The Korea Times

INTERVIEW Korean-German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger releases debut album 'Wonderworld'

Pianist Gina Alice performs during a promotional event held online for her debut album, “Wonderworld,” in Frankfurt, Thursday. Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonThe 2019 marriage of renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang made headlines in Korea, as he married Korean-German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger. Since the marriage, she has become better known as the wife of the superstar pianist, as well as a TV star, after appearing on some programs in China following her move there. However, she is a promising pianist and talented musician in her own right.Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, Redlinger started playing piano at the age of four, performing in public for the first time at the age of eight and giving her first solo recital at 15. Following graduation from the Hamburg University of Music, the 27-year-old has collaborated with a number of orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Shenyang Symphony Orchestra and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra.After giving birth to a baby boy this year, she is about to resume her journey as a pianist, with her first album, “Wo

Dec 5, 2021By Park Ji-won

[INTERVIEW] Korean-German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger releases debut album 'Wonderworld'

Society

INTERVIEW Yoido Full Gospel Church vows $84 million for people hurt by pandemic

Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church, speaks during an interview with The Korea Times, at the church's office in Seoul, Thursday. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulRev. Lee says church-sponsored cardiac hospital in Pyongyang likely to open in 2023 By Park Ji-wonWith the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic set to enter its third year, the cries from the poorest of the poor and self-employed people, who were hit harder than any other groups of people, have been desperate as their livelihoods have deteriorated or completely disappeared. The nation's largest church, the Yoido Full Gospel Church, has recently vowed to lend a helping hand to those affected with funds set aside from its sale of a property near the church.“About half of the money will go in taxes and the other half will be used for poverty relief and helping the self-employed members of our church,” Rev. Lee Young-hoon, the senior pastor at the church, said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “We unveiled a bold donation plan with the newly created funds… because a church

Nov 30, 2021By Park Ji-won

[INTERVIEW] Yoido Full Gospel Church vows $84 million for people hurt by pandemic

'There will be light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel'

Arts & Theater

INTERVIEW Metaverse-inspired German play 'Ultraworld' questions meaning of game-like life

A scene from “Ultraworld,” directed by Susanne Kennedy / Courtesy of National Theater of KoreaBy Park Ji-wonCan virtual reality replace the real world?” Many might think that this metaphysical question arose only with the introduction of new technologies in the 21st century, but actually, it has existed since ancient times, as in the Allegory of the Cave by Greek philosopher Plato.German theater director Susanne Kennedy, whose work focuses on providing post-human, post-anthropocentric perspectives, has also been interested in this topic. When the concept of metaverse started to spread recently, she focused on the similarity between the theatrical play and the metaverse, which are both types of “illusions,” and decided to combine the two in “Ultraworld,” which premiered in Germany in January 2020 and will be performed for the second time at the National Theater of Korea (NTOK), from Thursday to Saturday.“In many traditions, virtual reality is something that people thought about for a long time, like Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The ques

Nov 26, 2021By Park Ji-won

[INTERVIEW] Metaverse-inspired German play 'Ultraworld' questions meaning of game-like life

Music

Pianist Kissin mesmerizes Korean audience again with four encores

Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during a solo recital held at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for ArtsBy Park Ji-won“His music reminded me of an encounter with my loved one,” Choi Eun-kyu, a violinist and classical music critic, said after the recital by Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Kissin is one of the most popular concert pianists in Korea.Indeed, the 50-year-old pianist, who has visited Korea five times since 2006, made the 1,600 audience members feel that they and his music were inseparable. As the audience's applause continued, he had to move between the stage and backstage nine times after the planned program ended, in order to play four more pieces. Whenever he smiled, the audience applauded louder. He asked the staff to place a big mirror backstage for him to check his appearance, but he had no time to take a look at it, as he was too busy going back and forth for the encores. The tickets for the concert were sold-out within 25 minutes, its organizer said.Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs d

Nov 24, 2021By Park Ji-won

Pianist Kissin mesmerizes Korean audience again with four encores

Arts & Theater

Korea's iconic theatrical show 'Nanta' set to return

The actors in “Nanta,” a non-verbal, cooking-themed, percussive performance, display their talents in the show's theater in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Nov. 18. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-sukBy Park Ji-wonWearing sweatpants, five performers gathered together for the first time in 21 months, in an empty theater in Myeong-dong, Seoul, designed especially for “Nanta,” a non-verbal, cooking-themed, percussive, theatrical performance.Premiering in October 1997 and based on the rhythms of samulnori, a type of percussion performance involving four traditional Korean instruments, “Nanta” revolves around four chefs, who, using their cooking tools as percussive instruments prepare food for a traditional wedding ceremony. With the tools, they make sounds by chopping vegetables, as well as fighting with brooms and throwing dishes at each other to create a percussive maelstrom.The five ― Choi Hye-in, playing “Female,” Sul Ho-yeoul, playing “Manager,” Ko Chang-hwan, playing “Head Chef,” Jung Min-goo, playing “Sexy Guy”

Nov 24, 2021By Park Ji-won

Korea's iconic theatrical show 'Nanta' set to return

Music

INTERVIEW For Chopin competition winner Bruce Liu, piano is a 'hobby' he has passion for

Bruce Liu, the winner of the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition / Courtesy of the Chopin InstituteBy Park Ji-wonClassical music fans all over the world were excited to watch the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition held last month, expecting the emergence of a star pianist who could influence the classical music industry for some time to come. Korean fans had especially high expectations for the contest, as the winner of the last competition held six years ago was Korea's own Cho Seong-jin.However, Lee Hyuk, a Korean finalist in the competition, failed to win a prize, as Canadian pianist Bruce Xiaoyu Liu won the top spot with unique and skilled performance. The winner who is currently having an international “marathon-like” tour after the competition, will hold a concert with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, led by associate conductor Wilson Ng, at the Seoul Arts Center (SAC), Nov. 27. He will be playing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11; Berlioz's Le Carnaval Romain Overture and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 9 in E-flat maj

Nov 23, 2021By Park Ji-won

[INTERVIEW] For Chopin competition winner Bruce Liu, piano is a 'hobby' he has passion for

Arts & Theater

COVID-cancelled French musical 'Notre Dame de Paris' hits Korean theaters

A scene from the French original musical, “Notre Dame de Paris,” during a press conference at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Thursday. Courtesy of Mast EntertainmentBy Park Ji-wonThe poster for the French original musical, “Notre Dame de Paris” / Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsThe original French production of the musical, “Notre Dame de Paris,” based on the novel with the same title by Victor Hugo and one of the most popular original foreign productions in Korea, will be performed with its 1998 original cast and new casts in three different locations in Korea, running until Jan. 16 of next year.The musical, composed by Riccardo Cocciante, written by Luc Plamondon, choreographed by Martino Muller and directed by Gille Maheu, as its original creators, is set in the 15th century and revolves around Quasimodo and his love for the beautiful Esmeralda. It is especially known for having beautiful songs such as “Vivre,” “Le Temps des Cathedrales,” “Belle,” and more.The legendary musical, wh

Nov 21, 2021By Park Ji-won

COVID-cancelled French musical 'Notre Dame de Paris' hits Korean theaters

Shows & Dramas

New and improved 'The Dresser' returns to theater

Song Seung-whan, playing the character of 'Sir' in the play, “The Dresser,” and other actors, perform in a press presentation for the theater production at the National Jeongdong Theater of Korea, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of the National Jeongdong Theater of KoreaBy Park Ji-wonRonald Harwood's play, “The Dresser,” returned to the stage last year, though its performance schedule was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.The play, presented by the National Jeongdong Theater of Korea, revolves around an aging actor, Sir, and his devoted costumier, Norman, performing in a provincial theatre in the English provinces in 1942 during World War II. The actor, who is preparing to perform King Lear, starts to act strangely right before his appearance on stage due to an air raid, forgetting his lines and the existential quandary he is supposed to be portraying. Norman and the theater's other staff members make every effort to help the actor get on stage and perform.Sir will be played by veteran actor Song Seung-whan, who is better known as the chief producer of the iconic rhy

Nov 18, 2021By Park Ji-won

New and improved 'The Dresser' returns to theater

Music

Pianist Kim Jeong-won to perform reflections of his past, present, future

Pianist Kim Jeong-won performs during a press conference held at Yamaha Music Communication Center, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Kreis ClassicBy Park Ji-wonAlthough Korea's market for classical music has grown larger, few classical musicians have reached the “fandom” level.But Pianist Kim Jeong-won, 46, had fans from the early stages of his career; a loyal fandom, who have been eagerly supporting him since he was in his 20s when he advanced to the third round of the Chopin International Piano Competition in 2000 ― many of who still remain loyal.Since his debut recital in Korea in 2001, Kim has taken a unique career path as a musician, taking various roles ranging from a pianist to a DJ.Following completion of postgraduate studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna ― the youngest student ever to do so ― he went on to study at the Conservatoire National Superieur de la Musique de Paris. He performed as a pianist in the film “For Horowitz” (2006) and was a faculty member at Kyung Hee University from 2009 to 2017. He took on the role of artist

Nov 18, 2021By Park Ji-won

Pianist Kim Jeong-won to perform reflections of his past, present, future

Music

Elias Brown wins 1st KSO conducting competition

Elias Brown conducts the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) on Sunday during the first KSO International Conducting Competition held at the Seoul Arts Center from Nov. 10 to Sunday. Courtesy of KSOBy Park Ji-wonPoster for the KSO International Conducting Competition / Courtesy of KSOConductor Elias Brown of the United States has won first prize at the first KSO International Conducting Competition, co-hosted by the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) and the Seoul Arts Center held at the art complex from Nov. 10 to Sunday.He finished first in the competition among 166 applicants from 42 countries competing for the title. In the first round on Wednesday, 12 conductors advanced, and in the second round held Friday, five of them were eliminated. Germany-based Korean conductor Yoon Han-kyeol and U.S.-based Linhan Cui from China came in second and third, respectively.Park Sun-hee, CEO of the KSO, told The Korea Times that one of the most important criteria in selecting the winners was how well they can communicate with the orchestra members.Brown, who commenced his studies at Universitat der Kun

Nov 15, 2021By Park Ji-won

Park Ji-won

Read more

INTERVIEW Korean-German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger releases debut album 'Wonderworld'

INTERVIEW Yoido Full Gospel Church vows $84 million for people hurt by pandemic

INTERVIEW Metaverse-inspired German play 'Ultraworld' questions meaning of game-like life

Pianist Kissin mesmerizes Korean audience again with four encores

Korea's iconic theatrical show 'Nanta' set to return

INTERVIEW For Chopin competition winner Bruce Liu, piano is a 'hobby' he has passion for

COVID-cancelled French musical 'Notre Dame de Paris' hits Korean theaters

New and improved 'The Dresser' returns to theater

Pianist Kim Jeong-won to perform reflections of his past, present, future

Elias Brown wins 1st KSO conducting competition

Top 5 stories