by “This (Itaewon) disaster is so unfortunate. I want to express my condolences to the bereaved, the injured, and everyone who lost loved ones.”
World-renowned popera singer Sarah Brightman sings a song to commemorate the Itaewon disaster at a concert in Korea. It is at the Sarah Brightman Christmas Symphony performance held at KBS Arena in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 3rd of the new month.
In a recent written interview with Brightman said, “I listened to ‘Pie Jesu’ from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem (Requiem) for Korea and to commemorate the tragedy that occurred there (Itaewon). I want to give it to you,” he said.
‘Jesus on the Blood,’ which means merciful Jesus, is a classic song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, a composer famous for musicals such as and . The song was written by Weber in memory of his father, who passed away in 1982, and premiered in 1985. At the time of its premiere, Brightman sang it himself, and it is also the most loved song to date among the Requiems composed by Webber.
Brightman is a soprano representing classical crossover music. He gained great popularity by playing the main character, Christine, in . This visit is the first in six years. Brightman said, “Korean fans always remain as wonderful memories for me. They actively respond and enjoy music, and they regularly come to concerts to enjoy it. So delivering my soul and voice and telling people stories is an essential and wonderful thing for me,” expressing anticipation for a Korean stage after a long time.
As the title suggests, this performance will unfold with a concept suitable for Christmas and the end-of-the-year atmosphere. Brightman said, “I wanted to make a show that brought together everything we feel at this time of year,” and “you can feel the Christmas atmosphere with the lights and costumes, and it is a performance that can feel a very magical and mysterious atmosphere.”
The performance will be held according to the Christmas concept with the Korea Modern Philharmonic Orchestra and the Winner Opera Choir. “The most important thing is the human element,” said Brightman.
The duet song ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ by Brightman and tenor Andrea Bocelli enjoyed great popularity, selling 12 million copies worldwide. So how did you come to sing this song together? Brightman said, “When I heard the song (sung by Andrea Bocelli alone), I thought it was a great song, even though it wasn’t a popular song to rise to the top of the charts, and I thought it would be better if it were a duet song.” They liked my idea, so we sang together.” He added, “When we sang as a duet for the first time, we didn’t know what the result would be, but the result was truly amazing.”
Brightman has collaborated with several famous singers, including Andrea Bocelli, Placido Domingo, and Jose Carreras. He asked if there were any artists he remembered. “I remember all the artists I worked with,” Brightman said. They all showcased their personalities and unique talents in their voices. So when I sing with other artists, I get relief from the pressure and always feel joy.”
Brightman also said that he likes Korean K-pop. K-pop is fun and very lively. So I don’t know if I will fit in with K-pop. But that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy K-pop (laughs).”
Brightman said, “Various kinds of kimchi, fantastic bulgogi, Korean BBQ…, What a wonderful country,” revealing his excitement about visiting Korea.
