Latest news with #TheSeasons'
Korea Herald
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Interview: Pianist Bruce Liu: Multicultural voice interprets Russian Romantics
The Chopin Competition winner returns to Seoul with a new recital program of Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Prokofiev When pianist Bruce Liu last performed in Seoul in 2023, his recital was filled with electrifying technique and seven encores. Liu returns to Seoul in May as part of the 2025 Great Pianists Series, bringing with him an entirely new program centered on Russian Romanticism, featuring works by Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Prokofiev. "With Tchaikovsky, I think there's this emotional vulnerability. His pain-dedicated personal moments, even larger-than-large gestures,' Liu, who catapulted to international stardom after winning the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition, said in an e-mail interview. 'Prokofiev, I'm excited to highlight with his rhythmical energy. It's a very modern edge. He brings a fresh, sometimes cheeky contrast that keeps the program very dynamic. Overall, I think I helped to create an arch. It feels like a journey through the emotional seasons of the Russian soul.' The program opens with 'The Seasons,' Tchaikovsky's 12-piece cycle capturing the atmosphere of each month. The work is the centerpiece of Liu's second Deutsche Grammophon album, released in November last year. 'Every piece in 'The Seasons' has its own charm and challenge,' he said. 'I love how Tchaikovsky managed to evoke the mood of each month so vividly. There's always something new to discover in every performance.' Liu made the rare decision to split the work into two parts -- January to June before the intermission, and July to December after. 'Dividing it into two parts was something I felt would help the audience to better connect with the emotional journey of the piece. 'The Seasons' is so much more than just a cycle of 12 pieces. It's a reflection of the passage of time with each month offering a very unique mood and texture. And by splitting it into two halves, I want to allow each step of the month to breathe and give the audience a chance to fully immerse themselves in the contrasting seasons and the images that Tchaikovsky evokes,' he added. From there, the program moves into Scriabin's Piano Sonata No. 4, and concludes with Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 7, often called the 'War Sonata.' Liu, who was born in Paris to Chinese parents and raised in Montreal, attributes much of his interpretive breadth to his multicultural upbringing. 'Growing up between cultures -- Chinese at home, French and North American outside -- taught me that there's never just one way to understand or express something,' he said. 'I'm drawn to the elegance and clarity of French music, the storytelling of Russian music. Being multicultural makes me more open and curious. I try to respect the traditions behind each piece but also find my own authentic voice. That's very important to me.' Though his victory at the Chopin Competition launched him into the global spotlight, Liu sees that moment not as a destination but a beginning. 'Winning the competition was truly life-changing,' he said. 'Everything happened so quickly — concerts, invitations, recordings. But internally, it gave me a new sense of confidence and responsibility. It's not just a prize — it's a legacy. It made me think more seriously about the kind of artist I want to be.' He continues to seek growth beyond the competition. 'I don't want to be defined only by that event. I want to keep evolving, exploring wider repertoire, collaborating with different musicians. I think art should be driven by honesty and curiosity, not just ambition. There's still so much for me to learn and discover.' As his international career has expanded, so too has his understanding of audiences -- among them, he noted that he feels 'a particularly deep emotional connection' with those in Korea. 'Korean audiences have a strong tradition of music appreciation. When they respond, it's not just polite applause -- it's genuine. I can feel they're with me through every moment. It's incredibly inspiring and intimate at the same time.' Liu is scheduled to perform at the Seoul Arts Center on May 11. Tickets are priced from 50,000 won ($35) to 110,000 won. gypark@
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Actor Park Bo Gum Playfully Recalls an Incident with Co-star Lee Jun Young: Find Out Why He Felt ‘A Little Hurt'
The K-drama ' When Life Gives You Tangerines ' has captured both national and international audiences since its premiere, quickly becoming a major success. Among its highlights is Park Bo Gum's charming performance as the young 'Yang Gwan Sik', which has won widespread praise. Recently, during an episode of his late-night music show 'The Seasons', Park Bo Gum shared a lighthearted yet memorable story involving his co-star Lee Jun Young — and why it left him feeling 'a little hurt.' Park Bo Gum Welcomes Lee Jun Young on 'The Seasons' To promote their new project ' Pump Up the Healthy Love ', Park Bo Gum invited co-star Lee Jun Young and actress Jung Eun Ji to appear on 'The Seasons – Park Bo Gum's Cantabile'. The trio quickly warmed up the atmosphere, reflecting on their early days as K-pop idols and sharing candid memories, as reported by TenAsia. A Playful Confession About a Missed Message During the lively conversation, Park Bo Gum opened up about a small but unforgettable incident with Lee Jun Young. While recalling their time filming the show ' My Name Is Gabriel ', Bo Gum noted that although they worked on the same project, they didn't share any overlapping scenes — something he found disappointing. He recounted, 'We met twice, once at the wrap party and once at the script reading. I remember exchanging numbers. I sent a message saying, 'It was nice meeting you,' but I never got a reply.' Though Bo Gum shared the story playfully, he admitted feeling slightly hurt by the lack of response. However, he was quick to add his gratitude for Jun Young's appearance on his show, softening the moment with humor. Bo Gum continued, laughing, 'I thought maybe I had the wrong number, but after our meeting yesterday, I realised the number was correct. I was a little hurt, but you must have been busy. I should've knocked more, maybe even called and said, 'It's me.'' Lee Jun Young Left Flustered Lee Jun Young was visibly flustered by the revelation and struggled to defend himself. The situation became even more humorous when Jung Eun Ji chimed in, sharing her own experience: she too had sent Jun Young a message that went unanswered. Trying to explain himself, Jun Young laughed and confessed that he rarely checks his messages. He further revealed that he currently has over 999 unread texts from various people on his phone — a habit that left both his co-stars and the audience in stitches.
Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Even without its signature set, BLO's ‘The Seasons' is no dry run
Early in the opera, The Poet (as portrayed by countertenor and 'The Seasons' co-progenitor Anthony Roth Costanzo) sings: 'You know poets, sometimes we feel the weather inside of us more than we feel the weather outside of us.' Given Wednesday's performance, it's clear that axiom doesn't just apply to poets. Advertisement There's no doubt that 'The Seasons' would have been a different show had the six singers and six dancers been working with the visual and tactile elements of Lien and Forman's soapscape set in addition to the lighting, the lithe modern choreography by Pam Tanowitz, the diaphanous costumes by Carlos J Soto, and Vivaldi's music as performed by a zesty Baroque pit band. Regardless, 'The Seasons' was on solid ground musically and visually. The iconic concertos of 'The Four Seasons' served as the piece's creative springboard, but thoughtfully selected arias, songs, and other pieces from Vivaldi's vast catalogue made up the bulk of the score, blending the familiar with the old-made-new. Baroque arias often manifest emotions through nature or weather imagery in both voice and instrumentation: plinking pizzicato for rain here, twittering birds for spring there, and 'The Seasons' made plentiful and effective use of that trope. Advertisement In Ruhl's dramatic scenario, an artists' rustic retreat is disturbed when the seasonal cycle falls out of order due to climate change, and the singers portraying those artists were all outstanding. As the Farmer, soprano Ashley Emerson unfurled luscious melismas while chopping vegetables, and countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim's warm, velvety timbre as the Painter provided a keen contrast to Costanzo's icy, clear precision. In the role of the Choreographer, mezzo-soprano and BLO emerging artist Alexis Peart partnered with dancer Lindsey Jones in a touching and tragic duet for human voice and human body. Every baroque opera must have its rage arias, and soprano Whitney Morrison and bass-baritone Brandon Cedel tackled those with incisive wrath. Special kudos goes to Ji Yung Lee, who led the pit ensemble from the harpsichord on only minutes' notice after production music director Stephen Stubbs was accidentally injured backstage on his way to the pit and needed to sit the performance out. (A BLO spokesperson confirmed Stubbs was OK, but that's not the first medical emergency Maile Okamura, front, and other members of Pam Tanowitz Dance in Boston Lyric Opera's "The Seasons." Nile Scott Studios The narrative of weather disrupted seems simplistic on the surface. The paradigm of four seasons neatly divided into spring, summer, fall, and winter has only ever been true for very specific parts of the world. And even in those parts that can claim those four seasons, like New England, it gets more complicated than that. I'm reminded of Advertisement But therein lies the point: No matter the exact rhythms of the cycle you're used to, the effects of climate change can turn it into disaster followed by disaster. The most powerful tableau of the show featured the violent third movement of 'Summer' from 'The Four Seasons,' as haze effects filled the air and the stage was illuminated in orange with the back wall invisible through the smoke. It's an image Further productions in New York and beyond are planned for 'The Seasons,' and hopefully by then the complications with Lien and Forman's iridescent setpiece will be resolved. I do look forward to experiencing 'The Seasons' as its creators envisioned it. Still, though the Boston run of 'The Seasons' may not have realized everything it had wanted, the show is not lacking anything it needs. It's even there in the stage directions of Ruhl's libretto: 'Mostly an empty set. And weather.' And so they have it. THE SEASONS Presented by Boston Lyric Opera and ArtsEmerson. Through March 16. A.Z. Madonna can be reached at
