A Century of Korean Art Songs in One Place... Mapo Cultural Foundation's 'Concert of the Century'

6 Relay Performances from April to October
Participation of 5 Private Art Groups Including Seoul Opera Ensemble

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] A performance where you can experience 100 years of Korean art songs from the Japanese colonial period to the present will open.

On the 13th, the Mapo Cultural Foundation announced that it will hold the 'Korean Art Song Century Concert,' a total of six performances from April to October.

In the six performances, five private art groups?Seoul Opera Ensemble, Hanuri Opera Company, Korea Modern Philharmonic Orchestra, Kim Jakyung Opera Company, and Korea Arts?will take the stage in relay.

The opening performance of the series on the 20th, titled "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains," features Hanuri Opera Company performing art songs depicting the four seasons: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The May performance, "Nostalgia," will present modern art songs arranged by the Korea Modern Philharmonic Orchestra. In June, the Kim Jakyung Opera Company will sing art songs reflecting the era under the title "Good Morning Art Songs."

In July, Hanuri Opera Company will present the "Friend" performance, preparing a collaborative show combining art songs with ballet, piano trio, and domestic and international animation O.S.T. In August, the "Traveler's Song" performance by Seoul Opera Ensemble will offer an enjoyable meeting of opera and art songs. In October, Korea Arts will conclude the series with the musical play "Like a Father," which combines art songs and musicals.

Korean art songs, which fully embody modern Korean history and national sentiment, enjoyed their heyday in the 1970s and 1980s. Art song music videos were broadcast before the 9 o'clock news, which had the highest viewership, and there were many programs where Korean art songs could be heard, such as the MBC University Art Song Festival and KBS FM's Jeongdaun Art Songs.

After a period of decline, Korean art songs are dreaming of a revival starting from the 100th anniversary of their birth in 2020. Various large and small performances commemorating 100 years of Korean art songs have been planned, and interest in Korean art songs has increased through the popular JTBC Phantom Singer series.

The Mapo Cultural Foundation has been planning Korean art song performances annually since 2018. This year, along with the "Korean Art Song Century Concert," they plan to produce and present the musical "First Love," based on the art songs of composer Kim Hyogeun, in September.

Song Jeyong, CEO of the Mapo Cultural Foundation, said, "Korean art songs have played a role beyond the dimension of an art genre, empathizing with and comforting the historical pains of our nation," and added, "We expect that Korean art songs will once again give hope to the people during this period of stagnation caused by COVID-19."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.