The Korea Times

Pianist Lee Hyuk wins France's Animato international piano competition

Pianist Lee Hyuk, third from left, smiles after receiving the first prize at the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021 in Paris, France, Tuesday, in this photo released on Thursday (CET). Courtesy of Philippe BreullesBy Park Ji-wonKorean pianist Lee Hyuk, a finalist in the Chopin international competition this year, has won the first prize at the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021, held between Dec. 3 and 7, its organization said, Thursday (CET).In the final, where six contenders were able to compete with works of Chopin, including Lee, he played the Fantaisie, Op. 49.He will be receiving the prize money of 30,000 euro (39.9 million won) from Animato, the association which organized the competition, run under the slogan, “Tomorrow's great pianists, today,” and be invited to join recitals and concerts organized by the group.Lee debuted at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2012. In 2018, he won third prize at the Hamamatsu Piano Competition, the second prize at the Poshan Chopin International Piano Competition and the firs

Dec 10, 2021By Park Ji-won

Pianist Lee Hyuk wins France's Animato international piano competition

Music

Pianist Yang Bang-ean releases new album to mark 25-year solo career

Pianist Yang Bang-ean / Courtesy of Endorf MusicBy Park Ji-wonCover image for pianist Yang Bang-ean's new album “Light & Shadow” / Courtesy of Endorf MusicPianist and composer Yang Bang-ean released his latest album “Light & Shadow” on Nov. 30. The new double album includes 25 pieces recorded during live performances since 2017 in the “Light” side and new pieces in the “Shadow” side.Yang, who has also worked as music director from time to time for various high-profile shows including the opening and closing ceremonies of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018, said he was planning to release an album with new songs to mark the 25th anniversary of his solo career this year, but decided to release the recordings of live performances as well as new songs due to the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficult for him to record with orchestras. The title song “Meteor ~ Nora” is composed for his late friend ORIGA who died in 2015 and is aimed to give pandemic-hit people hope that their wishes could come true.“I wanted to

Dec 9, 2021By Park Ji-won

Pianist Yang Bang-ean releases new album to mark 25-year solo career

Music

Renowned accordionist Shim Sung-rak dies at 85

Accordionist Shim Sung-rak / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonShim Im-sub, an accordion virtuoso better known by his stage name Shim Sung-rak, died Saturday. He was 85.According to his acquaintances, Shim underwent surgery earlier for pain in his waist and his health worsened while recovering from the operation.He has been known as one of Korea's leading accordionists, laying the foundation for the development of the country's popular music industry and taking part in many popular music recordings and soundtracks.Born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1936 when Korea was under Japanese occupation, Shim participated in about 7,000 songs on 1,000 albums as an accordionist and electronic organist. He had worked with famous singers, including Patti Kim, Cho Yong-pil and Na Hoon-a, to name a few. He also participated in the soundtracks of famous films, such as “One Fine Spring Day” (2001).He was known as a self-taught musician who first encountered the accordion in 1953 while working as a part-timer in an instrument shop in Busan. Shim started his career as an accordion player for a singing contest on t

Dec 8, 2021By Park Ji-won

Renowned accordionist Shim Sung-rak dies at 85

People & Events

Orchestras unveil star-studded 2022 concert line-up

Poster for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)'s 2022 Season 1 program / Courtesy of SPOBy Park Ji-wonAmid the pandemic entering its third year, Korea's orchestras have recruited foreign conductors as their music directors, roles which have long been held by Korean nationals. Chung Myung-whun, for instance, served at the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) for nine years since 2006 and Chung Chi-yong served at the Korean Symphony Orchestra for four years since 2018.Hoping to fill more seats at their concerts, the KBS Symphony Orchestra has appointed Finnish conductor Pietari Inkinen, who will lead the broadcaster's music organization starting January, and the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) appointed Belgian conductor David Reiland. Finnish music director Osmo Vanska replaced Chung in 2020 as music director for SPO and will led the organization until 2022.As the New Year approaches, the local orchestras unveiled their programs for next year, which include many performances starring foreign virtuosos and renowned performers.The SPO will begin next year with requiems in January.Vansk

Dec 7, 2021By Park Ji-won

Orchestras unveil star-studded 2022 concert line-up

Arts & Theater

Exhibition recognizes Joseon-era Buddhist monk artisans

Seen are underdrawings and paintings of “the Eight Great Events of the Life of the Buddha from Tongdosa Temple,” a national treasure, at the exhibition, “Monk Artisans of the Joseon Dynasty” in the National Museum of Korea (NMK) / Courtesy of NMKBy Park Ji-wonPoster for the exhibition, “Monk Artisans of the Joseon Dynasty,” by the National Museum of Korea (NMK) / Courtesy of NMKAfter reaching its peak with the full-fledged support of the ruling class during the 918-1392 Goryeo period, Buddhism is known to have declined during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom after the new rulers adopted Confucianism as their ideology.But what is lesser known about Buddhism during Joseon is that its paintings and sculptures actually flourished. Many paintings and sculptures in temples around Korea were produced during the latter half of the Joseon period following Japan's invasion in the 1590s, contributing to the artistic development of that period. The 16th-century war was a turning point for Buddhism. Monks joined the war to defend the nation and their role was appre

Dec 6, 2021By Park Ji-won

Exhibition recognizes Joseon-era Buddhist monk artisans

Music

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

Park Ji-won

Read more

Pianist Lee Hyuk wins France's Animato international piano competition

Pianist Yang Bang-ean releases new album to mark 25-year solo career

Renowned accordionist Shim Sung-rak dies at 85

Orchestras unveil star-studded 2022 concert line-up

Exhibition recognizes Joseon-era Buddhist monk artisans

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

Top 5 stories