'Korean audiences impacted my music' Brian Crain, a California-born new age composer, will perform his latest “healing concert” on Thursday in Seoul. / Courtesy of SPA EntertainmentBy Park Jin-haiBrian Crain, a California-born new age composer whose romantic pieces have earned him the nickname of “the poet of the piano” from Korean audiences, is visiting Seoul to perform his latest “healing concert” scheduled for Thursday.Best known for “Butterfly Waltz,” “Northern Lights” and “A walk in the Forest” in Korea because they were used as background music for dramas and commercials, the popularity of Crain’s music is global ― his comforting and sweet music has been downloaded more than 2 million downloads at iTunes and over 5 million views on the video service YouTube.Crain said most of his popularity throughout Asia in fact stems from Korea, which is the second biggest market for him after the United States.Almost every year since 2001, he has made visits to Seoul to perform in front of audiences who express affection for his music. As one ofMar 27, 2016
Ars Nova concert celebrates 10th anniversary An Ars Nova performance / Courtesy of Seoul Philharmonic OrchestraComposer Chin Un-suk who heads the Ars Nova series speaks during a press conference held onMarch 24. / Courtesy of Seoul Philharmonic OrchestraBy Yun Suh-youngThe Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s (SPO) Ars Nova series, a series of contemporary classical music concerts, will open Wednesday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul.This is the 10th anniversary of the Ars Nova series, co-created by composer Chin Un-suk and former SPO conductor Chung Myung-whun, since it was established in April 2006.The Ars Nova series has, for the past decade, hosted 40 concerts introducing new and rising local musicians to audiences as well as styles that have never before been played on Korean soil. It has also commissioned a composer every year to introduce a new work for the first time to the public. During a press conference held ahead of the first concert marking its 10th anniversary, composer Chin, who has led the Ars Nova series since its inception, said she was overwhelmed to have continued the Mar 27, 2016
History of K-pop girl bands (from 1930s to present) By Bahk Eun-ji Which is your favorite K-pop girl band?AOA? TWICE? Or MAMAMOO? (Have you ever heard of them?)Girls’ Generation is already considered “out of season,” with the shine gradually losing its luster.In this fast-changing K-pop scene, people tend to be interested in “what’s coming,” while putting “what’s gone” into the blind spot of their memory that is unlikely to get cognitive attention again.Nevertheless it is hard to ignore the importance of looking back on those who once dazzled the K-pop scene ― without them, it would have been impossible for K-pop stars to have the international fame they enjoy today.The Korea Times explored the history of K-pop girl bands, from the first female band in 1935 to those dazzling at the moment.Jeogori Sisters is believed to be Korea’s first girl band in modern history. Making its debut in 1935, the four-member band was comprised of Lee Nan-young, Jang Se-jeong, Park Hyang-rim and Lee Hwa-ja. They earned fame with a series of hits, including“Tears of Mokpo,” &Mar 24, 2016
Orchestra festival celebrates Shostakovich Violinist Baek Ju-young will perform on April 19.Pianist Paik Hae-sun will openthe festival on April 1.Cellist Yang Sung-won is scheduled to perform on April 3.By Yun Suh-youngThe 2016 Orchestra Festival will make April special for classical music fans, with the KBS Orchestra opening the 19-day event on April 1, the Seoul Arts Center reported Monday.A total of 19 orchestras will be featured during the festival this year, with each day dedicated to one orchestra's performance. The festival has been held annually for 28 years.This year, the festival will offer music reflecting everything an orchestra can express ― from musical tone and the time period, to the characteristics of the composer. The pieces that will be performed during the festival range from modern-day compositions to those composed 300 years ago, from Haydn, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff to Shostakovich. Especially with this year celebrating Shostakovich's 110th birthday, the program includes many of his compositions in the lineup.For the first time, the Seoul Arts Center added innovation to the Mar 22, 2016
Kim Hyung-suk concert filled with romance From left, Kim Kwang-jin, Kim Hyung-suk, Kim Jo-han, and Na Yoon-kwon / Courtesy of K-tune e&mBy Park Jin-haiStar composer and producer Kim Hyung-suk welcomed spring on Saturday with three long-time friends and collaborators.Kim Hyung-suk & Friends has been an informal musical event where Kim sits at the piano and is joined by singers Na Yoon-kwon, Kim Jo-han and Kim Kwang-jin, sharing their personal stories with the audience.He had been holding the annual concert since releasing an album of the same name with various artists in 2006, until 2012.Dubbed a “hit-song maker,” Kim has written hundreds of hit songs and has more than 1,000 songs registered under his name at the Korea Music Copyright Association.However, lately he has been better known as a TV celebrity and music commentator, appearing on various talent shows including MBC’s “King of Mask Singer.”In a welcome return to the public stage after four years, audiences were soaked in a nearly three-hour-long romantic harmony.Na, a 31-year-old ballad singer originally picked up by composer Kim Mar 20, 2016
Foreign conductors to temporarily lead Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) on Thursday announced four foreign conductors who will lead the orchestra for its six upcoming regular concerts, replacing former music director Chung Myung-whun, who stepped down late last year.The four are Eliahu Inbal, Christoph Eschenbach, Yan Pascal Tortelier and Alexandre Bloch, it said.Chung was originally scheduled to lead all of the orchestra's regular concerts this year, but he resigned in December over his wife's alleged slandering of the orchestra's former president.So far this year, assistant conductor Choi Soo-yeoul has conducted two concerts and German guest conductor Eschenbach has conducted one, with six remaining.The French conductor Totelier will lead the orchestra in the July 15 concert featuring Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4.Totelier is a conductor emeritus of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and a principal guest conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. He will start working as the chief conductor of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra (ISO) in September. This will be his first work with the Seoul Philharmonic OrMar 17, 2016
Gewandhaus Orchestra, Thomanerchor to perform in Seoul The Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra will perform Bach’s “St. Matthew Passion” in Seoul on March 26 with the Thomanerchor. / Courtesy of VinceroBy Yun Suh-youngThe legendary boys' choir from Leipzig, Germany, Thomanerchor (St. Thomas Choir of Leipzig), will be performing one of the masterpieces of classical sacred music "St. Matthew Passion" in Seoul Wednesday, ahead of Easter which falls on March 27 this year.The Thomanerchor, on their fourth visit, will be performing with another world-famous group, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. The two groups have been in close collaboration since the inception of the orchestra in 1781, which came 500 years after the choir’s 1212 establishment. The two's collaborative performance of “St. Matthew Passion” has been recognized as the best rendition ever of the difficult song.Before the Wednesday performance, the choir and orchestra will perform in Daegu on Tuesday at the Daegu Concert House. Their fourth visit to Korea this year follows previous visits every four years, in 2004, 2008 and 2012. This year’s perMar 13, 2016
Girls' Generation Yoona solo song features 10cm Yoona / Courtesy of SM EntertainmentBy Kim Da-heeK-pop girl band Girls’ Generation’s Yoona will release her first solo track since debuting with the group nine years ago.The track titled “Deoksugung Stonewall Walkway” will be released on Friday, her management agency SM Entertainment agency said Wednesday.The song, featuring Indie band 10cm, offers a sweet melody and romantic lyrics about a couple walking along Deoksugung Place in Seoul.The song is the fifth to be introduced on SM Station, an online music channel on which SM releases new digital tracks every Friday. Mar 10, 2016
Korea's 'voice of God' rocks Sydney Opera House Lee Seung-chul at the Sydney Opera House in Australia / Courtesy of Jin & Won Music WorksBy Kim Da-heeSinger Lee Seung-chul performed at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.Lee held his solo concert titled “The Best Live In Sydney” last Saturday as part of his world tour, which took in Melbourne, Australia, on Feb 25 and Auckland, New Zealand on Mar 1.Lee Seung-chul performs live at the Sydney Opera House. / Courtesy of Lee Seung-chul's TwitterThe singer, 49, performed about 30 hits in Sydney, including “My love,” “Don’t Say Good Bye” and “Heeya” before about 3,000 fans.“It’s my honor to have a concert in such a world-renowned place,” he said during the concert. “I always hoped to have a concert on this stage.”Lee Seung-chul at the Sydney Opera House in Australia / Courtesy of Lee Seung-chul's TwitterIt was his first concert tour to Australia and New Zealand in 31 years since his debut in 1986. Mar 7, 2016
Chang Han-na appointed chief conductor of Norwegian orchestra Chang Han-na conducting an orchestra / Courtesy of EMI ClassicsBy Yun Suh-youngKorean cellist and conductor Chang Han-na, 33, was named chief conductor and artistic leader of Norway’s Trondheim Symfoniorkester (TSO), announced the orchestra on its website, Friday (KST).Chang will take up the new position at the start of the 2017/18 season. She has already served as the TSO’s principal guest conductor since Sept. 2013."The orchestra has immensely enjoyed developing its relationship with this dynamic conductor since her first visit in February 2013," said Roar Leinan, managing director of the TSO. “We look forward to her taking us even further.”"I am inspired by the passion and dedication of the musicians of the TSO and I am delighted that we have an opportunity to weave together lasting moments of inspiration through the great symphonic repertoire for our cherished audiences in Trondheim," said Chang in a statement on the website.After making a sensational conducting debut at the BBC Proms in September 2014 with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, Chang has guestMar 6, 2016
