Thanks to the KCC for pulling together all the Korea-connected events at this year’s Fringe. Here they are: The Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 Dates: 31 July ~ 26 August 2013 Venue: Edinburgh, Scotland Box Office: edfringe.com or 0131 226 0000 Climb a Willow to the Sea God’s Palace Date: 12 Aug (Mon) ~ 24 Aug … [Read More]
Category: Festivals (page 37)
The Berlin File – so slick it’s really rather dull
A plot which involves a dodgy international arms deal, a secret multibillion dollar bank account belonging to the extended family of Kim Jong-il and a power struggle in the wake of Kim Jong-un’s succession. A list of characters which includes operatives from the CIA, Mossad, and both North and South Korean security agencies, plus would-be … [Read More]
The 2013 Korean Food Festival at the Fountain Pub
Every year, as part of New Malden Fortnight, The Fountain Pub holds a Korean Food Festival in its beer garden. There is usually some live music, traditional games for the kids, and often a Taekwondo demonstration. And of course lots of food stalls. This year it’s Saturday 13 July, starting at 11am and continuing until … [Read More]
Ahn Sook-sun’s Pansori Night on Radio 3
If you missed the Pansori night at the K-music festival recently, that’s a shame. But at least the BBC was there to record it, and the evening will be broadcast on Radio 3, 14 July, 10pm. It may well be available on their website too. Fabio Pezzanini took some nice photos of the occasion, which … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Kimsooja – To Breathe: Bottari, Venice 2013
In Kimsooja’s work commissioned for the Korean Pavilion at the Venice Biennale this year it was the pavilion itself that was the installation. The Korean Pavilion, designed by Seok Chul Kim and Franco Mancuso is the most recent of the 25 national pavilions to have been constructed in the Giardini and opened for business in … [Read More]
Exhibition visit: Who is Alice? – Works from the MMCA collection at Spazio Lightbox, Venice
In previous years, the Venice Biennale has featured a number of Korea-related shows as collateral events scattered around the islands, giving a dedicated visitor the opportunity to walk through the backstreets and explore the vaporetto network while enjoying new artworks. In 2013 most of the Korean artists were gathered together in one place, in an … [Read More]
The sticky craft of lacquerware: Korean crafts at Collect 2013
In our back garden we used to have some Rhus trees. Their leaves go a beautiful red colour in autumn, and their small scale fits well with the shrubs around them. But they’re a bit floppy and every now and then we had to lop a bough off, or even cut one down completely. And … [Read More]
Gig review: Jang Kiha & the Faces + Yi Sung Yol at the Scala
The advertised start time for the gig was 7pm, and at 8pm there was still a huge queue at the door simply to get in. Clearly the administration of rock concerts at the Scala is not bound by the same conventions as a classical concert at a mainstream venue. Inside, the down-at-heel décor is probably … [Read More]
Concert review: Geomungo Factory at the Cadogan Hall
Geomungo Factory was the second fusion concert as part of the K-Music 2013 Festival. The cool air conditioning inside the Cadogan Hall provided a welcome respite from the muggy atmosphere outside; and the clean, modern lines of the outfits worn by the four Geomungo Factory members promised that we were not about to hear a … [Read More]
Concert review: National Orchestra of Korea gives K-Music 2013 a triumphant start
The UK debut of the National Orchestra of Korea at the Barbican on 14 June launched the 2013 K-music festival. In his interview with LKL the day before, the orchestra’s musical director Won Il had promised sounds that a British audience had never heard before. And the orchestra certainly delivered on that promise. The 60-piece … [Read More]
Ryoo Seung-wan interview: stars, spies and a divided city
Ryoo Seung-wan discusses star power, casting strategy and realism in The Berlin File, explaining Berlin’s symbolism as a divided city, his action-scene preparation, views on foreign markets, writing habits, limited interest in Hollywood, genre influences, and balancing commercial filmmaking with personal priorities. [Read More]
The Timbre of Moonlight: Won Il on bringing traditional instruments to a modern audience
In this wide-ranging interview, composer and performer Won Il reflects on his musical journey, Korean traditional sound, percussion and piri, experimental projects like Puri and Uhuhboo, and his vision for the National Orchestra of Korea ahead of its London debut. [Read More]
Preview – Ahn Sook-Sun at the Cadogan Hall: the must-see event of K-Music 2013
Colin Bartlett explains why he’s definitely going to be at the Cadogan Hall on 21 June. To show it isn’t just me that considers Pansori is one of the truly great art forms of the world, I’ll start with a quote from Simon Broughton of Songlines: “Often described as Korean opera, the description is misleading … [Read More]
The Berlin File (베를린, 2013) review: a high-octane journey through espionage, loyalty and humanity
‘The Berlin File’ is at once a tale of political intrigue and a dissection of North and South Korean attitudes to humanity, morals and freedom all wrapped up in a high-octane thriller. While the ultimate narrative destination can largely be predicted, in this case the journey is equally as important, if not more so. [Read More]
“Rising Stars” lunchtime classical recitals at the KCC
As part of the K-music festival the KCC is presenting a series of lunchtime recitals by 10 Korean students from the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. Nice to see some Korean lyric songs on the programme for Wednesday, along with some Bridge and Novello. And if I had the time … [Read More]
Korean music in June – a preview
This article was written for London Jazz News, where it appeared in a slightly different version on 20 May. Think Korean music in 2013 is all about tubby rappers and manufactured girl bands? Think again. Coming up in June is K-Music – a festival of Korean traditional, fusion and rock music which may appeal to … [Read More]