Domingo's opera competition to be held in Seoul A global competition founded by renowned tenor Placido Domingo will take place in Korea next year, according to Korean concert organizers, Wednesday.The "Operalia Competition," founded in 1993 by Domingo to find talented young opera singers across the globe, tours the world every year holding competitions in different cities. The decision to hold the event in Korea next year comes in line with the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the debut of opera music in Korea in January, 1948, with a “La Traviata” performance in Myeongdong, central Seoul.The competition will be jointly organized with a Seoul-based concert organizer Raas Art Entertainment and the 70th Anniversary of Korean Opera Celebration Association.The preliminaries will be held in January, and the final rounds will take place in July, during which Domingo himself will be conducting. Domingo will hold a special concert for winners of the competition."There are a lot of talented musicians in Korea. I met some very talented Korean singers through the Operalia Competition," said Domingo during a visit to Seoul lJul 5, 2017
Death threats put K-pop stars in danger Apink / Korea Times fileBy Kim Jae-heunA series of incidents involving some diehard K-pop fans, who are pushing the limits of expressing their interest in the idols, are threatening the singers as they have posted malicious messages online.An anonymous man threatened to murder members of the girl band Apink on June 14.An unidentified voice called Gangnam Police Station and claimed he would stab the girls to death. Police immediately dispatched a special unit to the entertainment agency where the band gathered everyday to practice before the release of their 6th mini-album.The agency called the police to send a bomb squad to Mecenatpolis in Mapo, Seoul, on June 26, the day of an Apink press conference. They had received a call claiming that a bomb had been planted at the venue.Japanese member Mina of the popular girl band TWICE was also the target of a death threat by one of the members of an ultra right-wing online community “Ilbe Storehouse,” last month. He posted a message on the internet forum, writing, “I am coming to kill you” with two pictures: one Jul 4, 2017
Renee Fleming wins over Seoul audience Soprano Renee Fleming, right, and pianist Hartmut Holl perform during Fleming's recital at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center By Yun Suh-young Soprano Renee Fleming explains the pieces in the program during her recital at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, Monday. / Courtesy of Seoul Arts Center"I missed you," said Renee Fleming, after singing the first piece of the concert, "C'est Thais, l'idole fragile" from the opera "Thais" by J. Massenet, at her recital in Seoul, Monday. It was her first appearance in front of a Korean audience in 15 years. "It's been a long time," she said.The globally renowned American soprano was in Seoul for a one-time performance as part of her world tour. The Seoul Arts Center was packed with people who didn't want to miss this one and only opportunity to see her in Seoul. All three floors of the music hall were filled as shown and tickets were sold out.Fleming, dressed in elegant dark navy, sang the remaining songs consecutively for the first part of the concert. They wereJul 4, 2017
BTS's Rap Monster injured, won't dance in Japan concerts Rap MonsterRap Monster, the leader of K-pop boy group BTS or Bangtan Boys, won't be able to dance on stage during its concerts to be held in Japan this weekend, the group's management agency said Saturday.The singer was injured in the right little toe on Thursday after accidentally bumping into the corner of a piece of furniture in his hotel room in Sapporo, said Big Hit Entertainment on the group's official social media sites."He's received medical treatment at a nearby hospital but the doctors said he should refrain from doing things that might further hurt his lifted toenail," it said, adding that he was advised not to dance on stage."Other than the injury in his toenail, his overall condition is good," it said.Rap Monster will join other members for the concerts this weekend, which is part of the group's global tour "2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour." (Yonhap)Jul 1, 2017
Incheon launches new music festival today Sejong Soloists / Courtesy of Sejong SoloistsBy Yun Suh-youngPoster of "IncheonMusic, hic et nunc" A new music festival will begin in Incheon's Songdo city today under the title "IncheonMusic, hic et nunc." The name means "here and now" in Latin and carries the vision of introducing new trends in music.The Sejong Soloists, with Incheon National University, have organized the event. The Sejong Soloists is a string orchestra that the Juilliard School and Yale School of Music professor Kang Hyo established in 1994.Kang Hyo is the festival’s artistic adviser, utilizing seven years’ experience as artistic adviser to the PyeongChang music festival. Kang Kyung-won, general manager of the Sejong Soloists, is the festival director.The festival will be held from 6 p.m. at Incheon National University's Songdo Campus concert hall. It will begin with a discussion between Robert Blocker, dean of the Yale School of Music, and President Cho Dong-sung of Incheon National University on the topic "Music and Leadership."The opening concert will be performed by nJun 30, 2017
Soprano Renee Fleming to show her versatility American soprano Renee Fleming / Courtesy of Andrew Eccles, DeccaBy Yun Suh-youngAmerican soprano Renee Fleming begins her second Korean tour on Monday, 15 years after her first.Fleming, who last visited the country in 2002 for her initial Seoul concert, will be performing at the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) on July 3.She will sing 20 songs from a mix of genres, ranging from opera arias and Italian songs to musical numbers.Fleming's return is part of the SAC's World Premiere Series that selects the best foreign artists to perform for Korean classical music fans.The first part of the program will begin with "C'est Thais, l'idole fragile" from the opera "Thais" by J. Massenet, followed by G. Faure's Mandoline, Saint-Saëns' "Soiree en mer," and L. Delibes' "Les filles de Cadix," along with six songs by J. Brahms.More familiar songs from musicals will follow the intermission. They include "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz," "I Whistle a Happy Tune" from "The King and I," Leonard Bernstein's "Somewhere" and "I Feel Pretty" from West Side Story, along with several soJun 30, 2017
VIDEO Korean rock star calls off Carnegie Hall concert after visa denial By Park Si-sooSouth Korean rock star Jeon In-kwon cancelled his concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall after the U.S. government denied him a visa.Jeon’s concert was scheduled for July 1 to mark the 30th anniversary of his debut. He announced the cancelation on June 27.“Jeon submitted all required documents to the U.S. embassy to have a visa, but the embassy didn’t issue a visa for unclear reasons,” his agency Two Men Group said. “We feel sorry and apologize to his fans for breaking the promise.”The agency said it will give ticket refunds. Jun 30, 2017
VIDEO K-pop diva Eugene donates children's book proceeds to charity By Lee Han-sooEugeneEugene, a former member of K-pop girl band S.E.S, will donate all the earnings from the newly published children’s book she translated into Korean to charity.“Eugene translated and published a children’s book called ‘The Night World’ whose original version was written in English,” C9 Entertainment, Eugene’s management company, said. “She plans to donate all her earnings made from the book to share the dreams and hopes of children who never lose their laughter even in harsh conditions.”Eugene spent her teenage years in Guam and is fluent in English.“The Night World,” written by Caldecott Medal winner Mordicai Gerstein, is about the secrets of the night world and the joys of the sunrise.The book was initially published on June 16, 2015.The translated version can be bought at bookstores or online. Jun 29, 2017
Classical concert scheduled for moms, babies By Park Jin-haiDaegu Concert House will hold a special concert for infants and their parents. The “Stroller Concert,” to be held July 8, aims to bring classical music to babies aged less than 12 months old and their parents. Most classical concerts do not permit babies.“We prepared a special concert for infants and their parents who seldom get the chance to go out because their babies are so young,” a concert official said. Parents can sit on temporary soft seats, where they can hold their babies or lie them down. Strollers and stuff such as toys and blankets to make their babies comfortable will be permitted.For the concert, young local musicians will play some familiar tunes, such as Antonin Dvorak’s “Humoresque,” Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air on the G String” and Edvard Grieg’s “Peer Gynt.”Tickets are 10,000 won. For more information, contact 053-250-1400. Jun 28, 2017
Winning pianist Sunwoo Yekwon will no longer regret Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon plays a piece during a press conference held in Seoul, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Yun Suh-young"I tried to block all contact. I didn't even message my mother," Sunwoo Yekwon, the pianist who recently won the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, said of his preparation for the event. Sunwoo, 28, became the first Korean winner of the 15th competition of the quadrennial event, on June 10 at Fort Worth, Texas, the hometown of the competition's founder and pianist Van Cliburn."I tried to focus solely on music,” Sunwoo said Wednesday in Seoul, during his first meeting with Korean media after the competition. “There's a great amount of mental stress when preparing for a competition and I tried not to think about it. Whenever I did feel stressful, I would pour it out on a couple of friends. I feel sorry for them, but they were very understanding. I'm thankful to my mom as well. She understands me and doesn't reach out first."The competition held a lot of meaning for me. It was my last competition because of the age limit. It was alsJun 28, 2017
