Sumi Jo's 40th Anniversary Stage ‘Sumi Jo's Encore’... Broadcast on KBS 1TV on the 9th

The broadcast duration is 90 minutes. The performance includes representative arias capturing Sumi Jo's musical journey, newly arranged songs, and collaborative stages with domestic artists and children's choirs. Performers include Son Tae-jin, tenor Kim Min-seok, crossover group Forténa, Gugak singer Ko Yeong-yeol, and violinist Danny Koo.

This stage is composed of a look back at the musical activities Sumi Jo has continued for the past 40 years, while featuring performers of various generations and genres singing and playing together. The performance begins with a chamber arrangement of ‘Champions’, and Sumi Jo appears on stage singing ‘Mask’. A stage featuring a musical about the young Sumi Jo's story, accompanied by orchestral performance and choreography, has also been prepared. KBS 1TV will broadcast this performance on the evening of the 9th.

Starting with ‘Champions’ to look back on a 40-year musical journey

According to broadcast materials, the door to the performance opens with ‘Champions’ reinterpreted in a chamber arrangement. The children's musical group ‘Smiling Child’ welcomes the performers, and the cast members appear one by one to celebrate Sumi Jo's 40th debut anniversary. Following this, Sumi Jo appears singing ‘Mask’. Stage production reminiscent of a glamorous ball decorates the opening of the performance along with the song.

During the performance, an ‘Aria Medley’ collecting arias representing Sumi Jo's past 40-year musical journey will also unfold. The broadcast introduces stages looking back at Sumi Jo's musical life along with songs newly arranged for this concert. On stage, Sumi Jo looked back on the past 40 years, saying, “I am reminded of myself being dropped at Rome Airport in Italy with two small bags.” She continued, “After this 40-year journey, I promise to become an artist who studies and strives even more. It was an honor to be able to sing for the Republic of Korea.” Remarks conveying Sumi Jo's reflections are also included in the broadcast.

Collaborations with Son Tae-jin, Kim Min-seok, and Forténa

Sumi Jo and Son Tae-jin sing ‘Majung’ together, and present ‘Romance’ with tenor Kim Min-seok. Following this, Lee Gi-eop and Yoo Seung-ho, winners of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition, sing ‘Non Ti Scordar Di Me’ with Sumi Jo. Following the duets with Son Tae-jin and Kim Min-seok, stages with the competition winners are arranged, allowing performers with different musical connections to participate in one performance. The cast includes artists who have maintained special connections with Sumi Jo.

Crossover group Forténa reinterprets Sumi Jo's representative aria, ‘Queen of the Night Aria’, with their own tones and harmonies. This is followed by a medley weaving together Sumi Jo's representative arias. Gugak singer Ko Yeong-yeol presents ‘Arirang Cantabile’ together with Sumi Jo. Performance materials explain that this song contains Sumi Jo's affection and pride for her home country. The collaboration, where the voices and melodies of Sumi Jo and Ko Yeong-yeol harmonize, expresses Korea's unique sentiment. The performers sequentially decorate the stage, encompassing classical, crossover, and Gugak.

A stage connecting through children's choirs and musicals

Sumi Jo sings ‘Aria du destin’ with the children's choir Dream Tree, and presents a ‘The Sound Of Music’ medley with Lime Tree. In a stage with the children's musical group ‘Smiling Child’, they sing ‘Buongiorno’. ‘Smiling Child’ also participates in the stage welcoming the performers at the beginning of the performance. The children's choir and musical group participate in the performance with different songs, decorating the stage with Sumi Jo.

A musical dealing with Sumi Jo's childhood will also be broadcast. The stage presents the story of the young Sumi Jo who moved toward her dreams even in moments of frustration. The role of the young Sumi Jo was played by musical actress Choi Eun-yeong, the role of the mother by soprano Lee Hae-won, and the role of Lee Su-in by Seo Yeong-taek of Forténa. The performance throughout is handled by the Millennium Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Choi Young-sun. Choreography by Ki Mu-gan is also added. The composition includes musical performance, musical, choir, and choreography within one program.

Respect from juniors... All performers sing ‘Champions’ together

The junior artists participating in the performance conveyed their respect and congratulations to Sumi Jo. Lee Dong-gyu of Forténa stated, “Teacher Sumi Jo is my true idol,” revealing that he had been collecting and analyzing Sumi Jo's albums to study since he began his studies. Tenor Lee Gi-eop said, “To all vocalists, Teacher Sumi Jo is a guide.” Bass Yoo Seung-ho conveyed, “I am learning a lot by watching Teacher on how I should approach music in the future.” Seo Yeong-taek of Forténa stated, “It feels like the 40-year path Teacher has walked shines upon the path we will walk in the future.”

Soprano Lee Hae-won recalled the memory of listening to Sumi Jo's albums while attending lessons with her mother during her childhood and said, “It is such an honor just to stand on the same stage as Teacher.” Son Tae-jin described the performance as “a concert like a comprehensive gift set filled with various stages.” Kim Min-seok mentioned the duet with Sumi Jo and the collaborations crossing genres, saying, “You will regret it if you miss it.” Ko Yeong-yeol said they would present “music that can show the most Korean colors,” and Danny Koo said, “It feels like everything Sumi Jo has done, not just classical but various music for 40 years, is felt in this ‘Sumi Jo's Encore’ performance.”

In the final sequence, Danny Koo plays ‘Love Theme’, followed by all performers singing Sumi Jo's representative song ‘Champions’ together. The 40th anniversary debut concert ‘Sumi Jo's Encore’ will be broadcast for 90 minutes on KBS 1TV on Friday, October 9th at 7 PM.

Read the original (Korean)