London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Seong-Jin Cho plays Beethoven 4

Seong-Jin Cho plays Beethoven’s poetic Fourth Piano Concerto. You can’t keep inspiration down. Michael Tippett heard the chugging of a steamboat on a Swiss lake, and his Second Symphony burst into vibrant, bustling life. Wagner wrestled with faith and philosophy, and created music that seems to hover, glowing, in mid-air. And Ludwig van Beethoven sat … [Read More]

Seong-Jin Cho plays Shostakovich

Seong-Jin Cho, winner of the 2015 Chopin Piano Competition, adds his ‘breathtaking nimbleness’ to the Philharmonia Orchestra in Shostakovich’s playful concerto. Cho has gone from strength to strength since winning the International Chopin Piano Competition in 2015. Performing with the Philharmonia at last year’s Edinburgh International Festival, he won praise from The Scotsman for his … [Read More]

Gallery: Joo Yeon Park’s Library of the Unword

As described in the exhibition notice, Joo Yeon Park’s Library of the Unword and its central piece Twenty Times a Thousand (2019) is inspired by Beckett’s poem Echo’s Bones. According to the artist, Echo in Beckett’s poem Echo’s Bones (1935) refers to the nymph in Ovid’s Metamorphoses who is punished by Juno so that she … [Read More]

Joo Yeon Park’s Library of the Unword, at the National Poetry Library

National Poetry Library | Level 5, Blue side | Royal Festival Hall 5 December 2019 – 29 March 2020 | Admission free Joo Yeon Park’s Library of the Unword commemorates the 30th anniversary of Samuel Beckett’s death. The exhibition features an installation, Twenty Times a Thousand (2019), in response to Beckett’s poem ‘Echo’s Bones’ (1935). The work comprises over … [Read More]

Shiyeon Sung and Sunwook Kim in Korea-UK Year of Culture Closing Concert

A celebratory concert to round off the performance strand of UK/Korea year of cultural exchange 2017-18. Late change: Shiyeon Sung replaces Han-Na Chang as conductor as Ms Chang is indisposed. Programme remains unchanged. Philharmonia Orchestra – Korea-UK Year of Culture: Closing Concert 7:30 pm, Thu 14 Jun 2018 Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre £11 – … [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]

Shining K-Classics at the Royal Festival Hall

The last of the All Eyes on Korea musical events is of Western classical music, featuring two of Korea’s best-loved classical stars: Shining K-Classics Date: 31 July 2012, 7:30pm Venue: Royal Festival Hall Violinist Sarah Chang and soprano Sumi Jo, Korea’s foremost classical musicians, will perform with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Leif Segerstam at the … [Read More]

Korean poets perform in London

As part of the South Bank Centre’s Poetry Parnassus, two Korean poets will be appearing later this month in London and elsewhere. The event, part of the Cultural Olympiad, is designed to bring together writers from every Olympic nation for the 2012 celebrations. Representing South Korea is Kim Hye-soon: Kim Hye-soon was one of the … [Read More]