Ahn Sook-sun looks back on teachers in 'Two Loves'

Master pansori performer Ahn Sook-sun will present "Two Loves," a new changgeuk revolving around her life and two important teachers, at the Sejong S Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from April 5 to 7. Courtesy of Art Village Project

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Ahn Sook-sun, 70, is one of the most notable figures in the gugak (traditional Korean music) field. She is a master performer in pansori (traditional Korean narrative music) and listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 23 for "gayageum sanjo and byeongchang" (singing accompanied by Korean 12-string zither).

She will present "Two Loves," a new "changgeuk" (theatrical format featuring pansori vocal style), revolving around her life and two important teachers, at the Sejong S Theater of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from April 5 to 7.

The changgeuk is sponsored by the Art Village Project of the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation and Korea National University of Arts. The foundation supports bridging the fine arts and village culture.

Ahn Sook-sun, left, as a child / Courtesy of Art Village Project

Lee Dong-yeun of Korea National University of Arts produces the performance in close collaboration with Ahn.

"We did not know too much about Ahn's life, so we interviewed her several times over the last year to make this changgeuk. The plot is in chronological order, but there are some dramatic elements to spice up the story. Ahn will perform pansori as well as gayageum byeongchang and sogochum (small drum dance)," Lee said.

The title may bring a passionate and romantic tale to mind, but in fact Ahn chose to focus on the two teachers who have had a great influence on her life ― Kim So-hee (1917-1995), also known as Manjeong, and Park Gui-hee (1921-1993), also known as Hyangsa.

Ahn Sook-sun, right, with her teacher Kim So-hee (1917-1995) / Courtesy of Art Village Project

"As I have become a teacher and take many pupils, I look back upon the love the two teachers gave me. When I was young, I didn't realize how much they cared for me. I thought I was doing my best and they were nagging a lot, but I felt empty when they passed away. I didn't know their great love backed me up," Ahn told The Korea Times.

"Since they passed away, I can't ask them whether I am doing well on the right path when I feel stuck. I have a lot on my mind about the future of pansori and fostering the younger generation. When I have concerns, I think of the two teachers who taught me devotedly and dedicated themselves for the development of gugak and consequently want to make a performance to tell a story about them," Ahn said.

Ahn Sook-sun, left, with her teacher Park Gui-hee (1921-1993) / Courtesy of Art Village Project

"Two Loves" begins when Ahn starts learning gayageum byeongchang from her aunt at the age of nine. Her mother comes from a musical family in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, and Ahn was influenced by the lineage. She joined the Namwon Chunhyang Female Nongak Troupe and toured around the country, performing traditional Korean music.

Kim called Ahn to join her overseas pansori performances and Ahn moved to Seoul. After coming to Seoul, Ahn starred in the Honey Bee Show at the Walkerhill Theater to make money as well.

"I really admired Kim and wanted to sing like her, but I didn't expect to receive a call from her," Ahn recalled.

When she damaged her vocal cords, Ahn headed to Park's gayageum training school to learn something while resting her throat and met another great teacher of her life.

The two were much alike in their devotion for gugak, but also poles apart in their style of caring for Ahn. "Kim was the one who took me to hospital to get examined, while Park stewed eels for my health," Ahn said.

Cast of the changgeuk "Two Loves," from left, pansori vocalist Kwon Song-hee, child actress Lee Ji-na, Ahn Sook-sun and actress Go Su-hee, pose for a photo during the press conference of the performance on March 6. Yonhap

Instead of playing all the roles by herself in the traditional pansori style, Ahn chose to cast other performers to better tell the story. Veteran actress Go Su-hee will play the two teachers, while pansori vocalist Kwon Song-hee will take on the voices of the teachers. Child actress Lee Ji-na, who recently portrayed the defiant titular role in the musical "Matilda," joins to play the younger Ahn.

"This is basically my story, but there also are other characters in it and I thought it would be difficult for me to play all the roles by myself. For instance, I am not the right person to portray young Sook-sun," Ahn said. "'Two Loves is a play-within-a-play and there are other theatrical elements besides pansori. So I decided to bring in other performers to give diversity."

"Two Loves" reflects Ahn's yearning for the teachers as well as her passion to promote traditional Korean music.

"The two teachers told me to keep my dignity. Kim emphasized the class of pansori. She always said adding jokes to pansori is demeaning. She advised me to consider what refined pansori is and continue to monitor my performance," Ahn said. "Meanwhile, Park was more about dignity as an artist. She told me to have manners even off-stage and communicate well with the audiences. I want to pass what I learned from them to my students."

As a prominent leader of the genre, Ahn is always concerned about the future of pansori.

"Basically, pansori is a one-person artistry, so there are few stages to perform compared to the number of people who practice pansori. So I want to broaden the boundaries for the next generation by collaborating with other genres such as cellist Chung Kyung-hwa or adopting a Western theatrical format," she said.

"Both Kim and Park took the initiative in popularization as well as globalization of gugak and they also led gugak education. A good teacher should be living proof of a good life, in addition to teach competently. I want to take leave from Kim and Park's books to be a good teacher."

For more information, call 02-960-0714.