Korean Music Festival is set to return to London, opening with new production of Lear

02 July 2024, 11:20 | Written by Tyler Damara Kelly

(News)

Korean Music Festival will return to London for its 11th edition in October, and has confirmed the full programme of events, bringing a diverse mix of Korean artists to the capital.

The festival opens on 3 October at the Barbican Centre with the National Changgeuk Company's new production of Lear. This is a major re-staging of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy at the Barbican Centre, and will mark a significant milestone as their debut performance at this prestigious venue.

Jaeyeon Park, Artistic Director of the K-Music Festival says: “We are thrilled to announce that the National Channguek Company of Korea’s production of Lear will open the 2024 K-Music Festival! Shakespeare's classic gets a fresh perspective in this reinterpretation infused with Korea's rich heritage. The celebration continues with soprano Hera Hyesang Park who will present a unique performance that breathes new life into traditional Korean songs and folk music. Fans of the festival can also look forward to exciting new music from returning artists Youn Suh Nah, Black String, and Heemoon Lee. Additionally, Lee Ilwoo of Jambinai will perform at Southbank Centre with No-Noise, a new band formed with the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra. We hope that you can join us in celebrating this vibrant cultural event!"

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Hera Hyesang Park will make her K-Music Festival debut with a fresh reinterpretation of traditional Korean songs on 26 October at St John’s Smith Square following her concert at the Edinburgh International Festival this summer. She will be joined by pianist Bretton Brown and tenor David Junghoon Kim to perform songs from her album, Breathe, along with traditional Korean folk songs.

On 30 October at Kings Place Hall, there will be a performance from the legendary Black String, led by Youn Jeong Heo. To close the festival, and in partnership with the EFG London Jazz Festival, are No-Noise, a dynamic ensemble led by both Lee Il-woo of the post-rock sensation Jambinai making their London debut on 15 November at the Southbank Centre, and Heemoon Lee, the vocalist of SsingSsing, who dazzled audiences in 2018.

Korean Music Festival takes place from 3 October to 23 November. For more information, visit kccuk.org.uk.