All Eyes on Korea: mark your diaries for the concerts at the end of July

There’s some very special events coming up in a month’s time. Jennifer has raved about Gong Myoung before, and I rave about Baramgot whenever I can, they are so amazing. If the rest of the line-up matches these two acts, you’d be mad to miss any of them. Buy those tickets now.

All Eyes on Korea

A 100 Day Summer Festival
June – Sept 2012

Classical and Traditional Music Events at Southbank Centre

Feat. Sumi Jo (soprano,) Sarah Chang (violin) and the Philharmonia Orchestra
23 – 31 July 2012

As part of the global 2012 celebrations, the Korean Cultural Centre UK (KCCUK) presents All Eyes On Korea, a 100-day Festival at venues across the capital. The highlight of this Summer Showcase will be five concerts at London’s iconic Southbank Centre.

With concerts in the Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Festival Hall as part of Southbank Centre’s summer site-wide Festival of the World (1 June – 9 September), audiences will have the chance to delight in the very best of Korea’s traditional music, discover Korean Opera, Pansori, and be swept away by Korea’s supreme Classical music talents.

Sarah Chang (violin) and Sumi Jo (soprano) will bring our series of concerts to a close when they join conductor Leif Segerstam and Southbank Centre Resident Orchestra Philharmonia Orchestra for the very special evening ‘Shining K-Classics’ (31 July 2012, Royal Festival Hall).

The All Eyes On Korea Concerts at Southbank Centre, Prices and Tickets:

Date	Event	Venue/Time
23 July	Be-Being present the Korean Masque Music Project: Yimyeongongjak This concert of traditional Korean music consists of both original compositions and reinterpretations of various traditional Korean mask plays.	Concert of traditional Korean music Queen Elizabeth Hall, 19.30Prices: £10 Booking Fee: £1.75 (Members £0.00) Concessions: 50% off (limited availability) For more information please check www.southbankcentre.co.uk or click Here
28 July	GongMyoung present ‘Walkabout’ GongMyoung, meaning ‘resonance’ are a quartet who present traditional Korean music with a contemporary twist.Playing a range of instruments it is not uncommon to hear the sounds of up to 30 instruments during a single performance.	Concert of traditional Korean music Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, 19.45Prices: £10 Booking Fee: £1.75 (Members £0.00) Concessions: 50% off (limited availability) For more information please check www.southbankcentre.co.uk or click Here
29 July	Baramgot present ‘Korean Music Ensemble’ Taking Korea’ musical improvisation, Sinawi and arranging it with the diverse spectrum of tone and rhythm that is found in this type of traditional music, Baramgot present a swirling body of work that captivates you from beginning to end.	Concert of traditional Korean music Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, 19.45Prices: £10 Booking Fee: £1.75 (Members £0.00) Concessions: 50% off (limited availability) For more information please check www.southbankcentre.co.uk or click Here
30 July	Pansori Project ‘ZA’ present ‘SACHEON-GA’ Pansori with its themed stories is a form of Korean musical theatre recognised by UNESCO. Pansori Project ‘ZA’ bring these Korean songs of love and satire to the stage with Pansori Brecht SACHEON-GA. (Performance includes ENG Subs)	Korean Pansori Queen Elizabeth Hall, 19.30 (ENG Subs)Prices: £10 Booking Fee: £1.75 (Members £0.00) Concessions: 50% off (limited availability) For more information please check www.southbankcentre.co.uk or click Here
31 July	‘Shining K-Classics’ at Royal Festival Hall: A very rare chance to see two of Korea’s most special Classical Music talents, ‘Shining K-Classics’ features Sumi Jo, Sarah Chang, and the Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Leif Segerstam	Royal Festival Hall, 19.30 Prices: £38 £29 £23 £18 £14 £11 £8 Premium seats £45 Booking Fee: £1.75 (Members £0.00) Concessions: 50% off (limited availability) For more information please check www.southbankcentre.co.uk or click Here

All Eyes On Korea’: The Concerts

Be-Being present ‘Yimyeongongjak’

7.30pm, 23 July 2012
(Queen Elizabeth Hall)

Mask cultures are some of the oldest forms of entertainment in the world and inspired by Korea’s long history of these we have Be-Being’s Korean Masque Music Project ‘Yimyeongongjak’.

This concert of traditional Korean music consists of both original compositions and reinterpretations of various traditional Korean mask plays. The title of the concert, Yimyeongongjak, refers to an activity or action behind the scenes: wire-pulling in the background revealing the symbolic power of the mask and the masquerade.

GongMyoung present ‘Walkabout’

7.45pm, 28 July 2012
(Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall)

GongMyoung, meaning ‘resonance’ are a quartet who present traditional Korean music with a contemporary twist. Playing a range of instruments it is not uncommon to hear the sounds of up to 30 instruments during a single performance. Blending melody and rhythms with the power of Korean drums and the delicacy of its percussion Gongmyoung have worked with television, drama and interactive media artists as well as developing a reputation on the world music scene. They have performed at Festivals in Europe, Asia and North America and look forward to bringing their individual brand of traditional Korean music to the UK.

Baramgot present ‘A Korean Music Ensemble’

7.45pm, 29 July
(Purcell Room at the Queen Elizabeth Hall)

Korean Music Ensemble Baramgot return to the Southbank Centre’ Purcell Room having last performed there in 2010. Led by Won Il Baramgot bring a fresh approach to the mystical and dynamic sounds of Korea’ long musical heritage. Taking Korea’ musical improvisation, Sinawi and arranging it with the diverse spectrum of tone and rhythm that is found in this type of traditional music, Baramgot present a swirling body of work that captivates you from beginning to end.

Pansori Project ‘ZA’ present ‘SACHEON-GA’

7.30pm, 30 July (Queen Elizabeth Hall)
(Eng. Subtitles)

Pansori with its themed stories is a form of musical theatre recognised by UNESCO. The performers Pansori Project ‘ZA’ bring these songs of love and satire to the stage with Pansori Brecht SACHEON-GA. This work is made from the endeavour of creating a modern Pansori, one which matches the spirit of our times and whose narrative style is integrated with modern dramatic elements.

In transforming Brecht’s epic drama ‘The Good Woman of Sezchuan’, the emphasis is to revive the theme of social criticism and the narrative manner of his work in a Pansori style. Often referred to as ‘Korean Opera’ the opportunity to see a live Pansori in London is one not to be missed.

Shining K-Classics

An Evening of Classical Music with Sumi Jo, Sarah Chang and the world famous Philharmonia Orchestra
7.30pm, 31 July (Royal Festival Hall)

Korea has long been the home to some of the world’s most talented Classical performers. For one night only, Korea’s foremost classical artists will take to the stage at Royal Festival Hall.

Joining the Philharmonia Orchestra will be Sarah Chang and Grammy Award Winner Sumi Jo. The conductor for the evening will be Leif Segerstam.

Programme:
Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Bruch: Violin Concerto No 1 (Movement III)
Sibelius: Valse Triste
Adam: Ah! vous dirai-je, maman from Le toreador
Eva Dell’Acqua: Villanelle
Verdi: Overture: La forza del destino
Verdi: Caro nome from Rigoletto
Traditional (arr. Junjoon Ahn): Arirang
Bernstein (arr. Newman): West Side Story Suite
Offenbach: Can Can from Orpheus in the Underworld
Offenbach: Doll Song

Ticketing information:
Ticket Office on 0844 875 0073 (Open 9am – 8pm, 7 days a week.)
Online booking: www.southbankcentre.co.uk

(automatically generated) Read LKL’s review of this event here.