SUMMER JOURNAL 2004 - PART 1
Dear All,
Hope this summer finds
you well and rested, enjoying good weather and all that it brings.
We are back in production as we write this heading into the last part of our
recording, but more about that later.
In May we toured Korea for the seventh time! This tour was organised once again by Mr Lee and his company Vincero. In Seoul the world renowned opera singer Young Ok Shin performed with us. She performed a selection of our songs some with new Korean lyrics and some with new English lyrics, the latter penned by Brendan Graham.
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NEW KOREAN
RECORD
This collaboration between Young Ok Shin and Secret Garden was the brain child
of Lisa in Universal records Korea. They created a new best of Secret Garden
CD, called The Ultimate Secret Garden specially to coincide with this tour with
guest artist Young Ok Shin. Having an opera singer perform some of our songs
with new lyrics was not something we could ever have imagined. It was wonderful
to work with Young Ok Shin on this project, and feel we have made a new friend.
The new CD was launched at a press conference prior to the concert tour. It’s a double CD package designed in Korea and has since been released in Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong will release in December.
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CONCERTS
Once Press conference and photo shoots were done rehearsals began first with
Young Ok Shin and then with our own band. The band line up was a little different
to the Australian tour, Henrik Euranius was back on oboe and cor anglaise, Pat
Broaders on Uileann pipes and whistles and Ottar Nesje on percussion. We had
not seen Ottar for a year as he has taken a sabbatical to work in South Africa
bringing music and education to disadvantaged people. Pat Broaders had not performed
with us since 2002 as he has been touring the US with his group Bohola. So Korea
was filled with new beginnings and old memories.
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The response to the concerts was tremendous and we had great fun with Young Ok Shin signing afterwards. The Norwegian Ambassador Arild Braastad and the Irish Ambassador Peter Murray came to a concert and it was a real pleasure to meet them afterwards.
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On the departure day in Seoul the entire group were invited to lunch at The Norwegian Ambassador’s home. He and his lovely prepared a wonderful meal for all, a mixture of both the finest of Norwegian and Korean cuisine. We had such a wonderful time that it was difficult to leave for the next performance in Ulsan.
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This was the first time in Ulsan. We performed in the Hyundai Concert Hall and stayed in the Hyundai hotel. It was a lovely place and we enjoyed the experience, some of the band even managed to tuck in a guided Hyundai tour!
SIGHTSEEING
Even though we have toured Korea many times it’s mostly been too busy
to experience it for ourselves. This tour allowed us a few hours to wander about;
where we saw the locals play croquet, shopped in the local markets, and soaked
up the lovely weather. So many great things to see and do, perhaps the funniest
was the dog been fed with chop sticks.
Korea has always been a great territory for us and we are so grateful to all
our friends who support us there and allow us to visit so often.
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NEW RECORD
The month of June was spent entirely on production in Ireland. We worked with
many great artists as well as recording the orchestra and choir.
We have kept a photo journal of the production which we will put on the site
when it’s all over. (I’ve enclosed just a couple as a preview now.!)
We are happy the way it’s turning out and now the end is in sight.
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July was our annual recovery month to recharge and review the process so far and prepare for the next leg.
August finds us in Denmark
recording throughout the month and then we head to LA for the mix. Once it’s
all done we will post the pictures on the site and fill you in on the release
plans and any other info we can give you.
So till then stay well.
Love from,
Fionnuala and Rolf
