Music festivals gear up for summer season

Music festivals are gearing up for the summer season with artists of various genres from around the world set to ignite the summer in Korea, transcending borders and bringing diverse musical experiences. The Seoul Jazz Festival 2024, celebrating its 16th edition this year, will herald festival season on the summer's cusp, from May 31 to June 2. On the festival's opening day, the band Day6 and singer-songwriter and rapper Kik5o will take to the stage along with American singer-songwrite

April 23, 2024

Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre's iconic 'Ilmu' returns

The Seoul Metropolitan Dance Theatre is set to perform its iconic work "One Dance" -- "Ilmu" in Korean -- at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts May 16-19. This is the fourth run since its premiere in 2022, following a second run in Seoul and a performance in New York in 2023. In July last year, the SMDT was invited to perform at New York’s Lincoln Center during the “Korean Arts Week,” one of the highlights of the Lincoln Center's annual summer fe

April 22, 2024

[Herald Review] Xdinary Heroes showcase 5-month project, teases new album

The six-piece-band Xdinary Heroes kicked off a five-month-long project with the solo concert “Closed beta ver. 6” on Sunday, which continued from Friday for three days. The concert, which took place at Yes24 Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, comes after successfully wrapping up the sextets’ first world tour last month. Xdinary Heroes, a rock band that debuted in 2021 under JYP Entertainment's sub-label Studio J, will showcase a five-month-long “2024 Xperiment Project&rdquo

April 22, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Romeo and Juliet for, and about, a new generation,' says Matthew Bourne

Renowned British choreographer Matthew Bourne's "Romeo and Juliet" is set to make its Korean premiere at the LG Arts Center in Seoul from May 8 to May 19. This contemporary reimagining of Shakespeare’s tragic romance and Prokofiev’s ballet masterpiece takes the audience to the near future at the Verona Institute, an imaginary reformatory for young people that is tightly watched over by security guards. In a written interview with The Korea Herald on Thursday, Bourne de

April 21, 2024

[Herald Interview] Lim Yunchan: Chopin album feels like long-awaited eruption

When practicing for the recording of his first solo album, "Chopin Etudes," which was released internationally on April 19, Lim Yunchan, the youngest winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, paid meticulous attention to each note. He would assess whether they could strike his heart, sometimes spending several hours to perfect just two measures. “When you press the first note, if it doesn't strike your heart, then it's not practice, right? So,

April 19, 2024

Popular foreign acts make return trips this summer

From pop to rock, foreign artists are gearing up to entertain Korean fans this summer. Japanese singer Lisa will hold her first solo concert in Korea in July. The upcoming concert is part of her Asian tour. It will take place on July 20 at Korea University's Hwajeong Gymnasium. Tickets sold out in just three minutes, demonstrating Korean fans' interest in the singer-songwriter. Lisa debuted with the mini-album "Letters to U" in 2011. In 2018, she gained widespread recognition

April 18, 2024

Bolshoi Ballet gala show in Seoul canceled

A gala ballet concert featuring the principal dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet has been canceled. The performance, newly titled “Super Ballet Concert of Ballet & Model 2024 in Seoul” from the initial title “Bolshoi Ballet Gala Concert 2024 in Seoul,” was scheduled to be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Tuesday to Friday. The cancellation came after the organizer’s proposal for alterations to the show’s cast and program was rejected by th

April 16, 2024

Busan One Asia Festival moves up to June

The Busan One Asia Festival, celebrating its eighth edition this year, will take place over two days on June 8 and 9. BOF is hosted by the Busan city government and organized by the Busan Tourism Organization. On the first day of the festival, the BOF Big Concert, featuring various K-pop artists, will be held at the Busan Asiad Main Stadium, while on June 9, the Park Concert will take place at Hwamyeong Eco Park. The lineup for the Park Concert has not yet been announced yet. The BOF Big Concert

April 16, 2024

[Herald Interview] Master organist Ben van Oosten to bring 'deep feeling of spirituality' to concerts

Dutch organist Ben van Oosten, 69, has devoted his life to the instrument ever since his first appointment as a church organist at the age of 11. His father, an amateur organist and pianist, would take him to organ concerts in The Hague and to different churches where he played. His first impression of the instrument’s sound was overwhelming, and it soon became his favorite instrument. “Due to its almost limitless sound colors and dynamic possibilities, the organ is capable of provok

April 16, 2024

SSF: 19 and still going strong

Why do artists return to the annual Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, which is staging its 19th edition this year? Pianist Park Sang-wook and violinist Danny Koo, who have performed at the festival for several years, said that it’s a festival that offers valuable opportunities for artists and audiences alike. “Soloists spend a lot of time practicing alone and critiquing themselves, which can lead to feelings of depression. While I can express my emotions and colors during perfo

April 15, 2024

Seoul Metropolitan Theatre presents Ibsen's wintry family drama, 'John'

The Borkman family's fortunes have been drained following the imprisonment of former banker John Gabriel Borkman. After eight years behind bars and another eight years in solitude, Borkman obsessively dreams of making his comeback. Meanwhile, his wife, Gunhild, insists on restoring the family name. When her sister, Ella, arrives unannounced, the three engage in a fierce battle over young Erhart Borkman, driven by their own obsessions. The story comes from Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen&#

April 9, 2024

Jazz singer Nah Youn-sun to mark 30th debut anniversary with concert

Korean jazz singer Nah Youn-sun will mark the 30th anniversary of her debut with a concert. Nah's concert, "Elles," will take place on April 17 at the Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The concert is titled after her 12th album released in January which commemorated her 30th year as a jazz musician. Nah's latest album is dedicated to influential female musicians who have had an impact on her musical career. The album features songs by legendary singers such as Nina Sim

April 9, 2024

Legendary DJ, producers to play at World DJ Festival

South Korea's World DJ Festival has announced a lineup that includes legendary DJs and producers. This year's festival will mark the first visit to Korea by Swedish DJ Eric Prydz, renowned as one of the top progressive house and techno producers. Prydz, whose hits include "Call on Me" and "Pjanoo," will also take to the stage with dazzling lights, visuals, and special effects. Also in the lineup are The Chainsmokers, known for their hits in Korea, Alok, who ranked f

April 9, 2024

Korean National Ballet to perform ‘Season; Spring’ in London this week

The Korean National Ballet is set to perform "Season; Spring" in London this week. The performance comes at the invitation of the Royal Ballet for the KNB to participate in the International Draft Works 2024, jointly hosted by the Royal Opera House and the Royal Ballet. The KNB is scheduled to perform at the Linbury Theater, on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The International Draft Works serves as a platform where the Royal Ballet, together with various international companies, pres

April 9, 2024

National Dance Company's 'Book of the Dead' to journey beyond the veil

Empty-eyed female dancers gracefully whirl around, their movements intertwined with pounding beats. The scene reinterprets the traditional ritual of ground hardening of burial to protect the resting place from outside intrusion. Set to premiere at Haeoreum Grand Theater on April 25 where it will run through April 27, “Book of the Dead” is the latest work by the National Dance Company of Korea, affiliated with the National Theater of Korea. Choreographed by the state dance company

April 8, 2024

[Herald Review] ONF mark new start with concert, new album

ONF returned to the stage after a hiatus brought on by military service, presenting an energetic performance. The six-member group performed a stand-alone concert, dubbed “Spotlight,” at the KBS Arena, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on Saturday and Sunday. Dressed in sparkling white suits, the group kicked off the concert with a series of charismatic songs including "New World," "Ugly Dance," and "Gucci," setting the tone for the concert. "I've been waitin

April 8, 2024

AKMU to mark 10th anniversary with concert

K-pop sibling duo AKMU will hold a concert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the band's debut. According to YG Entertainment, AKMU will host the "AKMU 10th Anniversary Concert 10VE" on June 15-16 at the KSPO Dome. The venue, located at the Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, can accommodate approximately 15,000 spectators. The concert title, "10VE," combines the word "Love" with the number 10, symbolizing AKMU's 10th anniversary. The agency stated that AKM

April 7, 2024

Korean National Ballet to premiere John Neumeier's 'Little Mermaid' in Korea

The Korean National Ballet is gearing up for the highly anticipated Korean premiere of John Neumeier's adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" at the Seoul Arts Center from May 1 through 5. Neumeier, who has been the director and chief choreographer of Hamburg Ballet based in Germany since 1973, is widely acknowledged as one of today's foremost choreographers. He has crafted more than 170 works so far, bearing his distinctive interpretation of classic narratives. Neumeier will vis

April 5, 2024

[Herald Interview] Countertenor Philippe Jaroussky to go on spiritual journey of 'St. Matthew Passion'

In the upcoming performances of “St. Matthew Passion,” BWV 244 by J.S. Bach, in South Korea, renowned countertenor Philippe Jaroussky will join forces with the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra conducted by Francesco Corti. Jaroussky will sing “Erbarme dich” in the three-hour-long performance. “I’ve been working specifically on this aria for more than 6 months! I think the difficulty is to express the powerful expression of regret and the dramatic aspect of it, wit

April 2, 2024

[Herald Interview] 'Age is not a limit,' says young cast of changgeuk 'Lear'

Among Shakespeare's tragedies, "King Lear" stands out for its portrayal of one of the oldest protagonists. Betrayed by his daughters, losing his kingdom, his sanity, and ultimately his life, the stage is filled with the anguished cries of a monarch in his twilight years. In a groundbreaking departure from convention, young "changgeuk" performers took the lead roles in the sold-out production of "Lear" by the National Changgeuk Company, affiliated with the Natio

April 2, 2024