Korean balladeer Park Ki-young has transitioned into a classical crossover vocalist in her new album “A Primeira Festa.”
Included in the album are pop-opera classics such as “Nella Fantasia,” “Caruso” and “Habanera.” The lead track is “One Fine Day,” a remade version of Yoshimata Ryo’s “The Whole Nine Yards.”
While classical-based singers like Jo Su-mi have forayed in the pop genre, a pop singer transitioning into crossover -- a genre that combines pop and classical music -- has been unheard of in Korea, says producer Lee Sang-hoon, who is known for having worked with operatic tenor Lim Hyung-joo and who produced Park’s new album.
“Park does an excellent job of bringing the more relatable pop sentimentality into classical music,” said Lee at a press event for the album’s new release Thursday.
“I worked very hard to adjust my vocal techniques,” Park said. “But in the end, (Lee) and I agreed that in music, all roads lead to one end, and that’s delivering the emotions. That’s what I focused on.”
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Park Ki-young at Thursday's press event for her album's release at the Stradeum music hall in Hannam-dong (Fortune Entertainment) |
Park, who debuted in 1998 with the album “One” and has several classic Korean rock-ballads, such as “Because of You” and “Walk” under her belt, has long been considered a talented vocalist and songwriter.
Since winning tvN’s opera audition program “Opera Star 2012,” Park has been preparing for her crossover debut for nearly four years, receiving training from expert opera vocalists.
Park’s full album will be released Oct. 28 via international classical recording label Sony Classical. “One Fine Day,” which was prereleased as a single on Oct. 12, topped the classical section of local music charts.
By Rumy Doo (
bigbird@heraldcorp.com)
