Kim So-hyang successfully concluded a solo concert commemorating her 25th anniversary since debut.
Kim So-hyang held her 25th anniversary solo concert 'Hyanghada 2: Bright 香' at SA Hall in Seoul for three days from the 4th to the 6th. It was her first meeting with audiences in five years since the 2021 20th anniversary concert 'Hyanghada', and she participated directly in planning, scriptwriting and directing to present the time she has walked as an actress and the stories contained within through music.
The concert title 'Bright 香' was inspired by the meaning of 'bright fragrance' contained in Kim So-hyang's name. As the title was an idea she came up with herself, the show reflected her past time and future stories in her own way.
The concert was structured around the theme 'What if' to look back on Kim So-hyang's 25 years. Asking the question 'what if I had made different choices,' she explored numerous moments faced while living as an actress through music and storytelling. Music, video and stage talk were woven into a single flow to portray actress Kim So-hyang's 25 years in a multidimensional way.
Kim So-hyang sang about freedom and new challenges through numbers such as 'All That Jazz', 'Out Tonight' and 'Buenos Aires'. She then presented songs including 'You Tonight', 'Standing Next to You', 'Another Day of Sun', 'Lost Stars', 'Shallow' and 'Never Enough', expressing various emotions around love, relationships and dreams in her own voice.
In particular, she demonstrated a broad musical spectrum by taking on not only numbers she had previously performed but also songs often considered male characters' numbers, such as 'Death Note', 'This Moment', 'To be king', 'Why don't you love me' and 'Everyone's world'. In the latter part of the show she filled the stage by exploring thoughts about the past and stories about the future through songs such as 'Oh, my beloved', 'Freedom and happiness', 'Rainbow High' and 'I'm the Prime'.
The 'Oh, my beloved' stage was also special. Through this soprano number from the musical ANNA Karenina, she challenged a new vocal range beyond the range she had previously shown, demonstrating another possibility. In 'Freedom and happiness' she reflected on the time she had spent by directly sharing her experiences and thoughts, continuing the emotions contained within through song and delivering a deeper resonance to the audience.
In the stage talk she candidly shared the time she has walked as an actress and the concerns she held during that process. She spoke honestly about the time she spent in New York to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, the moments she agonized over choosing works and roles, and personal stories about love and parting.
Through the question 'What if', she revisited past choices and discussed what those moments meant to her current self. Kim So-hyang's sincere confessions drew empathy from the audience and created a time to connect with them in a way different from music.
The appearances of special guests for each performance also enriched the show. Musical actors Jeon Su-mi, Lee Ah-reum and Park Si-in, along with AIKI, Yoo Yeon-jeong and Kim Ryeo-won, joined her on stage to offer a variety of attractions. Kim So-hyang not only talked with the guests but also shared the stage with them, showing natural chemistry.
In particular, AIKI heated up the mood with a solo performance of 'Standing Next to You', and added a distinctive fun to the show by presenting the 'Bad' challenge with Kim So-hyang.
Above all, this performance was meaningful as a stage where Kim So-hyang, celebrating her 25th anniversary since debut, retraced the time she had walked as an actress in her own way and shared those moments with the audience. As it was a performance presented again five years after the 20th anniversary concert 'Hyanghada', she participated directly in planning, scriptwriting and directing to complete her story as a single production.
Following 'Hyanghada', she once again collaborated with music director Hwang Min-jung to raise the musical completeness. Kim So-hyang's past 25 years and the time ahead were connected through music and storytelling, adding authenticity to the entire performance.
On the encore stage she performed 'I'm here' to conclude the three-day run. Kim So-hyang reviewed her 25-year journey with the audience until the end, conveyed sincere feelings and left a deep aftertaste.
Kim So-hyang said, "Because 'Hyanghada 2' met audiences for the first time in five years, I prepared more and worried more. I wanted to create something that the audience would take to their hearts, so I could not miss this precious time. I was so happy that the audience liked it. Please wait for 'Hyanghada 3!'"
Since debuting in the musical 'Gospel', Kim So-hyang has steadily met audiences through diverse works such as 'Evita', 'West Side Story (WEST SIDE STORY)', 'Mozart!', 'Sister Act', 'Marie Antoinette', 'The Man Who Laughs', 'Marie Curie', 'Frida', 'ANNA Karenina', and Yumi's Cells.
[Photo] Provided by EMK Entertainment
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