Every year at this stage in the year, I look back on the cultural highlights, whether they be live performances, exhibitions, movies or books that I have encountered over the past twelve months. Every year I lament that I’ve been unable to cover everything, that I’m getting slower and that there’s been even more to […]
Category: Pansori
K-music 2018: Ahn Sook-sun, 3 November @Purcell Room
Event of the year so far has been the Changgeuk Trojan Women, in which Ahn Sook-sun played a significant part. I’m thinking this fourth concert in the 2018 K-music festival could be even better. Note the early start time. The event is preceded by a free talk. Ahn Sook-sun: Heungbuga (흥부가) Saturday 3 November 2018, […]
Theatre visit: a changgeuk Trojan Women
An adaptation of a Greek play more than 2400 years old interpreted through the medium of an early 20th century Korean performing practice does not immediately sound a promising theatrical experience, except perhaps to the handful of people who appreciate both Euripides’s take on Homer and Changgeuk’s adaptation of Pansori. Nevertheless, the Purcell Room had […]
The 2018 K-Music festival: full programme announced
The schedule for the 2018 K-Music festival has been released in plenty of time, giving everyone the time to plan their diaries. Here is the official press release. Tickets are already on sale. K-Music 2018 2 October – 20 November 2018 Tickets on sale from Friday 6 July – www.serious.org.uk/k-music Find out more at www.k-music.co.uk […]
National Changgeuk Company in Trojan Women
I hope I’m not setting my expectations too high, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is near the top of my list of events of the year. Trojan Women National Changgeuk Company of Korea | Ong Keng Sen Queen Elizabeth Hall Sat 2 June, 7.30pm | Sun 3 June, 5pm | Tickets £22 – […]
Event news: K-music 2017 — AUX, 15 Oct
This concerts promises to be intensely exciting, and Rich Mix is the perfect venue for it. AUX (억스) Rich Mix | 35-47 Bethnal Green Road | London E1 6LA | richmix.org.uk Sunday 15 October 2017, 8:30pm Book tickets Psychedelic pansori-rock from Korea crashlands in Shoreditch en route to the Womex festival. AUX bring together screaming […]
Event news: K-music + Korean Sounds – East Meet West: Love, 11 Oct
The fourth Korean Sounds concert this year, which also forms part of the K-Music festival, is on the theme of love: Korean Sounds – East Meets West: Love Wednesday 11 October, 7.30pm Kings Place, Hall One Tickets from £9.50 Book here: Kings Place/Korean Sounds Universally and in all ages, music has been a messenger of love […]
K-music 2017: full programme announced
It seems wrong to be posting details of events in the Autumn when summer has only just started, but I’m a great believer in being able to plan your diary a couple of months in advance, and there’s lots here that you will want to come along to. K-Music 2017: Full Programme Announced 15 September […]
Concert notes: Pansori night at the Cadogan Hall
On the rare occasions that Pansori is performed in London I always get a sense of disappointment. The Pansori Night at the Cadogan Hall as part of K-Music was no exception, though there were mitigating factors. With a pansori the whole point is the story that unfolds before you. You know where the story is […]
K-music – now in Brussels too
The KCC in Brussels now on its third Korean Film Festival, and is launching its first K-Music festival this year. Programme details below. DATE TIME ARTIST/TITLE VENUE NORMAL PRICE 23-09 20:00 Sook-sun Ahn OPENING BOZAR, Studio 12.00€ 30-09 20:00 Kun-woo Paik Recital BOZAR, Hall M 12.00€ 02-10 20:00 Korean & Belgian Ensemble Concert with Roby […]
Event news: K-music 2015 — Pansori Night, 23 Sept
This could be the highlight of the 2015 K-music series, and it’s free – to help celebrate Chuseok: K-Music: The Pansori Night Wednesday 23 September | 7:30PM LONDON Cadogan Hall | 5 Sloane Terrace | London SW1X 9DQ FREE but ticketed The Pansori Night will bring together six talented performers for an evening of music, […]
Korean Traditional Ensemble SANI – additional concert date
For those who can’t make it down to Kingston for SANI’s Independence Day Concert on 8 August, the ensemble will be giving a concert at SOAS the previous evening: Korean Traditional Ensemble SANI Date: 7 August 2015 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Venue: SOAS, Russell Square, College Buildings Room G2 Registration: Free and open to […]
Evelyn Glennie’s musical journey in Korea
Percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie has just been in the news for winning the Polar Music Prize 2015 along with Emmylou Harris. The award, according to its website, is “one of the most prestigious and unique music prizes in the world, crossing over musical boundaries and awarded to individuals, groups and institutions in recognition of exceptional […]
Concert review: Ensemble Sinawi at the City of London Festival
How can you adequately describe a gig which touched the highs and lows of human emotion? There were times when the melody sung by the voice or ajaeng had a searing, heart rending intensity which brought a lump to the throat and tears to the eye; and then in the next piece the toes would […]
Hongdae hosts rap v pansori battle
An interesting stunt pitting rappers against pansori performers was held in Hongdae last Friday. When I was waiting for Love X Stereo to come on stage at Freebird, I really should have been down at V-Hall, where the RapPansori battle was held. And a pansori singer was the victor. Source: Joongang Daily
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 […]
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 […]