Pop-opera singer Lim Hyung-joo`s national concert tour starts in Seoul

“This is the second performance under my name at the Opera House of the Seoul Arts Center. Only soprano Jo Su-mi and Cho Yong-pil have performed more than twice at the place. I became the third one and I’m very excited about that.”

Beginning at the Opera House of the Seoul Arts Center, Popera tenor Lim Hyung-joo (aged 29, photo) will make a nation-wide concert tour in three years. Under the title of “2015 Lim Hyung-joo Concert L.O.V.E.,” he will hold concerts in Ulsan (Oct. 24), Busan (Nov. 1), Changwon (Nov. 28), Suwon (Dec. 11), Jeonju (Dec. 25) and Gwangju (Dec. 31). During the interview at Westin Chosun on Sept. 30, he was all smiles.

At the tour this time, he will sing some 20 songs, which include songs that he has not sung in his show up to date.

“I will sing `This is the moment` from Jekyll & Hyde that most number of fans requested, “E lucevan le stele” from Tosca, “Brindisi” from La Traviata and more. The lineup also includes Korean pop songs such as “One late night in 1994,” “Mother” and “On the street” that are in my newly-released album early this year.”

He said that “This is the moment” was the one that made him worried to the last moment since the song has been sung by so many singers that he had little idea how much he should differentiate the song and on which tone he should sing it.

“The exploding feeling of `This is the moment` can’t be delivered when sung at its original key tone as I usually sing high-pitched tone. I tried to raise in pitch by a whole and a half steps, which didn’t really work to express the true flavor of the song. After I tried different ways, I decided to go for the original key tone. I practiced the song with the orchestra yesterday and the result was satisfactory.”

Having sung with the pseudonym of “A real man tough guy” at King of Mask Singer of Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation, he went all the way up to the finals where the King is decided. “I was so relieved that I was eliminated at the point where I don’t lose my honor and was not affected with my other schedule. I decided to be on the show to “drum up” people’s interest in popera.” Other songs such as “Praise of death” and “By your side” that he sang at the show will be performed at his upcoming concert.

“People say it was unexpected that I sang `Praise of Death," which was made in the 1920s. I plan to release an album of `Korean songs` that came from the same root, be it Korean lyric songs or pop songs. `Praise of Death` was the one that I chose as album’s title.”

suhchoi@donga.com