Emerging choreographers to unveil new works at 'Next Step'

The third edition of the “Next Step” series of the National Dance Company of Korea, which aims to support emerging choreographers, is scheduled to unveil its final works in late April. Three choreographers selected in October last year -- two from the NDCK and one from outside of the organization -- have since been developing their own dance choreographies through comprehensive workshops with mentors from various fields including stage design, costume design, choreography and perform

April 4, 2023

[From the scene] Tongyeong International Music Festival 2023: Back in full bloom

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- As the audience awaits the 21st Tongyeong Festival Orchestra’s first performance to kick off Friday evening, a sudden burst of applause erupts from one side of the audience. Stealing the thunder was former President Moon Jae-in, in attendance at the controversial music festival founded to commemorate the late composer Yun I-sang. In his first time visiting the festival, Moon paid respects to Yun at his tomb, located right next to the Tongyeong concer

April 2, 2023

Transcending boundaries, Tongyeong's leading musical festival returns

TONGYEONG, South Gyeongsang Province -- South Korea’s leading classical music event, the “Tongyeong International Music Festival,” kicked off Friday with the theme “Beyond Borders.” The festival's 21st installment, led by Korean composer Chin Unsuk as the music director for the second year, runs until April 9, featuring renowned domestic and international musicians and unique programs. “Beyond Borders” embodies Chin’s intentions to transcend

March 31, 2023

New performances from Arko Selection available online

New performances created with support from the Arts Council Korea will be released through Naver’s TV Live through July. A total of 20 works to be streamed include plays, musicals, dance, music, opera and traditional performances from the 28 works that were selected for the Arko Selection and staged at Arko Arts Theater and Daehakro Arts Theater in Jongno-gu. “The Designer of the Labyrinth,” a play available on April 25, centers on three different characters whose lives intertw

March 28, 2023

[Herald Interview] Osmo Vanska offers delayed farewell with last part of Sibelius cycle

Conductor Osmo Vanska, who led the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra for three years until last year, is returning to Korea to conclude the Sibelius cycle. Unfortunately, his tenure coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, and in early December last year, he suffered a fall that shattered his pelvis and broke his right shoulder. After spending several weeks recovering, the 70-year-old conductor progressed to a wheelchair and by the end of January he was able to conduct while seated. This incident change

March 25, 2023

National Contemporary Dance Company to take audience on sensory journey through 'Caveae'

The National Contemporary Dance Company of Korea is scheduled to premiere “Caveae,” an experimental dance that has been two years in the making, in April. The word, “caveae,” is Latin for dark empty spaces and cavities such as holes or hollow caves. The dance explores the space of theater, where artistic ideas and experiences overlap. Instead of being seated in the seats, the audience of some 200 people will be moved to the stage where 39 dancers will perform. As the audi

March 24, 2023

[Herald Review] 'Six' nods to modern-day divas in 'herstory' of King Henry VIII's wives

“Six the Musical” is about the six wives of King Henry VIII, who ruled England from 1509 until his death in 1547. Through the creative process of young playwrights Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the six women have been brought to life, finding their voices to tell “herstory” instead of "history," which portrays them as nothing but the unfortunate wives of the king, only to be remembered by the rhyme -- "divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.&

March 22, 2023

Tenor Ha Man-teak presents recital tour

South Korean tenor Ha Man-teak will embark on a recital tour for the first time in 11 years. Starting from Jeonju, North Jeolla Province on Wednesday, the singer-turned-businessman will bring his recital to Daejeon on Thursday and to Seoul on Saturday before bringing the tour to a close at Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Tuesday. Under the title “Se Ti Manca,” an Italian phrase meaning “Do you miss it?” in English, Ha will sing various songs like F.P. Tosti’s “

March 22, 2023

Doosan Humanities Theater marks 10th anniversary with program on age, generations

An exhibition, three plays and eight lectures under the theme of "Age, Age, Age" make up this year's annual program at the Doosan Humanities Theater, which showcases exhibitions, plays and lectures that explore contemporary themes. The programmed events will take place at the Doosan Art Center and Doosan Gallery in Jongno-gu, Seoul, from April 3 to July 15. “Korea is an aging society. We are living longer while the birth rate is dropping," said Doosan Humanities Theater

March 21, 2023

Cho Yong-pil to hold solo concert in May

Pop legend Cho Yong-pil, who is widely known as “Gawang” -- the king of singing or pop music in Korean -- will hold a solo concert in Seoul on May 13, the concert’s organizer announced Tuesday. Titled “2023 Cho Yong-pil & the Great Birth Concert,” the concert is set to be held at the Seoul Olympic Stadium inside the Olympics sports complex in Jamsil, southern Seoul. The Great Birth is a band that has worked with Cho at his concerts since 1979. This is Cho'

March 21, 2023

[Herald Review] 'Korea Emotion': a blend of gugak, hanbok and ballet

It's difficult to express emotions, especially when the emotion itself isn't clearly defined by language. In Korea, there’s a complex, multi-faceted emotion called “jeong,” which is deeply rooted in Korean culture. "Jeong" is often described as a feeling of affection or attachment that arises from a sense of emotional connection. It is sometimes characterized by feelings of warmth, fondness or longing and yearning for someone or something. But after watching

March 20, 2023

Top spring chamber music festival to highlight bigger ensembles

The Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, a highly anticipated annual event led by violinist Kang Dong-suk, is set to return bigger this May with the theme, "The More, The Merrier!," featuring larger ensembles than in previous years. Going beyond traditional small chamber music ensembles, this year’s festival will offer a variety of sextets, septets and octets, according to the festival's organizers on Monday. The festival will commence April 26 at the Sejong Center for th

March 20, 2023

[Herald Interview] Universal Ballet's 'Korea Emotion' captures 'jeong' through ballet

The Universal Ballet is set to capture the unique emotion of “jeong” through the language of ballet expressed with traditional Korean music in "Korea Emotion," which kicks off the company's 2023 season this week. “Korea Emotion,” choreographed by the company's artistic director Liu Bingxian, will be performed at the Haeoreum Grand Theater from Friday to Sunday. “Jeong” is an emotion for which it is hard to find an English equivalent. It is

March 14, 2023

Pianist Son Yeol-eum releases Mozart complete piano sonatas album with recitals

It was an impulsive decision to start recording Mozart's piano sonatas, as the opportunity only presented itself due to the availability of time and place. However, as Son Yeol-eum began recording at the Tongyeong Concert Hall in January, she felt as though she had returned home and she decided to finish the complete collection of Mozart’s 18 sonatas. The pianist's ninth album, "Yeol Eum Son: Mozart Complete Piano Sonatas," is being released Friday. Even though it felt

March 14, 2023

Four top classical musicians to showcase duo dynamism

Four top classical musicians, including recent international competition winners Yang In-mo and Choi Ha-young, will showcase their virtuosity and harmony as a duo. Yang In-mo, 28, the double winner of two prestigious competitions, and Kim Da-sol, also with an impressive track record, join forces to perform Webern’s Four Pieces for Violin and Piano, Op. 7, Brahms’ Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major, Op. 78, Furrer’s Lied for Violin and Piano (1993) and Beethoven’s Sona

March 14, 2023

Paris Opera Ballet announces its first Black 'etoile' in Seoul

The Paris Opera Ballet has appointed Guillaume Diop to its highest “etoile” title, marking the first time a black dancer has reached the top rank of honor reserved for just a handful of dancers in the company's 354-year history. "In the life of the dancers at the Paris Opera Ballet, there is a rare and collective moment which we share with the public at the end of the performance,” said director Jose Martinez in making the announcement on stage after Diop’s perf

March 13, 2023

BLACKPINK sets Guinness world record for most-streamed girl group on Spotify

K-pop girl group BLACKPINK was inscribed on the Guinness World Records as the most-streamed girl group on Spotify in the world, the group's agency said Saturday. The band's songs had garnered 8.88 billion streams as of March 3, breaking the previous record of 8.4 billion streams set by the British girl group Little Mix, YG Entertainment said, citing the announcement from the Guinness World Records. "Shut Down," the main single off BLACKPINK's second full-length album, to

March 11, 2023

Rachmaninoff gets spotlight to mark 150th anniversary of his birth

Sergei Rachmaninoff's music holds a special place in the hearts of many Koreans, with his Piano Concerto No. 2 consistently ranking among the top five classical music pieces in surveys conducted by KBS Classic FM in 1982, 2009, 2016 and 2021. The Piano Concerto No. 3 has become more familiar for Korean audiences after Korean pianist Lim Yun-chan's captivating performance during the final of the 2022 Van Cliburn International Competition. The video of his performance on YouTube has garn

March 9, 2023

[Herald Interview] Jung Jae-il: Breaking barriers beyond international success

Music director, composer and instrumentalist Jung Jae-il gained international recognition with his musical work for critically acclaimed films and TV dramas such as “Okja” (2017), “Parasite” (2019) and “Squid Game" (2021). In Korea, the 41-year-old has been making his mark on the industry for 25 years since his debut at 17. Jung is currently working with movie director Bong Joon-ho for his next film ‘Mickey 17.’ He recently had the opportunity to wo

March 8, 2023

Paris Opera Ballet's 'Giselle' to capture essence of romantic French ballet

The Paris Opera Ballet, one of the leading ballet companies in the world, is set to stage “Giselle,” an iconic French romantic ballet, from Wednesday to Saturday. The oldest national ballet company in the world premiered the piece in 1841, and will be performing in Korea for the first time in 30 years. The same piece was performed in Korea in 1993. “‘Giselle’ is a performance that best captures the characteristics of French ballet,” said Jose Martinez, directo

March 7, 2023