The veteran crossover tenor is using his role at the Yongsan Cultural Foundation to create performance and training opportunities for younger artists

Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo is extending his work from the concert stage into local cultural administration, taking charge of a new two-day festival at the recently renovated Yongsan Art Hall in Seoul.

Lim, who serves as chair of the Yongsan Cultural Foundation, is the artistic director-general of “K-Popera Festival in Yongsan With Lim Hyung-joo,” scheduled for Nov. 13 and 14.

The foundation describes the event as South Korea’s first popera festival organised across two days. It will combine artist training, a public lecture and a gala concert as part of the reopening programme for Yongsan Art Hall, which has undergone its first major renovation since opening 16 years ago.

“As a cultural administrator, I feel a responsibility to create a stage for younger popera singers,” Lim said at a press meeting in Seoul on Oct. 28. “I want to develop this festival into representative cultural content for Yongsan.”

The first day will open with a masterclass in which Lim coaches emerging tenor Lee Jeong-hyun. Tenor John Noh, who also teaches at Kangnam University, will then give a lecture on popera at the Garam Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

The main gala concert will take place at the Mir Grand Theatre at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14. Kim Hyun-soo of Forte di Quattro, the winning team from the first season of JTBC’s crossover competition “Phantom Singer,” is serving as artistic director and has arranged the programme.

The performers include Kim and fellow Forte di Quattro member Lee Byeo-ri, Baek In-tae of Duetto, Kwak Dong-hyun of Popular Phenomenon, Ahn Se-kwon of Edel Reinklang, Seo Young-taek of Forténa, Koo Bon-soo and Choi Yong-ho.

Lim will appear as a special guest, performing “A Thousand Winds” and “Ave Maria.” He is also expected to join the full cast for the concert’s closing number.

The programme ranges across rock, musical theatre, Korean art songs and trot. Kim said the concert was designed to preserve the different musical identities of its performers rather than connect every number through a single narrative.

Kim will sing a setting of poet Na Tae-joo’s “Those Words,” while Ahn will take responsibility for the trot selection. Lim said the inclusion of trot reflected requests from middle-aged and older residents in Yongsan.

The educational programme reflects Lim’s wider view of a local cultural foundation as a “grassroots” institution. After observing piano and ballet classes operated by regional foundations in Japan, he concluded that local organisations should identify young talent and help emerging artists reach larger stages.

“Allowing culture to grow within everyday life is what will sustain the K-culture era,” Lim said. “I want to attempt projects that have not been tried elsewhere rather than remain confined by the administrative boundaries of a district.”

Lim released his first album in 1998, when the term “popera” remained unfamiliar to much of the South Korean public and the genre was often described as “semi-classical.” He recalled having to introduce the category at the same time as establishing his own name.

He also argued that South Korea has an overlooked place in popera history. According to Lim, the term appeared in a 1985 review by British newspaper the Daily Express concerning Korean singer Chimera, whose real name is Kim Hong-hee. While performers such as Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman later helped popularise the genre internationally, Lim said its earlier history deserves wider recognition.

The festival is intended to continue annually. Lim is receiving neither a directing fee nor a performance fee for the inaugural edition. His position as foundation chair, which he has held since March, is also unpaid.

He nevertheless rejects the idea that the chairmanship is merely ceremonial, saying he participates in board decisions, budget execution and the development of the foundation’s long-term direction.

The foundation plans to use the festival as a starting point for strengthening its own production capacity. It is considering developing the popera event and musical productions into recurring repertory while expanding the role of Yongsan Art Hall as a producing venue.

Lim said he plans to remain active as a performer through the 30th anniversary of his debut, including a world tour, before reducing his solo recording and recital schedule. He expects to devote a larger share of his work to cultural administration thereafter.

“I have wanted since I was young to step down gracefully while people still feel I could continue,” he said. “I hope more artists will move into arts administration.”

SayArt.net
Sharon Jung guhuijeong784@gmail.com