Performance of 'Hunminjeongeum' at New York Lincoln Center on the 20th
Invited stage at Wheaton College, Chicago on the 22nd
The National Chorus announced on the 15th that it will hold a tour concert in New York and Chicago, USA, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance.
The National Chorus will hold a concert tour in New York and Chicago, USA, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-US alliance. [Photo by National Chorus]
The National Chorus will perform Korean choral music full of Korean colors on the stage of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York on the 20th and at Edman Chapel Hall in Chicago on the 22nd.
At the New York performance, original choral works based on Hunminjeongeum, meaning "the correct sounds to teach the people," will be introduced. The entire play focuses on the background of the creation of Hangul, the process of its invention, and the content of its promulgation. In particular, through a musical interpretation based on King Sejong's love for his people (愛民) spirit, it is expected to deliver greater emotion to the audience.
The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will collaborate, with baritone Kim Jin-chu and sorikkun Lee Bong-geun performing.
Oh Byung-hee, who composed and wrote the script for "Hunminjeongeum," said, "The process of unraveling 'Hunminjeongeum,' including the excellence of Hangul, was a vast task but also moving and interesting," adding, "I hope King Sejong's infinitely deep love for his people will be conveyed to the audience."
Director and adapter Ahn Ji-seon said, "This is an opportunity to introduce the story of Hangul, a great heritage inherited by our nation, and the status of K-classical music to the world," adding, "We aim to create an impressive stage with pride."
At the Chicago performance, Korean songs and Korean choral music filled with Korean colors will be introduced. These include Jo Hye-young's "Motijeo" (Unforgettable), which sets the poetry of lyric poet Kim So-wol to melody; "Eo-Gi-Young-Cha," arranged by Woo Hyo-won, where the four-syllable lyrics circulate with strong rhythm and accents; Jo Hye-young's "Senoya," a folk song chorus sung during the Japanese colonial period by Japanese fishing boats pulling nets while catching anchovies in the southern sea of Korea; and Oh Byung-hee's "Kwaejina Chingching," which modernizes a familiar folk melody by adding harmonic colors, contrasts in timbre, tempo, and dynamics.
In addition, opera arias such as "Nessun Dorma" from the opera Turandot and pop songs will also be performed.
Yoon Ui-jung, director and artistic director of the National Chorus, said, "The era has come where we can develop Korean-style choral repertoire and distribute our works not only domestically but also overseas," adding, "We will continue to develop 'Hunminjeongeum' to become a steady seller representing Korea and open new horizons for choral music."
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