Chaehoon's View on Phantom of the Orchestra

Chaehoon writes about Park, Baek, and Jeong's concert

Last time (published on July 6), I mentioned Chaehoon's blog. He updates it frequently, with many of his own photos uploaded. He opened this blog probably because he wanted to have a place in which he can present his photograph work. 

Concert poster

A few days ago (July 29), La Pome's two younger brothers performed with Baek, Hyeonghun of Hpresso and Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra. On that day, Chaehoon was there with the singers during a rehearsal and also watched them perform as one of the audience.

He published a blog page, filled with pictures, sketching out his thoughts about the rehearsal and concert. I also went to the concert and enjoyed it a lot. I wanted to write about it, but decided to borrow Chaehoon's words this time. His words should be more informative and fun to read. 

Image from Chaehoon's instagram

Chaehoon's page includes many pictures. They should stay where they belong. I'll simply translate his words into English and replace those pictures with square brackets. 

[A picture of Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra]

I went to the concert of my two little brothers Minseong and Kihun. A musical actor Baek, Hyeonghun of Hpresso also performed with them. They sang to the accompaniment of Seoul Grand Philharmonic Orchestra.

I was lucky enough to watch these excellent singers perform on the first row for the reason that I am in the same quartet. (Well... I guess I've done things pretty well in life).

Today I'm posting pictures of scenes captured during a rehearsal and outside the stage.

[Kihun listens to orchestra sound]

For every concert, singers have different ways of facing a rehearsal. Kihun is winsome, talkative, and boisterous in his daily life. When it comes to music performance, however, no one is more serious than Kihun.

[Kihun listens to Minseong's vocal sound]

It's been a while since I saw Kihun in a concert hall like this. It reminds me of the first time I saw him. At the final competition of Seoul International Music Concours, his waterfall-like voice resounded loudly in the concert hall of Seoul Arts Center. Hearing him making that sound live, I thought to myself "Who the heck is he? Where did he come from?"   

[Kihun's Nessun Dorma rehearsal]

Kihun sang Nessun Dorma at producers' preliminary evaluations in Phantom Singer 3.

Let's listen to Kihun's Nessun Dorma for a break. Click here. * You may need to click twice.

[A picture of Kihun]

After winning in Phantom Singer 3, one of the most difficult challenges and problems to solve for Kihun is dealing with sound systems. In general, opera singers train for sending their voice farther and farther away in a hall and thus use deeper breathing techniques than pop singers. This is because the hall has to ring with their own voice. 

When singers use a microphone, it absorbs their voice which, opera singers used to think, should be sent far away. In addition, speakers, instead of a singer's body, amplify the resounding voice. This is good in the sense that singers can reverberate the hall without making their voice loud. At the same time it's a pity that opera singers cannot make the most out of their vocal techniques that they've acquired for long. 

Of course, if a singer knows how to use a microphone effectively, (s)he can express a lot more, and this is very advantageous for the singer. For opera singers to utilize their voices into these sound systems more effectively, a long period of practice and knowhow acquisition seems to be necessary.

[Another picture of Kihun]

Anyway La Poem members, Kihun included, tend to restrain their voices and yield to a large extent.

We've driven at full speed, but it occurs to me that it should be good to have a regular concert of this sort (i.e., classical concert) in tandem with others.

[Minseong and conductor Seo, Hun] 

On this day, Minseong sang "First Love." It was so so good to listen to the song with Minseong's voice. Seriously!

[A picture of Minseong]

Minseong's voice is honest and smooth as velvet, providing a sense of stability for the team. Sometimes he supports the rest of us by going up to tenor's vocal range. A column-like solid voice is Minseong's voice.

[Another picture of Minseong]

Minseong, as the only baritone in the team, provides rock-solid support for three tenors, dragging us to the final destination. Super great guy!

And isn't your setlist so great today? 

As a matter of fact, he was a little under the weather on this day. His condition hardly fluctuates, but fatigue must have accumulated out of recent busy events such as recording, concerts, and radio. 

Unlike Kihun, he tends to be in high spirits during a rehearsal. On this day, however, he was rather calm and laser-focused.

(Still, you were very good on stage. Is it true that you were unwell? You even raised the key of the Il Mondo chorus to the original one! What the hell are you?)

[Have you seen a musical actor singing an opera aria?]

It was particularly good to have a chance to listen to Hyeonghun singing up close in person after Phantom Singer All Stars. He picked a song (aria) from an opera, Amor ti vieta from Fedora, which was also special.

Hyeonghun sang this difficult aria to the accompaniment of an orchestra with ease. I couldn't help shouting out Bravo!

[Hyeonghun singing a song from the musical Cyrano]

At the rehearsal of his first song, I sensed that monitor sound problems kept Hyeonghun from making comfortable vocal sounds. The idea that it could be viewed as being nosey made me hesitate, but in a little time I went to the sound director and asked for doing reasoned favors. I suggested this and that. Yes, I made a little nuisance of myself.

After the rehearsal was finished, I asked Hyeonghun how comfortable he was at the second song. He answered "Oh, suddenly singing got easier. Thank you!"

I felt good for myself. This was TMI (i.e., too much information), though. Well, I'm just saying... I was proud of having been helpful.

[A selfie in a dressing room]

Following the rehearsal, I came to the dressing room of the singers. Wherever a mirror goes, a selfie goes first. 

[Kihun receives hair & makeup supports]

Now it's the time. A real preparation for the concert!

Actually, going through the whole process of a rehearsal is so exhausting that it makes singers become hungry and go blank. But, as time approaches, singers become tense, feeling that their heart rate goes higher. 

[It's all set!]

Kihun warms up his voice until the very moment of the concert. 

[Minseong, all set too!]

Minseong listens to the songs he will sing.

[A selfie shoot for three of us!]

Only I look shabby. Well...

[Two men cheering up each other right before the concert] 

Right before the concert, we exchange a high five or words of blessing.

[Today's singers Kihun, Hyeonghun, and Minseong together]

Hyeonghun finished his preparation at last. I took a picture of them right before the concert began. 

This combination is ... so nice-looking and good. It was shocking (Chaehoon’s mannerism word).

[The concert began~]

The concert began, and I watched the stage from the entrance of the singers. Looking at them over here, I felt different. 

Image from La Poem official instagram

I uploaded several pictures I took using Leica Q2 Monochrom.

I actually took more pictures than these but didn't upload all of them. The rest are kept in private for my pleasure. 

Next time I'll upload pictures taken during Sunghoon's concert in Seoul Arts Center.

The end.