.
From the welcoming “Annyeong (안녕)” sign at the entrance to the bustling official merchandise booths and local food stands catering to hungry concert-goers, the vibe was undeniably electric. Yet, it was a poetic little easter egg that stole the show: tucked right behind a cute duck statue—a favorite photo spot—sat a paper plane folded out of sheet music. This subtle, magical detail served as a silent prologue to the night, symbolizing classical music preparing to fly across boundaries into the new horizon of pop culture.
Titled “Into the New World: Symphonic Reimagination of K-Pop,” the concert brilliantly bridged two distinct worlds. Led by Music Director and Conductor Dr. Nathania Karina (affectionately known as Kak Nia), the show was far from just playing pop melodies on violins; it was a bold, meticulous exploration of audio arrangements.
Waves of Nostalgia and Dynamic Arrangements
The audience’s emotions were immediately stirred as the grand orchestral arrangement of BIGBANG’s Haru Haru swelled through the theater, leaving many eyes brimming with tears. That somber, nostalgic atmosphere was quickly pivoted by the bright, fun energy of TWICE’s Feel Special, where the distinct chime of the xylophone and the airy trills of the flute added a rich, crisp dimension to the original track.
Audience interaction became a crucial instrument in itself. During NewJeans’ OMG and Super Shy, the backing harmonies of the Trust Chorus blended seamlessly with the crowd’s synchronized clapping and point-dance cheers. Pure goosebumps were delivered during TVXQ’s Mirotic and EXO’s Love Shot. Hearing the thunderous roar of fandom fanchants—especially the iconic “I got you, under my skin”—colliding with sweeping strings and punchy brass sections was an unforgettable sonic experience.
Kak Nia treated the setlist like an emotional rollercoaster. The “K-Pop Kings” medley challenged the crowd to guess the next track, throwing them from 2PM’s Hands Up to SHINee’s Ring Ding Dong and Super Junior’s Sorry Sorry. The queens were equally celebrated with high-octane renditions of 2NE1’s I Am The Best, T-ara’s Roly Poly, and Wonder Girls’ Nobody.
For the vocal purists, a major highlight came from Kak Helena—a dentist from Jogja and the winner of the Trust Mencari online audition—who delivered a breathtaking rendition of IU’s Good Day that earned roaring applause.
Comedy on the Podium: DM Terrors and Fandom Checks
Beyond the majestic arrangements, Kak Nia’s stage banter (ments) successfully broke the ice, proving that a conductor can be just as entertaining with a microphone as with a baton. She jokingly confessed that she deliberately skipped doing an “audience roll-call”—something she previously did for the Hogwarts houses during their Harry Potter concert—out of sheer fear. “For K-Pop, I didn’t dare to do a roll-call, I was afraid of tearing the fandoms apart!” she laughed, earning a massive roar of agreement from the crowd.
Curating a setlist that pleases everyone is a heavy privilege, and Kak Nia candidly admitted the pressure. “The fandoms literally terrorized my DMs just to make sure their songs (EXO) made the cut,” she confessed.
She also shared the origin story of the concert: Red Velvet’s Feel My Rhythm. Played with the magnificent grandeur of its SM Classics arrangement, the track was the spark that ignited the entire K-Pop orchestra concept. “We wanted to deeply appreciate the original songs, but still firmly root them in orchestral elements,” she explained.
From SNSD to the ‘Aju Nice’ Jumping Arena
As the night drew to a close, the emotional dial was turned back up. A sea of glowing lightsticks swayed gently to Jungkook’s Life Goes On, before the orchestra launched an aggressive BLACKPINK medley (Shut Down, How You Like That, Ddu-Du Ddu-Du, Kill This Love). The main set closed with the breathtakingly grand Into the New World (SNSD) and an uplifting Permission to Dance (BTS).
But the biggest surprise was saved for last. Honoring the ultimate SEVENTEEN concert tradition, TRUST Orchestra unleashed Aju Nice as the encore. In an instant, the elegant etiquette of the theater dissolved entirely, transforming the aisles and seats into a massive, high-energy jumping arena.
As Kak Nia wished the audience happiness in her final ment, she noted her hope that the concert would serve as a “new horizon” for the viewers. Watching the crowd leave the theater out of breath, sweating, and smiling from ear to ear, it was clear that TRUST Orchestra didn’t just open a new horizon—they proved that the language of music, whether written on classical sheet music or screamed in a K-Pop fanchant, will always find a way to beautifully collide.
Leave a Reply