Pianist Sunyul Named as M Artist of the Year
Pianist Sunyul has been selected as Mapo Cultural Foundation's Resident Musician of the Year (M Artist) and will hold solo recitals at Mapo Art Center in June and September.
On January 15, Mapo Cultural Foundation announced its performance schedule for the year, including solo recitals by M Artist Sunyul. The foundation stated that it aims to strengthen the foundation of cultural and artistic activities through approximately 200 performances spanning theater, classical music, Korean traditional music, and ballet, while also transforming into an open space welcoming both citizens and global audiences.
Critically acclaimed plays will also take the stage at Mapo Art Center. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its founding, the foundation will co-produce "Tushin" with the theater company Mabangjin, with performances scheduled for November 13 to 21. Ko Sunwoong, the artistic director of Mabangjin and former director of the Seoul Metropolitan Theatre, will direct the production.
The Gongnori Club theater company will present two works: the new play "The Subtle Love of Mimi" in June and the much-talked-about "Dried Chili and Peach-Scented Lipstick" in October. "Dried Chili and Peach-Scented Lipstick" was selected as one of the "Best 3 Plays of the Year" by the Korean Theatre Critics Association in 2024, and last year won the Young Theatre Award at the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Special Jury Prize at the Seoul Arts Awards.
High-quality productions based on foreign originals, such as "Beginning" (April 10-11) and "A Streetcar Named Desire" (June 12-14), both of which premiered at Sejong Center last year, will also be staged at Mapo Art Center.
In the second half of the year, the "Good Youth Theater Festival" is also scheduled to take place.
For classical music performances, a new Matinee Concert series will be held on the fourth Wednesday morning of each month (March to December). Kim Yongbae, the original concert guide, will provide commentary, and conductor Kim Kwanghyun will lead the 55-member Orchestra M. The 11th M Classic Festival (September to October) will feature a solo recital by pianist Paik Kunwoo in celebration of his 70th debut anniversary (September 10), a solo recital by soprano Hwang Sumi, winner of the 2014 Queen Elisabeth Competition (September 17), and a duo performance by pianist Kim Dohyun and harpist Lee Subin (October 22).
In the field of Korean traditional music, sorikkun Lee Jaram will present a pansori gala performance on April 2, focusing on works composed between 2007 and 2015. The changgeuk "Salome," which was selected as the New Work of the Year by the Arts Council Korea in 2023 and premiered last year, will also be staged at Mapo Art Center from August 21 to 23.
For dance performances, the original ballet "God" (March 28-29), which sold out every seat during its national tour last year, and the "ABT Studio Company Ballet Gala" (April 17-18) will be staged. The ABT Studio Company Ballet Gala will feature ballerino Park Yoonjae, who became the first Korean to win the Prix de Lausanne last year.
In addition, a wide range of performances and festivals will be held, including the indie musician discovery project "Indie Discovery" (May to October), "Indie Discovery Festa" (November), and the "Happy Mapo Waggle Waggle" festival for family audiences (May and July).
Ko Younggeun, CEO of Mapo Cultural Foundation, stated, "We have organized the lineup so that citizens can enjoy high-quality productions at the nearby Mapo Art Center without having to travel far. From works with proven artistic merit and popularity to new productions being introduced for the first time this year, audiences will be able to enjoy a balanced selection across genres."
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