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Hangang Campus Song Festival to discover talented young artists
Festival celebrates its second year, aiming to support young artists The Hangang Campus Song Festival will take place in May, in the heart of spring, filling the Han River with the fresh music of talented young people. Now in its second year, following last year's successful debut, the Hangang Campus Song Festival is an original song competition open to university and graduate students. Participants can only apply with original compositions, and winners will be given a chance to release a debut
March 26, 2025 -
Royal ritual performance to tour Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong
The National Gugak Center is set to embark on a tour across Asia this year, with performances of Jongmyo Jeryeak planned for Singapore, Japan and Hong Kong. Jongmyo Jeryeak is a royal ceremonial performance that combines song, music and dance. It was originally performed during ancestral rites at Jongmyo shrine, where the tablets of Joseon kings and queens are enshrined, honoring the eternal repose of royal ancestors. The music was originally composed in 1447 during the reign of King Sejong for
March 25, 2025 -
'Past Lives' director Celine Song’s 'Endlings' gets Korean premiere in May
Before director Celine Song captivated audiences with "Past Lives," the Oscar-nominated film that explored love, fate and the immigrant experience, she made her playwright debut with "Endlings" in 2019 at the American Repertory Theater. Now, one of her most personal works is set to make its Korean premiere at Doosan Art Center’s Space111, May 20-June 7. Directed by Lee Rae-eun, the production will also travel to Daejeon and Jeju in June. The title "Endlings" refers to the last surviving member o
March 25, 2025 -
'Mother of Him' asks difficult question: How far should mother go to protect her rapist son?
Actress Kim Sun-young takes on formidable role of mother torn by complex emotions A teenage boy commits three rapes in a single night. While he remains under de facto house arrest, the media dredge up past school incidents, and reporters camp outside his home. Public outrage mounts, yet his mother fights to have him sentenced as a juvenile, ensuring a lighter punishment. How far can a mother go in defending and protecting a son who has committed such a horrific crime? And can she still love him?
March 21, 2025 -
Universal Ballet brings 'Giselle' in spring run
Ballerino Jeon Min-chul to perform as Albrecht before joining Mariinsky Universal Ballet will present "Giselle," one of the most beloved romantic ballets, at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater from April 18 to 27. A timeless tale of love, betrayal and devotion beyond death, "Giselle" follows the tragic love story of a beautiful peasant girl, Giselle, and a nobleman in disguise, Albrecht. When his true identity is revealed, Giselle is driven to madness and dies of heartbreak. The ballet’s libr
March 21, 2025 -
Korea's opera scene to fill with fresh energy this spring
This spring, South Korea’s opera scene will be brimming with fresh energy, featuring the world premiere of “The Rising World: Spirit of Water,” the Korean premiere of metaopera “Amopera,” a sleek modern take on “The Marriage of Figaro” and a fusion of opera and theater with “Faust.” SAC's “The Rising World: Spirit of Water” The Seoul Arts Center will present the world premiere of its new opera, “The Rising World: Spirit of Water,” this May. The production blends traditional Korean themes with a
March 18, 2025 -
Neumeier’s 'Lady of the Camellias' to make Seoul premiere with Korean National Ballet
Drama ballet that earned Kang Sue-jin her Benois de la Danse arrives in May The Korean National Ballet will present the Korean premiere of John Neumeier’s dramatic ballet "Lady of the Camellias" at the Seoul Arts Center's Opera House from May 7 to 11. "Lady of the Camellias" is Neumeier’s adaptation of Alexandre Dumas fils’ 1848 novel of the same title. The ballet, which follows the tragic love story of Marguerite Gautier, a Parisian courtesan stricken with tuberculosis, and Armand Duval, a youn
March 18, 2025 -
Boundary-breaking metaopera 'Amopera' to premiere in Korea next week
Daegu Opera House hosts two performances next weekend “Amopera,” a metaopera that reconfigures and reinterprets fragments from 16 operatic works spanning the past century, is set to make its Korean premiere at the Daegu Opera House next week. The opera is a collaboration between the Austrian contemporary music ensemble Klangforum Wien and the internationally acclaimed Belgian arts collective Needcompany. It premiered in November 2022 in Austria. Klangforum Wien, a renowned contemporary music ens
March 14, 2025 -
'Wicked' flies back to Korea after 13 years
"Wicked" will return to Korea this summer, with its international tour cast taking the stage to perform the hit musical in its original English. This marks the show’s first visit to the country in 13 years since its 2012 Korean premiere. This stage production comes after the success of “Wicked: Part One,” the film adaptation starring Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda. The film drew over 2.2 million moviegoers in South Korea. For the first time, the musical will be staged in th
March 14, 2025 -
Ohad Naharin's 'Decadance' invites audience to break out of 'body jail'
Seoul Metropolitan Ballet kicks off season with ever-evolving masterpiece by Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin has one rule: no mirrors in the rehearsal studio. “The use of mirrors in the dance is a mistake. They spoil the soul of the dancer, (making them) look at himself instead of look at the world,” the 72-year-old Israeli choreographer said at a press conference Wednesday in Seoul, where he was overseeing final rehearsals for Seoul Metropolitan Ballet’s “Decadance.” So when the Seoul Metrop
March 13, 2025 -
Choi Ha-young and Song-ha: sisters with undisputed musical talent
Professional cellist and violinist siblings set to make April duo debut in Seoul What are the odds of three siblings all becoming professional musicians? The Choi sisters — Ha-im, Ha-young and Song-ha, born two years apart — not only pursued careers as professional musicians but also achieved international recognition. Among the three sisters, the two younger ones — Ha-young, 27, and Song-ha, 25 — will perform as a duo in South Korea for the first time in April. Ha-young, this year's Lotte Conce
March 12, 2025 -
Pianist Paik Kun-woo completes Mozart triliogy
78-year-old musician to perform Mozart in 22 Asian cities through November Pianist Paik Kun-woo has embarked on a nationwide tour to mark the completion of his Mozart Piano Works trilogy. “Kun-Woo Paik: Mozart Piano Works 3” was released by Universal Music Wednesday. This album follows the first and second volumes, which were released in May and November 2024, respectively, completing the pianist’s long-awaited Mozart recording project. For the third album, Paik curated a repertoire centered aro
March 10, 2025 -
From training to the podium: Seoul Philharmonic fosters future maestros
A special concert took place Feb. 28 at Lotte Concert Hall with not one, but three conductors leading the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. On the podium were Park Keun-tae, Song Min-gyu and Harris Han Andersen, the three conductors selected by orchestra members from the eight participants of the inaugural SPO Conducting Fellowship, which also included Kim Ri-ra, Kim Jun-young, Kim Hyo-eun, Shin Ju-ya and Choi Jae-hyuck. The eight conductors participating in the five-day fellowship program were chos
March 10, 2025 -
Changgeuk ‘Lear’ director Jung Young-doo nominated for Laurence Olivier Award
South Korean director Jung Young-doo has been nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award, Britain's highest honor in theater, for his direction of the changgeuk production "Lear." Jung was nominated in the outstanding achievement in opera category for his work on the National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s adaptation of William Shakespeare’s superlative "The Tragedy of King Lear" (1606). The adaptation was staged at London’s Barbican Theatre from Oct. 3 to 6, 2024. Changgeuk is akin to a genre of Kore
March 10, 2025 -
K-pop stars to shine at Wango Tango 2025 in US this spring
From Xikers to Hearts2Hearts, several K-pop acts join lineup Several K-pop artists are set to take the stage at the Wango Tango music festival in California in May. On May 10, 102.7 KIIS FM's Wango Tango will be held at Huntington City Beach, California. Hosted by iHeartRadio, the largest radio network in the US, Wango Tango began in 1998 and has since featured world-renowned musicians, delivering spectacular performances that have captivated fans of popular music. This year's event marks the fi
March 9, 2025