"Sound is my friend and lifelong companion"

Master Singer Ahn Sook-sun Performing on December 31 at National Theater Year-End Pansori 'Chunhyangga'
'Eternal Chunhyang' Designated as Cultural Heritage, First Full Performance Since National Intangible Cultural Heritage Designation

This year, master singer Ahn Sook-sun will perform "Chunhyangga" on the year-end pansori stage. Photo by National Theater

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "As people live, they sometimes feel lonely and sad, and I truly cried out at those moments. Whenever difficult emotions arose, whether in the car or at home, nothing comforted me more than Pansori."

With a 65-year career in singing, Master Ahn Sook-sun introduces Pansori as her friend and lifelong companion. "More than words, when a single phrase of song goes well, it eases the heart," she says. On the 31st, she will present her companion and alter ego once again on stage in the National Theater’s year-end Pansori performance of 'Chunhyangga.' First leaving a strong impression as Chunhyang in the 1998 fully staged curtain Pansori play 'Chunhyangjeon,' she was designated in September as the holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage for Pansori Chunhyangga. This performance is especially meaningful as it is her first full Chunhyangga recital since receiving the cultural heritage designation.

In a written interview on the 29th, Master Ahn spoke about returning to the Chunhyangga stage after 10 years: "I see this performance as both a duty and an opportunity to faithfully pass on the singing of my teacher, Manjeong (晩汀) Kim So-hee. As I grow older, although my strength may wane, I am making every effort to properly convey the song to the audience."

Hailing from Namwon, Master Ahn has been known as the "Eternal Chunhyang" since her debut, delivering her own unique interpretation of Chunhyangga. She says the character of Chunhyang has always felt familiar and close to her. "Nowadays, as I age, I feel my voice aging too. It’s not about the pitch being high or low, but when singing, there are parts only the singer can feel," she admits. "Still, since singing requires skill, I realize the importance of taking good care of my voice, and once again I feel that Pansori practice is endless."

Since her first full recital in 1986, Master Ahn has performed annually at the National Theater’s year-end Pansori program since 2010. Without any special reason, she wanted to offer a special stage to the audience. "It is a precious time to express gratitude to those who love our music throughout the year, preparing together with juniors," she explains.

Celebrating her 65th debut anniversary, master singer Ahn Sook-sun will present the year-end pansori performance "Manjeongje Chunhyangga" on the 31st. Photo by National Theater

Starting Korean traditional music at the age of eight in 1957, she firmly maintains the lineage led by Jin Chae-seon, who pioneered the era of female masters, followed by Lee Hwa-jung, Park Nok-ju, and Kim So-hee. "You cannot do it half-heartedly. You must sing with your life on the line to touch the hearts of the audience," she says, engraving her teacher’s teachings in her heart as she dedicates herself to practicing singing. Recently, she has been observing the reinterpretations of Korean traditional music on various stages and the younger generation, reflecting on her thoughts. "There is not only our music in the world; there is a lot of excellent music. The process of creating new music by combining good music with our sound is a great one," she explains. "However, the basics of our music must be preserved, and mastery of our music is fundamental to presenting music that can be recognized worldwide as ours," she emphasizes.

Though she has walked the path of singing for 65 years, her goals and plans remain vibrant. Master Ahn shares, "There are many things I want to do before it gets too late, and first, I definitely want to work on projects for children." She adds, "If children are exposed to our music a lot when they are young, Korean traditional music will not feel awkward or unfamiliar as they grow up, making it easier to approach. I want to introduce Korean traditional children’s songs or folk songs that are easy and fun to sing." The year-end Pansori performance will be held on the 31st at the National Theater’s Haneul Theater.

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