-
Lim Yunchan reimagines Tchaikovsky’s 'The Seasons'
Celebrated pianist Lim Yunchan's recording of "June: Barcarolle" was released on major streaming services Friday, ahead of the release of his new album, “Tchaikovsky: The Seasons," Decca Classics announced Friday. "June: Barcarolle" is the sixth track in the album scheduled to be released Aug. 22. The album will be Lim's second album this year, and was recorded at the Menuhin Hall in Surrey, England, on July 31 and Aug. 1, 2024. The recording presents a bold reinterpretation of the Russian compo
June 20, 2025 -
Legends convene: Esa-Pekka Salonen, Krystian Zimerman, New York Philharmonic return to Seoul
After 11 years, the New York Philharmonic returns to Seoul. And after 22 years, pianist Krystian Zimerman finally steps back onto the stage of the Seoul Arts Center. These two long-awaited returns will be joined by Finnish conductor and composer Esa-Pekka Salonen, making for one of the most anticipated events in Korea’s classical music calendar this year. From June 26 to 28, audiences will witness performances that span from Beethoven’s transcendence to Berlioz’s hallucinatory vision, as these m
June 19, 2025 -
Berlin Philharmonic to return to Seoul for three concerts
The Berlin Philharmonic will return to Korea after a two-year absence, this time under the leadership of Kirill Petrenko. For the first time, the orchestra will give three performances in Korea, Nov. 7-9. Korean pianist Kim Sun-wook, who debuted with the Berlin Philharmonic in 2021, will join the orchestra in performing Schumann’s Piano Concerto on Nov. 7 and 9. Also on the program for the two dates are Wagner's "Siegfried Idyll," Schumann’s "Manfred" Overture and Brahms' Symphony No. 1. The Nov
June 18, 2025 -
Sumi Jo, forever in motion: Star soprano nurtures next generation while looking ahead
When South Korean soprano Sumi Jo takes the stage later this month alongside the four winners of the international singing competition named in her honor, the performance will mark far more than a musical collaboration: It will symbolize the fulfillment of her long-held aspiration to support rising vocal talents. “One thing I felt was missing in many singing competitions is the opportunity to actually perform after winning,” Jo told reporters during a press conference held Monday at The Plaza, a
June 16, 2025 -
Interview: ‘Concerned Others’ sheds light on addiction's silent fallout
South Korea is no longer the drug-free society many believe it to be. In 2023, the number of drug-related offenses surpassed 27,000, the highest on record, with a staggering rise among teens and young adults. Korean National Police Agency data for 2018-2023 showed that over 1,400 teens were investigated for drug offenses — more than triple the number from the previous year. Additionally, a recent report from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Thursday showed that methamphetamine has been de
June 13, 2025 -
Interview: Dancing Mongryong, Russian dancer steps into Korea's most romantic role in 'Chunhyang'
In ballet, there is Prince Siegfried in “Swan Lake,” Romeo in “Romeo and Juliet” and, in Universal Ballet’s repertoire, there is Mongryong in “The Love of Chunhyang.” This weekend, Russian-born ballerino Igor Kontarev will step into one of Korea’s most beloved folkloric roles, as the company brings its signature reinterpretation of the classic tale. The production returns to the stage for the first time in three years, with the soloist making history as only the fourth foreign dancer to take on
June 12, 2025 -
Music in PyeongChang returns with timely theme: ‘Inter Harmony’
The 22nd edition of Music in PyeongChang kicks off next month in Gangwon Province, exploring the timely theme of “Inter Harmony," offering 21 mainstage concerts that bridge cultures, eras and musical traditions. Under the direction of cellist Yang Sung-won, the 11-day festival presents music inspired by encounters across cultures and generations. “There’s so much anger building in the world right now. That’s why we need music that channels inspiration — works born from encounters with other regi
June 11, 2025 -
Yes24 down for third day, as ransomware attack disrupts major ticketing, book retail platform
Yes24, the country’s largest online book retailer and a major ticketing platform, remained inaccessible for a third consecutive day Wednesday, following what the company confirmed was a ransomware attack. The outage, which began in the early hours of Monday, brought down all of Yes24’s services, including book searches and orders, e-book access, digital library functions, community forums, and concert and performance ticketing. The homepage displayed an apology: “We sincerely apologize to all us
June 11, 2025 -
Interview: Romance and solidarity in one, a perfect gateway to changgeuk
“The Merchants of Venice,” the changgeuk adaptation of Shakespeare’s famed comedy, returns to the stage two years after its 2023 premiere with renewed focus and deeper camaraderie among its cast. For actors Min Eun-kyung and Kim Soo-in, this reprise has brought more rigorous rehearsals and a deeper sense of artistic collaboration. Min plays Portia, the witty and wise heiress in Belmont. Her commanding vocals and expressive phrasing add rich dimension to a character who is at once a romantic hero
June 9, 2025 -
'Maybe Happy Ending' triumphs with 6 Tony Awards, including best musical
This year’s Tony Awards marked a milestone for the musical "Maybe Happy Ending," a heartwarming South Korean robot romance that began its Broadway life at the Belasco Theatre in November 2024. The production, whose origins go back to 2014 in a small theater in Seoul, emerged as one of the evening’s most celebrated winners, taking home six awards, including best musical and best leading actor in a musical for Darren Criss, and best direction of a musical for director Michael Arden. Playwright and
June 9, 2025 -
The Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet head to Seoul for July galas
Two of Europe’s most storied ballet companies — The Royal Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet — are set to take to the stage in Seoul next month, offering local audiences a rare opportunity to witness their grandeur, tradition and artistic evolution through back-to-back galas. From July 4 to 6, The Royal Ballet returns to Korea for the first time in two decades, performing "The First Gala in Seoul" at the LG Arts Center in Magok-dong, western Seoul. The company’s much-anticipated visit features ei
June 8, 2025 -
Seoul's chronic shortage of venues has concert organizers looking elsewhere
A shortage of major concert venues has been a long-running issue in South Korea, particularly given the remarkable growth of K-pop and the subsequent increase in demand. This year has been a particularly difficult one for concert organizers, as performance venues have become even harder to secure. Jamsil Olympic Stadium, which can hold between 60,000 and 100,000 people, is currently under renovation and will not be available until 2026. The other often used venue, Seoul World Cup Stadium in Sang
June 7, 2025 -
Korea launches first National Gugak Day, honoring legacy of traditional music
South Korea officially marked its first-ever National Gugak Day on June 5 with a series of cultural events designed to spotlight the continued relevance of traditional Korean music. Declared by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In-chon during a commemorative ceremony at Gyeongbokgung, the new national day aims to bridge the past and present by raising public interest in gugak and activating the gugak-centered cultural industry. “To promote gugak, revitalize its cultural industries, and
June 6, 2025 -
16th Korea Opera Festival to feature classics, originals and family works at Seoul Arts Center
Korea’s leading celebration of opera returns this summer with the 16th edition of the Korea Opera Festival, featuring seven new and classic operas running from June 6 to July 13 across all three theaters of the Seoul Arts Center: the Opera House, CJ Towol Theater and Jayu Theater. Organized by the Korea Opera Companies Association, the annual event brings together seven private opera companies to stage a lineup that includes canonical masterpieces, newly created Korean operas and productions tai
June 6, 2025 -
French Baroque arias take center stage at Hanwha Classic
For this year’s Hanwha Classic, French Baroque takes center stage in a one-woman opera performed by renowned French soprano Patricia Petibon and Ensemble Amarillis, performing in Korea for the first time. Titled “Flammes de Magiciennes” — or “Flames of Sorceresses” — the performance weaves together arias from French Baroque operas to create a five-act narrative centered on Medea, a mythological figure who enacts a brutal revenge driven by love, passion and betrayal, and Circe, a powerful sorcere
June 4, 2025