Park blames music director Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) CEO Park Hyun-jung leaves after a press conference at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, Friday. / YonhapSeoul Phil CEO says Chung Myung-whun initiated petition for her removalBy Kwon Ji-younSeoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) CEO Park Hyun-jung Friday denied allegations that she had mistreated her employees, and claimed that SPO music director Chung Myung-whun is behind their request for her resignation. During a press conference at the SPO rehearsal hall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Park claimed that some of her abusive remarks were contextually misplaced so as to suggest sexual harassment or debasement that hadn’t occurred. Seventeen employees of the SPO’s administration department issued a press release Tuesday requesting Park’s resignation and an internal audit, with attachments that detailed Park’s alleged remarks. According to the press release, Park would remark that her subordinates should “sell their organs to make up for corporate losses,” and that she had changed thDec 5, 2014
CEO scandal tarnishes Seoul Philharmonic's reputation Seoul Philharmonic CEO Park Hyun-jung had no experience in music or orchestra management before being appointed the leader of the nation’s top orchestra in 2013. / Korea Times fileBy Kwon Ji-younThe CEO of the nation’s top orchestra is facing demands to quit over a series of misconduct.Park Hyun-jung's detractors say she neglected her duties as CEO of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), mistreated her colleagues and insulted the orchestra’s guests during overseas tours. Since her 2013 appointment, 13 of the orchestra’s 27 administrative staff have quit. The orchestra’s administrative office issued a press release Tuesday, requesting Park’s resignation. “The SPO is facing a tragic moment,” the press release read. “Park has been sexually assaulting employees and abusing her authority when it comes to hiring and promoting. We hereby request an internal audit, as well as the resignation of CEO Park.” According to the press release, Park would remark that her subordinates should “sell their organs to make up fDec 3, 2014
Two distinct renditions In an unprecedented move, two performances of Dimitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” took place in the course of a week at the Seoul Arts Center, on Nov. 19 and 22. The first was by renowned conductor Mariss Jansons and the Munich-based Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and the second, by Vladimir Fedoseyev and the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow. Shostakovich was a prominent Russian composer and pianist whose symphonies and quartets epitomize 20th century music. / Korea Times fileRenowned German, Russian orchestras perform Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 at Seoul Arts CenterBy Kwon Ji-younIt is not often that one gets to hear Dimitri Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5” twice resonate through music halls in Seoul during the course of a week. Renowned conductor Mariss Jansons and the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, also known in English as the Munich-based Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, performed the No. 5 to perfection at the Seoul Arts Center Nov. 19. The No. 5 was performed on day two of the two-dayDec 1, 2014
BigBang tops Japanese albums' chart The latest album by the popular South Korean boy band BigBang has topped Japan's leading music ranking chart, according to the operator of the chart Thursday."The Best of BigBang 2006-2014," a compilation album featuring the group's hit songs, took the No. 1 spot on the Oricon Daily Album Chart by selling 93,226 copies on the first day of its release on Wednesday.The sales figure is a record for a BigBang album in Japan, according to YG Entertainment, the band's management agency.The compilation album's release was timed with the fifth anniversary of the band's debut and its ongoing concert tour of big Japanese cities. The album has 50 tracks, including the band's Japanese debut song "My Heaven" and hit song "Fantastic Baby," plus 32 music videos and videos of performances.The concert tour that began earlier this month took the boys to Nagoya and Osaka and will continue in Fukuoka (Dec. 6-7), Sapporo (Dec. 20) and Tokyo (Dec. 25-27), according to the agency.Meanwhile, Taeyang, a member of the pop group, will kick off a solo concert tour of Asian cities in January, YG Entertainment saNov 27, 2014
Superstar K denies audition fixed From left, Kim Feel, Lim Do-hyeok, and Kwak Jin-eon, the top three members of Mnet’s popular audition program, Superstar K6, attend a press meeting on Oct. 12. Two days later, Lim failed to advance in the semi-final round at the Grand Peace Hall in Kyung Hee University, Seoul. Mnet, CJ E&M’s cable music channel, recently denied allegations that scriptwriters guaranteed some contestants a place in the top 10. / Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Kim Jae-heunWidely popular audition program, Superstar K, denied allegations Wednesday it had an arrangement with some contestants guaranteeing them a slot in the final round of 10.The initial field of 1.5 million applicants from Korea, Asia and the United States has now been narrowed down to two Season 6 finalists, Kim Feel and Kwak Jin-eon, who will square off in a singing contest at 11 p.m. this Friday.Responding to an inquiry by The Korea Times, Mnet, the broadcaster of Superstar K, denied any hint of wrongdoing. “We have not made potential participants any kind of promise, nor could we make one,” a company official Nov 19, 2014
Music, the art of flying Vadim Gluzman will be the soloist in a performance of the ravishing Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor at Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 14.Virtuoso violinist hopes to impart joy of music-making to local audienceBy Lee Yeon-joo Vadim Gluzman once hated the violin. He was a child who persistently tried to avoid practicing the violin and enjoyed going to the movies and playing ice hockey. He often resisted authority and got kicked out of numerous orchestras, even as a young adult. But this boy has grown into a great violinist whose love for music unravels beautifully on stage. Gluzman, an Israeli classical violinist, was born in Ukraine when it was still part of the Soviet Union. Under the guidance of parents who were musicians, he was exposed to the world of classical music from a young age. He studied at the Juilliard School and has appeared with major orchestras such as the Chicago Symphony and London Philharmonic to name a few. On Nov. 14 at the Seoul Arts Center, he will join the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Michael Francis for a highly anticipateNov 3, 2014
Grammy-winning Mraz returns to Seoul American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz will perform in three major cities of Korea including Daejeon, Daegu and Seoul next month. / Courtesy of Live NationBy Baek Byung-yeulGrammy-winning American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz is returning to Korea in November for his national tour.During his seventh Korea visit, the 37-year-old musician will perform at major cities of the country including Daejeon, Daegu and Seoul to promote his recently released fifth studio album “Yes!”Ever since releasing his major label debut album “Waiting for My Rocket to Come” in 2002, Mraz has earned platinum and multi platinum certifications in over 20 countries, selling more than seven million albums in total and has won two Grammy Awards in 2010.With his irresistible melodies and fresh lyrics, Mraz has particularly large following in Korea, where he could manage to sell more than 100,000 copies of his 2008 album, “We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.,” which includes one of his biggest hits “I’m Yours.”While his previous concerts in Korea had been heOct 28, 2014
Inventing new sounds with string instruments Park Kyung-ho’s handmade instruments on display at the Seoul Forest Community Center / Korea Times photo by Lee Yeon-jooBy Lee Yeon-jooDuring the day when the sun is blazing, Park Kyung-ho cultivates the land just like any other farmer. As the sun sets, Park retreats to his workshop, where he begins his real work of the day — designing and cutting wood to make string instruments.Park Kyung-ho, who manufactures string instruments, held the opening of his first individual exhibition on Oct. 20 at the Seoul Forest Community Center, which runs through Oct. 28. Titled “Melody Carved into a Tree,” the exhibit features over 20 handmade instruments including the violin, viola and cello.On opening day, Park sat down with The Korea Times for an interview.Parts of handmade string instrumentsPark was born in the Buan County of the North Jeolla Province in 1970. In 1999, he went to Italy to study fashion. While visiting an instrument manufacturing school in Gubbio, he fell in love with the scent and sight of woodcutting that he changed his career path and decided to bOct 27, 2014
Mozart's violin played for first time in Korea Ko So-hyun plays the 1735 violin by Andreas Ferdinand Mayer that had once belonged to Mozart at a press conference in Seoul, Monday.Composer W.A. MozartBy Lee Yeon-joo A violin that belonged to musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been preserved inside a glass case at a museum in Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg, Austria up until recently, when it was removed from its nest for the first time and brought to Korea. At the Westin Chosun Hotel in Seoul, Oct. 20, Austria’s tourism board revealed Mozart’s violin, manufactured in 1735 by Andreas Ferdinand Mayer, a lute and violinmaker from Salzburg. Ko So-hyun, an 8-year-old violinist and child prodigy, astounded the audience with her ease and sophisticated playing on Mozart’s violin. With piano accompaniment, Ko played “The Magic Flute” and some of Mozart’s violin sonatas that he composed when he was just Ko’s age. She commented, “I was worried whether an instrument from more than a hundred years ago would make any sound, but I was amazed to hear upon playinOct 24, 2014
Schubert, the 'unfinished' symphonist Franz Schubert was a prolific composer of songs, symphonies and piano music. / Korea Times fileThis is the fourth in a column series about pathfinders in classical music. — ED.The late Claudio Abbado left behind some legendaryrecordings of Schubert’s orchestral music.By Do Je-haeOne of the biggest perks about writing for the culture desk is that I get the chance to hear some of the best orchestras in the world.But at some point, I stopped getting excited about the orchestral performances because of the repetitive programs. I got tired of the Beethoven 7th or the 9th and Tchaikovsky’s final symphony “The Pathetique,” among some of the most popular works that that orchestras performing in Korea keep repeating.I like to learn about new works and explore different composers when I attend a concert. This is the main reason I make the time to hear a live performance. So I was happy to learn that the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing Schubert — a composer that rarely appears on orchestral programs here. On Friday, the nation’s topOct 22, 2014By Do Je-hae
