Discover this visionary restaging of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies into a spellbinding traditional opera from some of South Korea’s leading creatives, performers and musicians. This major new production, critically acclaimed at its premiere in 2022, retells a familiar story in the form of Changgeuk. This culturally significant and artistically rich theatrical form in Korea, blends … [Read More]
Venue: Barbican Centre
Silk Street | London EC2Y 8DS | [Map]
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Unsuk Chin and Donghoon Shin Barbican performances
Unsuk Chin has music featured in two of the London Symphony Orchestra’s Spring season concerts; and in the second of those concerts we will be treated to a UK premiere of Donghoon Shin’s Cello Concerto: Thursday 14 March, 7pm: Beethoven and Unsuk Chin Prepare for the unexpected in Beethoven’s most surprising symphony, and Unsuk Chin’s … [Read More]
Jung Jae-il’s K-music opening concert leaves London wanting more
Ten years ago, the very first K-music festival concert, given by Won Il and the National Orchestra of Korea, was on the main stage at the Barbican. So for the first concert of the 10th anniversary K-music Festival it was the appropriate venue for Jung Jae-il to make his London debut. The Barbican is also … [Read More]
K-music 2023: Jung Jae-il + London Symphony Orchestra: Music from Parasite & Squid Game
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the K-Music Festival, Jung Jae-il’s award-winning score will be presented live in concert at the Barbican Centre Hall on Sunday 1 October featuring the London Symphony Orchestra to open the festival. Renowned for his versatility, the award winning singer-songwriter, composer, producer and music director Jung Jae-il is responsible for some of … [Read More]
Eun-Me Ahn Company: Dragons, in London and Salford
Avantgarde South Korean choreographer Eun-Me Ahn’s joyful riot of dance, music and non-stop movement brings together modern and traditional dance styles from across Asia. Whilst dragons are feared in the West, in Asia, they represent lightness, joy and optimism. Pioneering choreographer Eun-Me Ahn’s latest extravagant production sees her extraordinary company of dancers interacting on stage … [Read More]
Sunwook Kim plays Brahms 1 at the Barbican
LSO Conductor Laureate Michael Tilson Thomas joins Korean piano superstar Sunwook Kim in Brahms’ explosive First Piano Concerto. Portrait of the artist as a young man: tormented by an impossible passion, Johannes Brahms poured all his emotions into a piano concerto of massive scale and volcanic power. It’s music that burns its way into your … [Read More]
Return to Seoul preview + director screentalk
In this emotionally charged and vibrant film from Davy Chou, a young French woman returns to Korea for the first time since her adoption. A surprising and deliciously sleek movie, Return To Seoul follows Freddie (Park Ji-min), who, on-a-whim, travels to Korea, where she’s persuaded into seeking out her biological family. This is only the … [Read More]
Seong-Jin Cho plays the Barbican
Piano sensation Seong-Jin Cho brings his musical refinement to a solo programme of Baroque dance music and the Romantic composers inspired by it. Baroque music is closely intertwined with dance and Seong-Jin brings together works inspired by its energy and rhythmic drive. Handel supposedly describes the beats of a foundry in his Suite; years later, … [Read More]
Unsuk Chin’s second violin concerto gets its broadcast premiere
Thanks to Colin Bartlett for alerting me to the fact that the premiere of Unsuk Chin’s second violin concerto will be broadcast in a performance by its dedicatee Leonidas Kavakos on 18 January. LKL had eagerly bought tickets for its scheduled live premiere, which was going to be 7 January last year at the Barbican. … [Read More]
LKFF Teaser Screening: Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982
The first LKFF Teaser screening of the year: Kim Ji-young: Born 1982 (82년생 김지영) + Introduction by Sarah Shin Dir: Kim Do-young (2019, 118 mins) Cast: Jung Yu-mi, Gong Yoo Tuesday 12 May 2020, 18:15 Barbican Cinema 2 | Beech Street | London EC2Y 8DS Tickets £12 | Buy tickets Based on Cho Nam-joo’s landmark … [Read More]
The Hand of Fate screens at the Barbican
Can’t get enough classic Korean film now the festival has ended? Try this at the Barbican: The Hand of Fate + Introduction by Hyun Jin Cho Dir: Han Hyeong-mo (1954, 85 min) Tuesday 19 Nov 2019, 6:30pm Barbican Cinema 3 | Beech Street | London EC2Y 8DS | Book tickets Made one year after the … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival 2019 – the detailed schedule
Here’s the detailed schedule for the London screenings in the London Korean Film Festival. You can find the press release here. Check for updates on the festival’s official website, koreanfilm.co.uk. Time Title Strand Venue Friday 1 November 19:00 The Seashore Village (갯마을) + Q&A Dir: Kim Soo-yong (1965, 91 min) Opening Gala RSC Saturday 2 … [Read More]
London Korean Film Festival 2019: the official press release
Here is today’s official press release that announces the line-up for the 2019 London Korean Film Festival: The London Korean Film Festival (LKFF) has launched its full programme of films and events for the upcoming 14th edition, taking place from 1st-14th November in London before embarking on the annual tour 18th-24th November. The Special Focus, … [Read More]
Brief review: Seong-jin Cho’s Rachmaninov at the Barbican
I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed at Seong-jin Cho’s performance of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto at the Barbican at the end of March. There was no shortage of virtuoso filligree fingerwork and moments of poetry, but somehow the performance as a whole lacked passion and fire. Perhaps part of the problem was rapport between orchestra … [Read More]
Little Forest screens at the Barbican as part of Chronic Youth Film Festival
One of my favourite films of 2018 gets another London screening this month in the Barbican. Well worth a second viewing. Little Forest – Chronic Youth Film Festival 2019 Dir Yim Soon-rye (2018, 103 min) With Kim Tae-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Jin Ki-joo, Moon So-ri 24 Mar 2019, 16:00, Barbican Cinema 3 | Book tickets Korean … [Read More]
Seong-jin Cho plays Rachmaninov at the Barbican
Hear from the teenage Shostakovich in this all-Russian programme with conductor Gianandrea Noseda. Rachmaninov’s Third Piano Concerto opens quietly enough, but this simple and beguiling beginning quickly gives way what is in fact one of the most technically demanding concertos in the classical piano repertoire. Its lush and romantic elegance is followed by Balakirev’s Islamey, … [Read More]