Rising pansori stars bring 'Chunhyang' to 'Peerless Pansori'

The fourth installment of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea's "Peerless Pansori" series returns this weekend with emerging "pansori" performers Cho Yu-ah and Kim Soo-in. The shows, scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the Daloreum Theater, were sold out soon after tickets sales opened. The "Peerless Pansori" concert series was launched in 2021 to create opportunities for young and emerging pansori singers to explore the music and mise-en-scenes with conte

May 13, 2024

Popular online game soundtracks rearranged as traditional music

The soundtracks of popular online games such as Black Desert and Lineage have been rearranged as traditional Korean music. The National Gugak Center is unveiling a series of single albums titled "National Gugak Center x Game Sound Series," which rearranges 13 popular game melodies into traditional Korean music, starting from last Thursday to May 24. Among the tracks are theme songs and background music from Lies of P, Skul, Sanabi, MapleStory, TalesWeaver, Epic Seven, Lost Ark, Guardia

May 12, 2024

BTS’ ‘Dynamite’ certified 5X platinum in US

BTS’ digital single “Dynamite” has reached a new milestone in the US. According to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the digital single released in August 2020 was certified with "5X Platinum" for recording more than 5 million units of download sales. This is BTS' first 5X platinum certification from RIAA. The K-pop sensation currently has a total of nine platinum certifications from RIAA for its singles including “Idol,” “Bo

May 12, 2024

Olivia Rodrigo to hold concert in Korea

American pop star Olivia Rodrigo will hold her first concert in South Korea in September. Rodrigo will perform at Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, Seoul on Sept. 20, according to the concert planning agency Bonboo Entertainment. Born in 2003, Rodrigo rose to stardom in 2021 with “Drivers License,” her debut single and lead single of her first studio album, which topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The track "Sour," released in the same year, stayed in the top 10 of the Billboard al

May 10, 2024

Universal Ballet marks 40th anniversary with 'Romeo and Juliet'

Universal Ballet is set to perform choreographer Kenneth MacMillan's Royal Ballet production "Romeo and Juliet" this weekend, marking the South Korean ballet company's 40th anniversary. Among many adaptations, MacMillan's rendition with Sergei S. Prokofiev’s music stands out for its faithful portrayal of Shakespeare's original tragedy. Since its Korean premiere in 1983 by the Royal Ballet, Universal Ballet has secured performance rights, staging the production

May 9, 2024

Dance drama 'Modern Jeongdong' travels back to early 1900s

In the 1920s, a "modern breeze" swept through Gyeongseong, as today's Seoul was called during the Japanese colonial period. Leading this movement were Korean women who earned the moniker "modern girls" for embracing Western attire, wearing suits and high heels and adopting progressive thinking. Breathing life into the bygone streets of Jeongdong, where this modern wind first stirred, is the National Jeongdong Theater with its latest dance drama, "Modern Jeongdong.&q

May 3, 2024

Ahn So-hee makes theatrical debut with 'Closer'

K-pop artist-turned-actor Ahn So-hee made her theatrical debut on April 23, playing a leading role in the play "Closer." The play, written by British playwright Patrick Marber, premiered in London in 1997 before being adapted into a 2004 film featuring Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Clive Owen and Natalie Portman. Set in modern-day London, "Closer" delves into the intertwining relationships of four main characters -- Alice, Dan, Anna and Larry -- as they fall in and out of love. Ah

May 3, 2024

Questions raised over fair promotion of RM, NewJeans

K-pop fans are raising concern over Hybe's promotional activities for BTS member RM and girl group NewJeans, as they are each set to make a comeback with new albums in May, amid an ongoing conflict between Hybe and Min Hee-jin, the CEO of Ador sublabel under Hybe. BTS and NewJeans are boy and girl groups under Big Hit Music and Ador, respectively, which both fall under the Hybe umbrella. They are considered the “beloved kids” of their producers Bang Si-hyuk and Min, who have r

May 2, 2024

Free jazz concerts and camping in Gwacheon

Gwacheon will present free outdoor jazz performances this weekend. "Gwacheon Jazz Picnic," featuring a variety of artists from vocalists to orchestra, will take place on the lawn next to Gwacheon Citizens' Hall May 3-4. This event, combining jazz performances with camping, "Healing Campnic Day," is being introduced for the first time this year. On May 13, the 17-member Hoo Kim Big Band, led by jazz bassist Kim Young-hoo will kick off the event, followed by Lazykuma &

May 1, 2024

National Orchestra of Korea to savor tunes and wine in outdoor concerts

“Pungnyu” in Korean literally means “wind flowing.” It encompasses a multifaceted concept such as harmony with nature, artistic flair, musical appreciation, leisurely stylish indulgence and being free-spirited enough to revel in life’s pleasures. During the Joseon era (1392–1910), the aristocracy considered entertainment as a chance to visit majestic mountains and pristine rivers, and write verses describing nature's beauty and their sentiments, accompani

April 30, 2024

Simon Stone sets 'The Cherry Orchard' in turbulent Korean society

Jeon Do-yeon and Park Hae-soo are each making a return to the stage in June with world-renowned director Simon Stone’s new production of “The Cherry Orchard.” Celebrated for his deconstruction and reinterpretation of classics such as “Medea” and “Ibsen House,” Stone infuses Anton Chekhov’s tragicomedy with his visionary touch, setting the stage against the backdrop of present-day Korea. Chekhov’s narrative, set in a rapidly changing society,

April 29, 2024

Lim Yunchan announces change of program for June recitals

Star pianist Lim Yunchan has announced changes to the program for his upcoming June recitals. Initially slated to feature works by Frederic Chopin, the program "has been changed at the artist's request," said his Korean management, MOC Production, via Instagram on Friday. "In order to respect and support the artist's enthusiasm for the new program and musical judgment, as the performance organizer, we have decided to change the program," it said. The initial lineup

April 28, 2024

Korean premiere of Neumeier's 'The Little Mermaid' brings tale of love, sacrifice to stage

The Korean National Ballet is gearing up for the eagerly awaited Korean premiere of John Neumeier's adaptation of "The Little Mermaid" at the Seoul Arts Center, scheduled for May 1-5. Neumeier, widely acknowledged as one of today's foremost choreographers, has lead the world-renowned Hamburg Ballet since 1973 as its director and chief choreographer. With a prolific career spanning over five decades, he has crafted more than 170 pieces. Currently in Seoul overseeing the KNB&#

April 24, 2024

Pianist Cho Seong-Jin named Berlin Philharmonic's artist-in-residence

Pianist Cho Seong-Jin has been named the artist-in-residence of the prestigious Berlin Philharmonic for the 2024-25 season. The announcement of the appointment posted on the German orchestra's website on Wednesday said Cho will present five programs during his residency, which includes programs with the Berlin Philharmonic, collaborations with members of the orchestra, chamber music concerts and a solo recital featuring the complete piano works of Maurice Ravel. In October this year, Cho wi

April 24, 2024

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