Hera Hyesang Park is one of the most interesting sopranos today. Not only for the technical and expressive qualities that have long allowed her to sing in the important theaters of the world’s opera circuit, but also for the way in which she projects her image and deciphers the current dynamics of musical circulation and possibilities. her. Empathic with the strategies of mass commercial music without giving up the spaces of lyrical tradition, the South Korean singer will offer this Monday at 8 p.m. at the Colon Theatera recital with the “album presentation” format, which will also include the projection of a video clip and, ultimately, a “Meet & Greet”, in which he will talk with his fans.
Accompanied by the Association of Teachers of the Stable Orchestra of the Teatro Colón directed by Marcelo Ayub, Hera will present the works of Breathehis second album for the prestigious German label Deutsche Gramophon. The recital, part of the “Extraordinary Columbus Concerts” series, will also include the projection of While You Live, the short about the theme that opens the album, the work of Mariano Nante. The film was filmed at the Teatro Colón and produced by Mama Húngara, with the support of the Korean Cultural Center of Buenos Aires.
The song “While You Live,” featuring music by Luke Howard, is based on the Epitaph of Sicylum, a musical piece from the 1st or 2nd century BC, one of the oldest preserved. “The discovery of Epitaph of Sicylum It helped me change my perspective. “This album arose from the fear I felt during the pandemic and the losses it produced and from the answers I found in the midst of imperfection,” says Hera at the beginning of the talk with Page 12. “I understood that fear, as an emotion, is universal and then I took the courage to delve deeper into the meaning of death, recognizing it as part of life. Sicylus wrote that song to honor his late wife and it has a verse that struck me ‘As long as you live, shine / Have no pain / Life exists only for a short time / And time exacts its toll.’ That form of wisdom summarized in tears moved me deeply, to the point that in choosing the music for the album I sought to express the chaos, the madness and the deep understanding of Sicily’s life. Now I want to express it in this recital,” says Hera.
The program that Hera announces for her recital at the Colón includes pages by Gioachino Rossini, Henry Purcell, Richard Strauss, Edward Elgar, Vincenzo Bellini and Giuseppe Verdi, along with works by South Korean composers, such as Hyo-Won Woo, Un-Yung La and Doo-Nam Cho. “I think Korean culture is prosperous because In a fast-paced world, people recognize the power of simplicity, and we possess that power more than any other culture.says Hera. “I like to include songs with distinctive Korean characteristics in my repertoires, because I feel that the soul resonates in a different way. Particularly in the song “Gasiri” by Hyo-Won Woo, I sought to recreate the traditional Korean vocalization technique known as ‘chang’. The melody is combined with a simple accompaniment and the constant repetition fills the void with invisible energies, in moments of calm I hear things that I normally don’t hear and see things that I don’t normally see,” continues the singer, who shone in the last Colón season in the role of Pamina, in the setting The magic Flute.
–You were born in Korea, you studied in New York and today you work all over the world. How do you feel spiritually and professionally living at a crossroads of cultures?
–In fullness. I don’t aim to leave a specific image of myself on anyone. For me, the honesty and value of the process behind glamor on stage are the most precious values. I have an ideal sound in my head and practice is the only way to get to that sound. Practicing daily and getting closer to it is like winning a battle. Traveling teaches me, of course, about others and about myself, and that makes my life as a singer more fun, which may seem simple and easy to some, even repetitive, but it is in the routine where opportunities appear.
–At this point in your career you have recorded for Deutsche Grammophon and have performed in important theaters. How do you imagine your future in the world of opera?
–I feel a sense of sacred responsibility along with gratitude. In every moment, I give my best effort and put all my strength into creating. Instead of recording music that is popular or sells well, I focus my heart and mind on telling the stories I want to tell. That’s why this album project was particularly emotionally draining. I sincerely thank Deutsche Grammophon for believing in an eccentric person like me. I aspire to become a musician who improves a little more every day through practice, with the goal of channeling nothing but positive energy into the souls of others through music. I want to continue growing as a musician and if I can really create music that comforts someone, I feel that my existence has no greater value.
Hera says that to take care of her voice she drinks a lot of water, gets enough sleep, has a balanced diet, does not abuse the heating, and tries to minimize stress. Although she recognizes that it is not always possible. “I try to do what any person would do,” she says, and assures that knowing how to choose roles at the right time is another way to take care of herself. “Performing music that you understand deeply is much more effective than trying to interpret what you don’t understand as an artist, regardless of repertoire,” she says. “In concerts I explore the possibilities of my voice, and that allows me to cultivate the strength necessary to later perform a full opera role. I think that “Within a healthy technique, recognizing the limits, any music is possible.”, says the singer and cites as models Maria Chiara and Ileana Cotrubas, cult sopranos, who shone in the ’60s and ’70s of the last century. “Although they were not as dramatic as other sopranos of the time, they created music of the highest quality, recognizing their limits with precision. They knew what they could do and they did it at the highest level. That is the key.”
