The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra orchestra and 90-strong Chorus together with soprano soloist Inhye Kim convened in the Cadogan Hall on 12 April to perform Jeajoon Ryu’s Sinfonia da Requiem (2007). It was composed to honour Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung, who passed away 10 years ago in 2001, and also dedicated to Korea’s past generations, who … [Read More]
Category: Event reports and reviews (page 37)
“In my dreams, I’m Alice in Wonderland”: a day in Unsuk Chin’s fantasy landscapes
On 9 April the Barbican in collaboration with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama staged a whole day of concerts, recitals and talks focusing on the Korean-born composer Unsuk Chin. The day featured at least four UK premieres, two orchestras, a choir, and the largest stage the Barbican has ever had to build – … [Read More]
Are the six party talks a waste of time? Pyongyang won’t give up its nukes, says Choe Tae Bok
We all have our private thoughts on that question. The Chatham House talk this week (29 March) by Choe Tae Bok, Speaker of the North Korean Supreme People’s Assembly, was off the record, so I have not reported anything specific from the event. But given the timing of the visit, coinciding with the implementation of … [Read More]
The BKVA Annual Report 2010-11
Here is the text of the BKVA’s annual report, presented to the Anglo-Korean Society’s AGM yesterday. CHAIRMANS REPORT TO THE AGM OF THE ANGLO-KOREAN SOCIETY HELD AT THE KOREAN CULTURAL CENTRE ON TUESDAY 29 MARCH 2011 INTRODUCTION 1. I am pleased that I am able to attend this AGM to present the BKVA report for … [Read More]
Choe Tae Bok in London
Choe Tae Bok, the Chairman of the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly, is in town next week on a charm offensive. Tea with Lord Alton and members of the North Korea All-Party Parliamentary Group at the House of Lords (Anglo-Korean Society members were included in the invitation) on Wednesday (30 March), dinner with Asia House corporate … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Nam June Paik at Tate Liverpool
Korean-born artist Nam June Paik (1932-2006) is often called the father of modern video art. Think of Nam June Paik and you probably think of his massive tower of 1,003 TV sets entitled The More the Better (1988) which dominates the entrance to the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Gwacheon just outside Seoul, or … [Read More]
Gig review: Nah Youn Sun and Ulf Wakenius at Pizza Express Soho
March 1st this year at Pizza Express Soho was Nah Youn Sun’s first headline gig in Central London. Her actual London debut was in the Vortex in Hackney in May 2009, and in March 2010 she supported the Swedish band Tonbrucket in a much bigger venue, the Queen Elizabeth Hall. LKL wondered whether Nah’s style … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: the 4th 4482 exhibition – Rhizosphere
The fourth 4482 group show by young Korean artists in London was bigger than ever this year – to such an extent that the organisers managed to secure some overspill gallery space on the ground floor of the OXO tower building, across the courtyard from the main Bargehouse warehouse. This overspill gallery space was very … [Read More]
Concert notes: Tori Ensemble at the KCC
It was encouraging to see the KCC’s first concert of the year very well attended. It was also very nice to have plenty of comfy seats laid out in the multi-purposes hall. The KCC hopes to bring you a wide range of music on a more regular basis than the past, and the Tori ensemble … [Read More]
New Year Beats
Bella Frey bangs the drum for some exciting classes. Since the first time I went back to Korea and was treated to a performance of a Samulnori percussion group performance, I have wanted to try to play one or all of the four instruments, particularly the drums. I was blown away by the energy, fun … [Read More]
Soom Company and Laboratory Dance Project at the Place
Four recent performances at The Place, near Euston, highlight the variety of talent in Korean contemporary dancers and choreographers. In November 2010, Jeon Mi-sook and the Laboratory Dance Project toured Europe as part of the Kore-A-moves tour – which visited venues in Germany, Estonia, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, The Netherlands and Ireland as well as the … [Read More]
Fun with Silla dynasty art at the London Art Fair
There was a distinctly Silla dynasty feeling to two of the stalls at the London Art Fair in January. Hur Shan’s trademark installations play with the concept of buildings in mid-construction or mid-demolition. Structural pillars are broken in two, revealing their reinforcing steel rods, and we wonder how the building remains standing. Rubble is piled … [Read More]
Geomungo + echoplex = amazing sounds
Ever witnessed a geomungo played with an echoplex? In the hands (and feet) of Heo Yoon-jeong at the KCC tonight, it was rather good. # Photo credit [Read More]
Discovering Korean Cinema book launch closes the 2010 festival
Colette Balmain reports from the book launch of Discovering Korean Cinema at the Korean Cultural Centre UK Tuesday 23 Nov 6pm For the launch of the book, Discovering Korean Cinema (edited by Daniel Martin and Mark Morris, The Korean Cultural Centre: London, 2010), both the editors, Daniel Martin and Mark Morris, and one of the … [Read More]
Rain Rain, Come Again
Bella Frey gets star-struck. And who can blame her? Rain in London in January, nothing unusual there. However Rain, as in Jung Ji-hoon, South Korea’s delightfully handsome mega pop star and actor, in London is definitely a once in a blue moon event. As soon as the news hit Facebook that he would be here … [Read More]
A review of the London Korean Year 2010
LKL tries to sum up the London Korean cultural year. Live music Possibly the most disappointing thing about 2010 has been the number of top-flight Korean musicians who have been passing through London but not stopping to do a sensible gig there. Biuret played at a private industry showcase before heading off to Southampton – … [Read More]