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Jonas Kaufmann brings intimacy of art songs, grandeur of opera
Celebrated tenor to perform two concerts in Seoul next month Ten years have passed since Jonas Kaufmann's triumphant Korea debut, a performance that garnered over 30 curtain calls and five encores. Next month, the celebrated tenor returns to Seoul, presenting two concerts -- one dedicated to German lieder, or art songs, and one focused on opera arias. On March 4, Kaufmann will present a program that reflects his deep, decadeslong passion for German lieder, a genre he describes as having a unique
Feb. 17, 2025 -
On board with ‘Manseon’: 5 tons of rain cascading down on stage
National Theater Company of Korea to open season with 'Manseon' in March The National Theater Company of Korea kicks off its 2025 season with “Manseon: The Yearning of a Fisherman,” a landmark work in Korean realism drama, set to run from March 6 to 30 at Myeongdong Theater. First staged in 1964, “Manseon” portrays the struggles of working-class families overshadowed by industrialism, centering on the tragic downfall of a household caught between economic desperation and an unyielding pride in t
Feb. 16, 2025 -
Heo Nanseolheon's timeless poetry lives on in new contemporary ballet work
Contemporary ballet ‘Heo Nan Seol Heon’ at Gangneung Arts Center this week Heo Nanseolheon (1563–1589), whose real name was Heo Cho-hui, is a beloved figure in Korean poetry. She left behind more than 200 timeless poems. Her works, however, emerged from the harsh realities of a tragic life lived in an era when women’s talents were often overlooked. She lived a life marked by neglect from her husband, the fall from grace of her family and the sorrow of losing two children in infancy. A recent art
Feb. 13, 2025 -
Korean teen ballerino describes Prix de Lausanne as 'transformative experience'
16-year-old Park Youn-jae becomes first Korean male ballet dancer to win prestigious award Ballet dancer Park Youn-jae described winning the prestigious Prix de Lausanne as a precious experience that brought him “closer to ballet.” "Ballet is something you can spend years doing and still struggle to feel connected to," Park said at a press conference held at Arts Center Seoul Doam in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. "Every now and then, a rare opportunity comes along to bridge that gap, and for me,
Feb. 13, 2025 -
GS Arts Center in Seoul to open April with American Ballet Theatre show
Located in former LG Arts Center in southern Seoul, new performing arts center to focus on interdisciplinary artists “GS Arts Center is looking for its audience,” said Sunny Park, CEO of the soon-to-open GS Arts Center, at a press conference on Tuesday. The new performing arts venue, poised to raise its curtain in April, occupies the former home of LG Arts Center Yeoksam, which relocated to Magok in 2022. It is housed within GS Tower, near Yeoksam Station in Seoul’s Gangnam District. With a remo
Feb. 12, 2025 -
Fujita Mao, inspired by Korean musicians and culture, excited to present his first recital
26-year-old Japanese virtuoso discusses expanding his repertoire beyond Mozart and distancing from social media Japan’s rising pianist Fujita Mao has gained international acclaim for his interpretations of Mozart, including a highly praised recording of the complete Mozart Piano Sonatas, his debut album released in October 2022. Having performed the complete sonatas at major venues like the Verbier Festival, Wigmore Hall, and concert halls across Japan, Fujita, 26, is now set to showcase a diffe
Feb. 11, 2025 -
Libertines to hold first-ever Korean concert
British rock band to play in Seoul in April British rock band The Libertines will hold their first concert in Korea on April 9 at 8 p.m. at Yes24 Live Hall in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, as announced by event organizer MPMG. Emerging as an influential band in the postpunk revival movement of the early 2000s, The Libertines debuted in 2002 with the single "What a Waster / I Get Along." Their first full-length album, "Up the Bracket," released later that year, earning them recognition for best new band at
Feb. 11, 2025 -
Unfamiliar with classical music? Violinist Danny Koo is eager to reach out to you
With matinee concert series at Lotte Concert Hall, versatile Korean American musician hopes to make classical music more approachable Korean American violinist Danny Koo has become a familiar face on South Korean television, particularly through his appearances on “I Live Alone.” For younger audiences, he serves as a classical music guide, hosting the “Pinkfong Classical Music” series, where he and Pinkfong introduce children to the world of classical music. He participates in these activities t
Feb. 10, 2025 -
Fuerza Bruta's lastest spectacle 'Aven' to land in Seoul next month
The renowned Argentinian theater production series "Fuerza Bruta" is returning to Seoul in March with its latest installment, "Fuerza Bruta: Aven." Known for its high-energy performances that blur the lines between dance, acrobatics and immersive theater, Fuerza Bruta delivers a one-of-a-kind night out. Seoul is the first stop in the troupe’s Asia tour and its first visit to Korea since the "Wayra" tour in 2023. Since its Korean debut in 2013, the Fuerza Bruta series has drawn over 300,000 spect
Feb. 10, 2025 -
Werther an emotional challenge for Kim Min-seok
Playing eponymous role in 25th anniversary staging of 'Werther,' Kim promises to keep growing as stage performer Kim Min-seok's latest musical role takes a lot out of him. While playing the titular character in "Werther" doesn’t physically exhaust him, the lead singer of Korean indie duo MeloMance admits he feels emotionally drained after each performance -- especially given the intense sobbing and crying onstage. It's just his second role as a musical theater performer, but, perhaps buoyed by h
Feb. 9, 2025 -
Ballerino Park Youn-jae wins 53rd Prix de Lausanne
16-year-old becomes first Korean ballerino to win the pretigious award Park Youn-jae, a 16 year-old ballerino, became the first South Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne 2025, a prestigious competition for young ballet dancers aged 15 to 18. After the six-day event, the Prix de Lausanne 2025 on Saturday announced nine scholarship recipients selected from 20 finalists. Park, a student of Seoul Arts High School, also took home the Best Young Talent Award. Another Korean dancer Kim Bo-gy
Feb. 9, 2025 -
Gonjiam Music Festival to mark 10th anniversary
Festival of wind instruments will host audition project with Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Academy Gonjiam International Music Festival will mark its 10th anniversary this year with a special program. Scheduled to take place from Aug. 2 to Aug. 9 at Namhansanseong Art Hall in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, the festival aims to become a leading wind instrument festival in Asia. As part of the festival, a collaborative audition project with the Berlin Philharmonic Karajan Academy will take place. Condu
Feb. 6, 2025 -
[Photo News] Ushering in Seollal with uplifting traditional spirit
Concert features prestigious traditional performing arts institutions On Wednesday afternoon, more than 1,000 spectators gathered at the Haeoreum Theater of the National Theater of Korea to celebrate Seollal, the Lunar New Year, enjoying a variety of Korean traditional performing arts. The concert, hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and organized by the National Gugak Center and the National Theater of Korea, showcased performances by prestigious traditional performing arts in
Feb. 5, 2025 -
Turning poetry into song: ARKO Selection reimagines modern classics
Arts Council Korea has announced the lineup of the 17th ARKO Selection, a series of performances to be held this month, mostly in the popular theater district of Daehak-ro. Among the highlights is "Namdo Sori Recites Poetry: Why Did My Love Fall Silent?," set to run from Friday to Sunday. This performance weaves together the distinctive melodies and rhythms of Namdo folk music with seven modern poems, including Han Yong-un’s iconic "Love’s Silence" (1926). Seven pansori singers, including star p
Feb. 5, 2025 -
Musical about the tragic last empress of Joseon marks 30th anniversary
'The Last Empress,' a pioneering original musical, celebrates 2 million attendees In 1982, Korean producer Yun Ho-jin traveled to the UK to study theater, and there he saw the musical "Cats." The experience was a revelation, Yun recalled, sparking the realization that South Korea would embrace the genre and needed its own original musical theater productions. When he came back to Korea four years later, he wanted to create a production that could be a global success. Around that time, there was
Feb. 5, 2025