An extraordinary musical event took place at Myongji Hospital in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday afternoon when two world-renowned musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra delivered an intimate performance for patients, caregivers, and medical staff. Albrecht Mayer, the orchestra's principal oboist, and Amihai Grosz, the first principal violist, performed alongside harpsichordist Arend Grosfeld in an unusual chamber music setting featuring oboe, viola, and harpsichord – a rare instrumental combination seldom heard in traditional performances.
The two Berlin Philharmonic musicians had arrived in Korea just one day earlier to begin the orchestra's highly anticipated Asian tour. Despite suffering from jet lag, both Mayer and Grosz chose to dedicate their first afternoon in the country to performing for the hospital community, bringing world-class music to an audience that rarely has access to such prestigious performers. While large hospitals occasionally host charity concerts featuring amateur or professional musicians, this particular event took the audience completely by surprise given the international stature of the performers.
For Mayer, who has served as the Berlin Philharmonic's principal oboist for nearly 34 years, this hospital visit carried deep personal significance beyond mere charitable performance. The renowned musician became a patient at Myongji Hospital through his decades-long friendship with two Korean doctors, which ultimately led him to undergo a hair transplant procedure at the facility. "The photo of me on the poster behind me was taken before I got a hair transplant," Mayer joked during the performance, drawing laughter from the audience that had gathered in the hospital lobby.
Mayer underwent an extensive hair transplant procedure involving approximately 4,300 grafts in July of last year under the care of Dr. Hwang Sung-joo, a leading hair transplant specialist who also happens to be a classical music enthusiast. The musician's connection to Korean medicine began about 20 years ago when he first met Dr. Hwang, who heads Myongji Hospital's Hair Center, through their mutual friend Dr. Yoo Jung-woo, a cardiothoracic surgeon and music critic.
The decision to undergo the hair transplant procedure wasn't taken lightly by the world-class musician. Mayer admitted that his interest in hair restoration grew in recent years after witnessing successful cases among some of his colleagues in the music world. However, he remained hesitant about the procedure until his trusted friend Dr. Yoo encouraged him to move forward with Dr. Hwang's treatment. "I have friends working in this field whom I completely trust. If I had not had friends working in this very special field, I would not have been convinced," Mayer explained to The Korea Herald on Thursday before the concert.
Mayer's trust in his Korean medical team was so complete that he even received a follow-up treatment on his forehead shortly after arriving in Korea on Wednesday, just two days before the orchestra's first scheduled performance. Remarkably, by the following morning, he was back in rehearsal for the hospital concert without experiencing any discomfort from the recent procedure. Dr. Hwang, who performs roughly 200 hair transplant procedures annually with many of his patients being celebrities and musicians, said he finds the greatest reward in seeing his patients regain their confidence after treatment.
"I've seen many musicians regain joy and confidence after the procedure, and I thought Mayer would, too. And he really did – he looked genuinely happy," Dr. Hwang told The Korea Herald. The specialist's expertise and understanding of the unique needs of performing artists has made him a trusted choice for musicians who require both excellent results and discretion.
Maintaining good health and restoring one's sense of well-being represents values that Mayer holds deeply, extending far beyond his personal care decisions. In 2011, the accomplished musician established the Albrecht Mayer Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting research and advancing therapies for retinal and optic nerve disorders. This cause holds particular significance for Mayer as a musician whose successful career depends heavily on his eyesight for reading complex musical scores and coordinating with fellow orchestra members.
Regarding his decision to undergo hair restoration, Mayer acknowledged that his family had told him the procedure was unnecessary, insisting they loved him exactly as he was. However, he explained that the decision was ultimately about personal satisfaction and self-image. "But it's about satisfying the person in the mirror," he noted. "I think a majority of men are concerned about their hair. It's about restoring your old self – and I think that's good." This honest reflection reveals the human side of a world-class performer who, despite his international acclaim, faces the same personal concerns as many others.
While restoring confidence certainly helps him during stage performances, Mayer emphasized that the greatest energy he receives comes directly from his audience, whether they're seated in a hospital lobby or filling a grand concert hall. "As a musician, we live through the positive energy coming from the audience. If I make the people in the audience happy, they will make me happy," he explained. "When Dr. Hwang suggested a concert, I happily accepted." This philosophy of mutual exchange between performer and audience clearly motivated his decision to perform at the hospital despite his busy tour schedule.
After successfully uplifting an audience of patients and hospital staff with their healing music, Mayer and his Berlin Philharmonic colleagues are now ready to begin their historic Korean tour. From Friday through Sunday, the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra will make history by performing their first-ever three-night run in Korea, with all performances conducted by their chief conductor Kirill Petrenko. This unprecedented extended engagement represents a significant milestone for Korean classical music audiences and marks the culmination of the orchestra's Asian tour.
