Baritone Jo Gyuhee and Actor Seo Taehwa Collaborate in Schubert's 'Winterreise'

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The Lotte Cultural Foundation will present the audience-less online performance support project 'Music Keeps Going' on September 2nd at 11:30 AM, featuring baritone Jo Gyuhee and actor Seo Taehwa.

Music Keeps Going is a stage prepared by the Lotte Cultural Foundation to revitalize performances that have been subdued due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and to create a space where musicians and audiences unite through music as a bridge of communication.

Baritone Jo Gyuhee and actor Seo Taehwa will present a special collaborative stage by inserting monologues in the form of soliloquies to perform Schubert's representative song cycle, "Winterreise" (Winter Journey).

"Winterreise" is a song cycle consisting of a total of 24 songs. Schubert composed "Winterreise" in 1827 when he was 30 years old.

A young man who has failed in love bids farewell in front of his lover’s house in the cold winter and sets out on a wandering journey through the cold winter. The young man’s heart, wandering through fields filled with snow and ice, struggles in extreme pain and despair, and visions of death such as crows, lodgings, illusions, will-o'-the-wisps, and white hair cast shadows over his mind.

Jo Gyuhee was the first Korean to win the "Osaka Franz Schubert International Competition." Earlier this year, he also released a new form of art song album featuring actor monologues. This performance was prepared with the same purpose as part of efforts to overcome the difficulty of German art songs by adding theatrical elements more familiar to the audience.

Seo Taehwa, in the 2016 Lotte Concert Hall performance "Sejong Soloists Van Gogh Homage," played the role of Theo, Van Gogh’s brother, delivering a refined yet compelling narration with his voice. The piano accompaniment will be performed by Jeong Hojeong.

Through "Music Keeps Going," implemented by the Lotte Cultural Foundation, selected performing groups receive 70% of the basic rental fee, free production of online promotional materials such as posters and banners, provision of performance videos, media promotion, promotion through the Lotte Concert Hall website and social media channels, support for venue facilities and various equipment, and personnel support necessary for the performance.