London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Joo Yeon Sir / Irina Andrievsky lunchtime recital at LSE

Described by The Strad as “exuberant… seductive… with bravura and oodles of personality”, prize-winning violinist and composer Joo Yeon Sir has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia, and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras, at venues including the Royal Albert Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, and Liverpool Symphony Hall. Born in Korea, Joo Yeon moved to London at … [Read More]

River Sessions: Joo Yeon Sir plays Solitude

We’re delighted to welcome West-London based solo violinist, Joo Yeon Sir, for a very special solo performance at River Sessions. Joo Yeon will be playing a selection of solo pieces, including some from her latest album, Solitude. Prize-winning violinist and composer Joo Yeon Sir has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia, and Bournemouth Symphony … [Read More]

A review of the Korean cultural year 2019

A review of some of the highlights and trends in the Korean cultural year, primarily in London but also with half an eye to anything we might have seen elsewhere in the UK. The review is a personal one, inevitably skewed towards the events we managed to get to. Introduction This time last year I … [Read More]

Joo Yeon Sir: Chaconnes, Divertimento & Rhapsodies

Hearing Joo Yeon Sir’s barnstorming performance of Pancho Vladigerov’s Bulgarian Rhapsody “Vardar” at St James’s Piccadilly with Irina Andrievsky in August made me want to return to her recently-released second CD, Chaconnes, Divertimento & Rhapsodies, for which Vardar is the penultimate track. The album, from Rubicon Classics, follows on from her successful first album Suites and … [Read More]

A Review of London Korean cultural year 2017

It feels like it’s been an incredibly busy year, and as I come to write this review I realise that, much more so than in previous years, many of the things that have been memorable I haven’t had time to write about – and maybe won’t. I’ve written separately about the films it was possible … [Read More]

Joo Yeon Sir in Karl Jenkins’s The Armed Man

News of Joo Yeon Sir’s September appearance at the Royal Festival Hall: Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man 29 Sep 2017, 7:30 pm Approximate run time: 150 mins Royal Festival Hall Tickets: £16.50 – £50 Booking fee: £2.50 Book tickets See Sir Karl Jenkins conduct a superb concert of his own compositions. Part of RGL Great … [Read More]

A review of the London Korean year 2016

As is traditional at this time of year, we look back at some of the highlights of the London Korean Year. Exhibitions Is it my imagination, or was there less going on this year? Certainly from the perspective of contemporary art, we have been through a lull this year. With HADA Contemporary gone, Mokspace reborn … [Read More]

Concert notes: Joo Yeon Sir’s Festival Hall debut

UK based violinist Joo Yeon Sir made a thrilling debut at The Royal Festival Hall last night. “Lament for the Valley”, a short piece for violin and orchestra, was composed for her by Karl Jenkins as part of his 2015 Music Award, in association with Classic FM. Conducted by Jenkins, Sir delivered an exhilarating, technically brilliant … [Read More]

Joo Yeon Sir’s November concert diary

We hope some of you caught Joo Yeon Sir’s Albert Hall debut on Friday. Here are the dates from her November concert diary: Monday 2 November 1.10PM (St. James’s Piccadilly, London), Lunchtime Recital with Irina Andrievsky (piano) performing works by Poulenc, Sir Karl Jenkins and Grieg Friday 6 November 7.30PM (Derby University, Derbyshire), Evening Recital … [Read More]