Award-winning pianist tops chart Pianist Cho Seong-jin has topped a music chart, Monday, after his win at the 17th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw last week.According to Universal Music, an album of Cho’s performance in the competition _ due to be released on Nov. 6 _ is number one on the online Kyobo Bookstore's overall best album chart.The chart’s ranking is based on album sales. Reservations for the album opened last week.It contains the pieces Cho played during the competition, including Preludes Op. 28, Nocturne in C Minor Op. 48/1, Piano Sonata No.2 in B Flat Minor Op. 35 and Scherzo No.2 in B Flat Minor Op. 31.Oct 26, 2015By Kim Bo-eun
IU tops eight domestic charts with new song “Twenty-Three” /Courtesy of Loen EntertainmentK-pop female singer IU, who released her fourth mini album “CHAT-SHIRE” on midnight Thursday topped eight domestic charts including MelOn, Genie and Mnet.com, as of 7:30 a.m, Friday.Three other songs on the album -- “The Shower," "Shoes" and "Glasses" -- also settled on the top 10 list.It has been 17 months since her last album, "A Flower Bookmark," was released in May of last year.She recently made headlines with her relationship with Jang Kiha, a leader of the rock band Kiha & The Faces.Oct 23, 2015
Cho Seong-jin wins Chopin Competition By Kwon Mee-yooKorean pianist Cho Seong-jin won the 17th International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday.The jury awarded the second prize to Charles Richard-Hamelin of Canada and the third prize to Kate Liu of the United States.Established in 1927 to pass down the musical legacy of the Polish composer, the career-paving competition is held for in Warsaw for three weeks during which participating pianists play only Chopin's works in front of a 17-member international jury. Taking place every five years, pianists between the ages of 16 and 30 can take part in the event.Cho, who played the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11 with the Warsaw Philharmonic in the final, is the first Korean to win the prestigious award."It became my dream to participate in the competition and I cannot believe this moment," Cho said during a press conference before the final results were announced. He explained how he wanted to take part in the renowned competition ever since he was 11 and listened to its 2005 edition.He said all stages of the competition were really tough, mentioning hOct 21, 2015
f(x) to release first album featuring only four members /Screen capture from Luna's InstagramA poster for f(x)'s '[4 Walls] An Exhibit' / Courtesy of SM Entertainment K-pop girl band f(x) will return with only four members on its fourth album in Oct.The album,"4 Walls," will be released on Oct. 27, SM entertainment said Wednesday.It has been 15 months since the band released its third album, “Red Light.”This album is f(x)’s first release since Sulli officially left the band in August.An exhibition,“[4 Walls] An Exhibit” is being held from Oct. 21-26 to promote the band’s return.“f(x) members have been busy with solo activities, appearing on various variety shows, including ‘King of Mask Singer’ and ‘Real Men: Women's Army Special 2’, SM said.The band now comprises Victoria, Amber, Luna and Krystal. Oct 21, 2015
Leessang holds first concert in three years /Courtesy of Leessang CompanyHip-hop duo Leessang will present their signature show, “Leessang Theater Season 3,” at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium on the last two days of the year.The pair, whose hit songs include “The Girl Who Can't Break Up, the Boy Who Can't Leave," are also scheduled to perform in Daegu, Busan and Gwangju.They had their last concert, “Leessang Theater Season2,” in 2012.“Leessang will present the best show to meet the audience’s high expectations of the year-end concert,” CJ E&M, a co-organizer, said.Tickets can be bought at www.interpark.com from next Tuesday afternoon.Oct 15, 2015
Violinist shares stories of great composers Violinist Kim Joo-hyun talks at the CICI event, Tuesday. / Courtesy of CICIBy Kim Jae-heunViolinist Kim Joo-hyun gave a lecture on prominent classical composers while performing their music during the Korea Culture Quotient (CQ) event led by the Corea Image Communication Institute (CICI) at the residence of the Kuwait Ambassador in Yongsan, Seoul, Tuesday.“Music plays such an important role in people’s life,” said Kim. “It is everywhere, even deep inside mountains. Music is the language of the mind and people communicate with it.”Kim began the lecture with her story of her holiday in Germany and Poland, where she came across a piano-looking swimming pool and a keyboard-like crosswalk. She thought that a twist of an idea in normal life, especially when it’s connected to music, can let people have a break and relax people during their fast-moving modern lives.The violinist introduced three great composers _ Johan Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) and Johannes Brahms (1833-1897).Kim played two to three pieces by each compOct 14, 2015
Elton John to perform in Seoul next month Elton JohnGrammy-winning legend Elton John will perform in Korea next month.On Nov. 27, John will hold a small concert at Hyundai Card Understage, a venue that seats just 500 guests. This will mark his third visit to Seoul.The performance will be part of the singer-songwriter’s “All the Hits” world tour and is set to feature guitarist David Johnstone, bassist Matt Bissonette, percussionist John Mahon, drummer Nigel Olsson and Kim Ballard on the keyboard.“Because John has been here twice before, we wanted to put together a concert unlike any he’s ever staged, and he liked the idea,” said a Hyundai Card staffer.John has sold more than 300 million records over his career, which has spanned five decades and featured more than 50 “Top 40” hits. His single “Candle in the Wind (1997)” sold more than 33 million copies worldwide and is a favorite in Korea.Tickets are available through Interpark starting today. For more information, visit www.understage.hyundaicard.com.Oct 14, 2015
US producer says K-pop needs to be more universal American music producer Nate “Danja” Hills speaks during a press conference at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Baek Byung-yeul Since Psy’s “Gangnam Style” became a global hit, attention on K-pop music has increased more than ever.But prominent U.S. producer Nate “Danja” Hills says K-pop should be more universal by embracing a variety of musical genres.“I cannot say one particular K-pop artist stands out, even as I become more exposed to it,” Hills told reporters during a press conference at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Tuesday. “That’s how I consume music. I don’t know how to get it exposed more around the world, but maybe combining a couple more elements in the music might be an answer.“I have used R&B, hip hop, some Bollywood sounds and Asian sounds. I can use anything that can trigger someone of another culture to like the music... You have to make it international, worldly and that’s how international audiences will get into the K-pop sound.&rOct 7, 2015
YG's new boy band iKON targets Asian audience Members of YG Entertainment’s new boy band iKON pose before their debut concert at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Songpa-gu, Seoul. From left are Koo Jun-hoe, Song Yun-hyeong, B.I, Kim Jin-hwan, Bobby, Kim Dong-hyuk and Jung Chan-woo. / Courtesy of YG EntertainmentBy Kim Jae-heun New boy band iKON will move into the Asian market by next year, YG Entertainment’s Yang Hyun-suk has revealed.The seven-member hip-hop boy group made its official debut on Oct. 1 with album “Welcomeback,” which topped iTunes charts in 11 countries. More than 13,000 fans attended iKON’s debut concert at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena on Oct. 3, one of the biggest concert venues in the country.No K-pop group or singer has debuted with a concert at such a big venue as the Olympic stadium, where only established singers usually hold concerts. The band’s exceptional debut grabbed media attention in the two most important K-pop markets -- Japan and China.Six major sports and entertainment dailies from Japan participated in a press conference, along with Chinese media inOct 7, 2015
Juanjo Mena to conduct from 'home' at BBC Phil concert The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra / Courtesy of VinceroBBC Philharmonic Orchestra Chief Conductor Juanjo Mena/ Courtesy of VinceroBy Kwon Ji-younThe BBC Philharmonic is a British broadcasting symphony orchestra, but under Spaniard Juanjo Mena’s baton, it is known to have taken on a distinct Latin color.According to Mena, the pride and sentiment any conductor in the world feels about his home country is likely to be expressed when he’s conducting music from “home.”“Spanish music has precise rhythms, and the color of the woodwinds must be warm, with a more dynamic contrast,” the maestro said in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times.“The BBC Phil is more open to this Spanish music now, and its capacity to work on these different colors has increased. The orchestra’s approach to the music is impressive.”Mena and the BBC Phil will visit Seoul on Oct. 21 for the first time in seven years with an exquisite program that includes Britten’s “Simple Symphony,” Sibelius’ “Violin Concerto” and Schubert&rsquoOct 6, 2015
