Suzy releases first solo album, reveals private life Yes? No” by SuzyBy Kim Jae-heunSuzy, a member of K-pop girl group Miss A, released her first solo album “Yes? No?” Tuesday, only a week after revealing her single “Pretend” that topped the online charts.The album’s lead single “Yes No Maybe” instantly ranked No. 2 on four major music charts ― Mnet, Bugs, Olleh Music and Genie. Park Jin-young, founder and main producer of JYP Entertainment, wrote the song with producer KAIROS.Park got his inspiration for “Yes No Maybe” while spending time with Suzy. The singer said the song is a result of empathy created from their longtime friendship and Park wrote the song reflecting his inspirations and Suzy’s thoughts as a 23-year-old woman.Suzy shot a music video for the single in Hong Kong last year, paying homage to Chinese post-modernist films of the ‘90s that were popular worldwide.Many popular singer-songwriters like 1Piece, G. Soul, Jo Hyunah and Epitone Project participated in producing Suzy’s other five tracks on the mini-album.Producer Yoon Sang of 1Piece Jan 24, 2017
IU, Jang Ki-ha split up after 3 years of dating Singer IU and Jang Ki-ha, the leader of band KIHA & The Faces, have split up after a three-year relationship, their management agencies said Monday.Fave Entertainment and Drdr AMC, which represent IU and Jang, respectively, confirmed the breakup of the two popular singers.They also confirmed in October 2015 that they had been seeing each other.At that time, Jang said he'd been dating IU since October 2013 after she appeared on the radio program that he hosted.Their management agencies said the breakup was amicable and that the two will continue supporting each other's professional careers. (Yonhap)Jan 23, 2017
EXO tells how to keep visage unblemished EXO's fan meeting at Hanyang University's gymnasium in Seoul, Saturday. / Courtesy of Nature RepublicBy Park Si-sooK-pop icon EXO members have revealed how they keep their faces unblemished amid grueling schedules.“The two most important things are soothing and moisturizing,” said Baekhyun at a fan meeting in Seoul on Saturday. “No matter how busy I am, I never miss doing these two things after removing makeup.”Chanyeol echoed the view and underscored the importance of cleansing.“The two are important for sure,” said the boy band member. “But the very first thing to do is washing off the makeup. “If you do the three properly, you will be able to keep your face clean and unblemished.”/ Courtesy of Nature RepublicThe fan meeting named “Green Nature 2017 EXO Fan Festival” was held at Hanyang University’s gymnasium in Seoul, which was packed with 6,000 EXO fans, mostly young women.South Korean cosmetics brand Nature Republic hosted the event, which was streamed live on the company’s Chinese website.An estiJan 22, 2017
Stenz to perform Stravinsky's Funeral Song for Asia premiere Markus Stenz, conductor-in-residence for SPO / Courtesy of SPOBy Yun Suh-youngThe Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s (SPO) newly appointed conductor-in-residence Markus Stenz will be showcasing Stravinsky's "Funeral Song" in Seoul, for the first time in Asia, this weekend.The score's Asian premiere on Jan. 20 and 21 will be held at the Lotte Concert Hall as part of the "Markus Stenz Cycle 1: Romantic Revolutionaries," his debut performance as conductor-in-residence for the SPO. Hungarian pianist Dezso Ranki will play the piano 30 years since his last performance on the Korean stage in 1986.The "Funeral Song Op. 5" had been lost for over a century, since 1917, after it was performed just once in 1909. It was miraculously found last year at the Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory's library in Russia and was finally put together as a score and will be performed across the globe. Following Seoul, 14 performances are scheduled this year including Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Spain."I'm really thrilled to open our concert as the Asian premiere oJan 18, 2017
K-pop star Rain, top actress Kim Tae-hee to marry By Park Si-sooK-pop star Rain and top Korean actress Kim Tae-hee will marry. The two celebrities have been dating for five years.“The relationship has finally borne fruit,” Kim said in a statement on Tuesday. “So far we have built up our relationship with love and trust for each other and finally reached a point where it (the relationship) bears beautiful fruit.”The wedding date and venue were not revealed.“We have decided to have a small and solemn Catholic-style wedding, with a small number of people from the two sides,” the actress wrote.Rain also announced his marriage in a separate handwritten letter posted on his Instagram account.“I’ve decided to become the husband of a woman who I love so much,” said the singer, whose name is Jung Ji-hoon. “She has touched my heart by standing by me all the time -- through thick and thin.” Jan 17, 2017
1 in 3 classical musicians suffer from physical pain, depression By Yun Suh-youngRecent research shows that classical musicians experience health problems such as music performance anxiety (MPA) and playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs).According to the Health and Social Welfare Review published by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on Jan. 9, one in three (34 percent) of classical musicians suffers from physical pain and two in five feel anxiety during performances. The highest cause of anxiety is lack of practice (37 percent), followed by personality (33 percent) and lack of stage experience (18 percent).The cause of health problems suffered by classical musicians came from uncomfortable positions and repetitive practice. The research findings also showed that these "music performance pains were significantly related to both depression and suicidal ideation."Those who have experienced physical pain and depression amounted to 61 percent, higher than those who experienced depression but not physical pain (42 percent).Among those who said they experienced anxiety, 39 percent said at least once in their lives, they experieJan 16, 2017
Metallica awakens hard rock spirit in Seoul Metallica performs at the Gocheok Sky Dome, Wednesday. / Courtesy of A.I.M.By Park Jin-hai Some 18,000 fans of all ages braved the cold to crowd the giant spaceship-like Gocheok Sky Dome for Metallica’s concert on Wednesday night.The iconic U.S. heavy metal band chose Seoul as the first destination for their Asian tour for their new album “Hardwired to Self-Destruct.” The band last visited Korea four years ago.Expectations ran high as the band, which has a strong fan base in Korea, became the first foreign musical act to perform at the new stadium.Kicking off the gig at 9 p.m. with new titles “Hardwired to Self-Destruct” and “Atlas, Rise!,” band leader James Hetfield, clad in black leather, shouted: “Hello, Seoul. Good to see you again. So you came here to see your friend Metallica. It’s been a long time, so we will play new songs and play old songs.”In front of five big LED screens that zoomed in to each of the band’s four members, Metallica, with their imposing, charismatic figures, rough and abrasive vocaJan 13, 2017
Feast of Vienna music Vienna Boys Choir / Courtesy of CrediaBy Yun Suh-youngJanuary will be the month of Vienna music in Seoul as several Viennese music groups will be visiting the city to perform.The Strauss Festival Orchestra of Vienna (SFOV) will hold a New Year's Concert on Jan. 19 at the Seoul Arts Center which is its eighth concert in Korea since its first in 2004. The SFOV annually holds New Year's Concerts in various parts of the world.Conducted by Willy Buchler, the orchestra will showcase various pieces by Johann Strauss II including "Die Fledermaus Overture," "Fruehlingsstimmen (Voices of spring)," "An Der Schoenen Blauen Donau," and "Champagner Polka (Galopp)."In addition to Strauss, the orchestra will also perform music by Austria's favorite composers, Eduard Strauss, Franz Lehar, Josef Strauss, and Richard Heuberger.A ballet duo will perform Viennese waltzes of the 19th century dancing to the tunes of Johann Strauss.For more information, call 02) 580-1300.The Vienna Boys Choir will also be visiting Seoul for a nationwide tour starting in Seoul on Jan. 22 at the Seoul Arts Center. Since its fJan 11, 2017
Cho Seong-jin grows more comfortable with Chopin Pianist Cho Seong-jin performs during his first solo recital in Seoul at the Lotte Concert Hall, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Lotte Concert HallBy Yun Suh-youngPianist Cho Seong-jin, who rose to K-pop star-level popularity in Korea since his award-winning performance at the Chopin Piano Competition in 2015, must feel stiff in the fingers after his first solo recital in Seoul, Tuesday, not just because of his energetic performance but due to two encore performances and the signing of 600 autographs.Cho's first solo recital in Seoul was reminiscent of a rock star's concert where a swarm of female fans would flock in the concert hall to cheer, get a glimpse of the star and get their CDs signed by celebrity musician.Even before the concert began, the lobby of the Lotte Concert Hall was jam-packed with Cho's fans trying to receive their reserved tickets from the counter. The line went all the way to the elevator and there was just no place to stand.According to the concert hall, tickets for both days (Jan. 3, 4) of the concert were sold out 10 minutes after the tickets went on sale, Nov. 23 lasJan 4, 2017
Pianist Paik, SPO to celebrate New Year Conductor Antoni Wit / Courtesy of Sejong Center for The Performing ArtsBy Yun Suh-youngPianist Paik Kun-woo/ Courtesy of Sejong Center for The Performing ArtsVeteran pianist Paik Kun-woo will open the New Year with his fingertips. The 70-year-old Paik will perform for the first time in five years with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (SCPA) on Jan. 4 as part of the 2017 New Year's Concert.The concert was organized by the two organizations to send a hopeful message to citizens to start a brand new year and send away the vicissitudes of 2016. The concert is led by Polish conductor Antoni Wit as guest conductor for the Seoul Philharmonic with Paik on piano.The repertoire includes Dobrzynski's "Monbar" Overture and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15 for the first half and Chabrier's Espana Rhapsody, Falla's Danza Ritual del Fuego from "El Amor Brujo," and Orchestral Suites No. 1 and No. 2 from "El sombrero de tres picos" for the second half after the intermission."Monbar" is Dobrzynski's first opera piece written between 1836 and Jan 1, 2017
