2024 Sori Festival ‘Five Pansori Stories’

From National Treasures of the Year to Rising Stars!

This year, Jeonju International Sori Festival’s signature performance series, “Five Pansori Stories,” consists of three sections featuring both young artists and nationally renowned singers, allowing all generations to enjoy pansori performances together. The section of “Treasure-master of the Year” will feature elderly singers who will showcase their long history of performance. “Masters of Our Era” will feature veteran performers who have been active with their passion for pansori, and the “Rising Star” section will feature talented young artists. Let us watch the spectrum of pansori where each story has its own unique charm.

Master Wang Giseok’s Misan-je Sugung-ga

Master Wang Giseok was naturally exposed to and thereby fascinated by pansori from his younger days, thanks to his third eldest brother, Master Wang Gichang, and his fifth brother, Master Wang Gicheol. He began his professional pansori life since at the age of 18. He studied under the guidance of Masters Nam Haeseong, Jeong Gwonjin, Park Bongsul, Jeong Gwangsu, Seong Wuhyang, and Oh Jeongsuk. In 1983, he joined the National Changgeuk Company, where he has been active for thirty years.

Master Wang Giseok will perform “Misan-je Sugung-ga” on the festival stage. Misan-je style is Misan Park Chowol’s reinterpretation of what she inherited from the tradition that has been passed down from Song Heungrok to Song Gwangrok, Song Wuryong, Yu Seongjun, Jeong Gwangsu, and Park Chowol. Although it belongs to the lineage of dongpyeon-je (i.e., “eastern” style), it also has some characteristics of seopyeon-je (“western” style), including its unique gyemyeon-jo (a kind of minor scale) singing style and its pathetic voice. Its wide pitch-range and splendid ornaments also attract audiences.

The audience will meet his “Sugung-ga” full of humor and satire, expressed through his powerful and solid voice, as well as his theatrical expressiveness, constructed through his changgeuk experience. Master percussionists Cho Yongan and Lee Sangho will add to the vibrancy of the performance.