From Bossa Nova to Retro Pop
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
An array of colorful concerts is on offer through Monday, from bossa nova to angelic choral music and retro pop.
Join in ``Music Forest” ― three days of musical festivity that branches out to reach different genres at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul.
On Saturday night, at 7:30 p.m., Bebel Gilberto will give her first performance in Korea. The Brazilian diva is the child of none other than Joao Gilberto ― one of the artists credited with the launching of the bossa nova genre ― and famed vocalist, Miucha. In the 21st century, she brought a contemporary edge to traditional bossa nova by fusing it with electronic sounds.
Fans can look forward to hearing her bring the sunny Brazilian beaches to Seoul, through ``Cancao de Amor’’ and ``Nossa Senhora.’’
Also featured are things familiar yet new: ``The Real Thing,’’ a funky reinterpretation of the 1970s Stevie Wonder song, and ``Sun Shining,’’ where Bob Dylan’s song wears a layer of dreamy surrealism as it is sung in Portuguese.
Tickets cost from 30,000 to 100,000 won.
On Sunday afternoon at the same venue, Libera will present their angelic voices. The all-boys British choir will give its third concert in Korea.
The boy sopranos have built a reputation singing a mixture of songs that span from the medieval era all the way to the present. They have sung alongside such artists as Bjork, Elton John, and the late Luciano Pavarotti. The boys have released steady best-selling albums under the EMI label such as ``Angel Voices’’ and ``Eternal.’’ Fans of the Play Station 2 video game ``ICO’’ may also recognize their voices from the soundtrack.
The choir will sing choral hymns and songs such as ``Sava me,’’ ``Libera’’ and ``Sanctus.’
Tickets cost from 30,000 to 80,000 won.
Next Monday, on April 12, at the same venue, relive the 1960s through the Beatles tribute band, Twist & Shout.
Hailed by the Los Angeles Times for their ``high goose-bump quotient,’’ the band’s performance is considered ``a must see for any Beatles fans’’ (Indianapolis Woman).
The four members each assume the roles of ``the Fab Four’’: Tony Kidonakis as Paul McCartney (bass, guitar, piano, vocal), Jim Owen as John Lennon (guitar, piano, vocal), John Brosnan as George Harrison (lead guitar, vocal) and Chris Camilleri as Ringo Starr (drum, vocal).
The band will offer Korean fans immortal tunes such as ``Let It Be,’’ ``Hey Jude,’’ ``Yesterday’’ and ``All You Need Is Love.’’
For more information about the concerts call 1577-5266.