The Korea Daily’s 50th-anniversary concert featuring La Poem captivated audiences with a seamless blend of opera, pop, and musical genres. The sold-out performance, held on October 12 at 6 p.m. at the United Theater on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, drew 1,585 attendees, filling both floors with excitement and applause.
La Poem, a male crossover quartet consisting of Yoo Chae-hoon (tenor), Park Ki-hoon (tenor), Choi Sung-hoon (countertenor), and Jung Min-sung (baritone), presented a repertoire of 22 songs.
These included some of their most beloved pieces from the past four years, such as their winning performances on Phantom Singer 3 and Immortal Songs. The group’s soaring vocals resonated within the elegant theater, creating a powerful harmony that blended with the venue’s Parisian-inspired architecture.
La Poem performing at a concert celebrating the Korea Daily’s 50th anniversary on October 12 at the United Theater on Broadway [Sangjin Kim, The Korea Daily]
The concert opened with “The Fire,” from their fifth album, kicking off La Poem’s first Los Angeles tour. During the first half, the group performed fan-favorites such as “The Rose” and “Nelle Tue Mani.” Their commanding harmonies evoked audible gasps from the audience, as each song brought a new emotional depth. The crowd also reconnected with nostalgic Korean sentiments through songs like “Oh, Love” and the musical-inspired “Dazzling Night,” which transported listeners to the essence of Korean music.
The energy rose even further with a Lion King medley and Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” igniting excitement among the audience. The first half concluded with a grand rendition of “The Phantom of the Opera,” a nod to their winning Phantom Singer 3 finale.
The second half opened with a striking solo segment, featuring Yoo Chae-hoon and Choi Sung-hoon in uniform. Among the highlights were “Song of the Wind” and “Don’t Forget,” which recharged the audience with heartfelt Korean ballads. A vocal rendition of Never Ending Story had fans singing along, creating an interactive atmosphere.
The excitement peaked when the audience danced to an ABBA medley featuring “Dancing Queen” and “Mamma Mia,” turning the theater into a time machine, transporting everyone back to the ‘70s and ‘80s.
The concert also showcased the unique vocal talents of each member through individual solos. Yoo Chae-hoon performed “Il Mondo” from Phantom Singer 3, while Choi Sung-hoon added a modern twist to Lascia ch’io pianga, famously featured in the film Farinelli. Jung Min-sung offered an operatic take on This Is the Moment from Jekyll and Hyde, while Park Ki-hoon serenaded the audience with Andrea Bocelli’s “Champagne.”
For the encore, La Poem delivered energetic performances of “Viva La Vida” and “Amazing Grace,” marking a grand conclusion to their LA show and the start of their U.S. tour.
After the concert, many attendees praised the fusion of crossover music and the theater’s vintage charm. Pyung Jeong-soo, who attended with a VIP ticket gifted by a friend, remarked, “Mozart’s Lacrimosa, featured in the drama ‘Vincenzo,’ felt like listening to classical music in a Parisian cathedral. The song selection and the harmony with the venue were absolutely perfect.”
Lee Young-rok and Jung Jong-man, who traveled from Korea for the tour, attended shows in Washington D.C. and Dallas before arriving in LA. They shared, “The LA performance was the most passionate, blending classical music, opera, musical numbers, and Korean ballads like a musical gift set for the audience.”
Following their U.S. tour, La Poem will return to Korea to present La Poem Symphony, performing classical pieces with an orchestra at the end of the month.
BY EUNYOUNG LEE, YOUNGNAM KIM [lee.eunyoung6@koreadaily.com]
