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
4Minute hit hard by Pangyo accident K-pop girl band 4MinuteBy Baek Byung-yeulK-pop girl band 4Minute has canceled a series of activities after a fatal incident at a show they were participating in last week.Last Friday, 16 people died when a ventilation grate they were standing on collapsed while the band was performing at a concert in Pangyo, south of Seoul. Eleven people were seriously injured.Cube Entertainment, 4Minute’s managing company, said that the band members were not aware that the incident had happened as they left the venue right after performing.“We cannot find words to express our sorrow,” the band said in a statement, Monday. “As the concert was a joint performance of many musicians, we left the venue as soon as our set finished without noticing that the tragedy happened.”As a sign of respect for the victims of the Pangyo incident, Gayoon, a member of the band, canceled her appearance at the Seoul Fashion Week on Sunday. Hyuna, another 4Minute member who was scheduled to attend a fashion show in Seoul on Monday, also canceled.Critics have called on the government to stOct 21, 2014
Return of pioneering Asian pianists Conductor and pianist Chung Myung-whun took second place at the 1974 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. / Korea Times file1974 Tchaikovsky laureate, 1980 Chopin winner to stage recitalsSeoul Philharmonic Music Director Chung Myung-whun will hold a piano concert. The conductor has rarely performed on the piano, except to accompany chamber music recitals.“The things I love most in this world are chocolates and piano,” Chung Myung-whun, a highly respected conductor who started his career as a pianist, said when he was just 7. At age 21, he became the first Korean to win the 2nd place prize at the International Tchaikovsky Competition.At his first piano recital tour in 40 years following the release of his first album last December, Chung will play pieces such as Debussy’s “Clair de Lune,” dedicated to his granddaughter whose name is Lua and Mozart’s “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Variation.” He commented, “I picked songs that I thought were good bedtime songs for children.”Vietnamese pianist Dang Thai Son is the first AsianOct 14, 2014
Veteran 1990s musicians sweeping music charts Seo Tai-ji and IU's collaboration "Sogyeokdong"Last year, the tvN drama “Reply 1994” reignited memories, events and songs of the 90s. As the OST swept music charts across Korea, some people were wondering whether a song like Superstar K3 contestant Lim Kim’s “Happy Me” was the pop singer’s latest tune. But those who were old enough to recognize the song knew that it was a remake of the popular song by 90s female group, Eco.Music from the 90s seems to be making a return to mainstream music. Recently, a series of top singers in the 80s and 90s have made a comeback to the music scene, proving that they are just as good now, if not better, than they were many years ago.Seo Tai-ji, a legendary singer and producer from the 90s, whose boy band Seo Tai-ji and Boys arguably gave birth to K-pop, has returned after five years of hiatus with “Sogyeokdong,” a collaboration with IU. IU’s version of the music video was released Oct. 2, a preview for Seo’s own version and upcoming album “Quiet Night,” to be released on Oct. 10 aOct 7, 2014
Israeli musician seeks better world through music Israeli singer-songwriter Idan Raichel holds his autograph for The Korea Times readers during an interview Thursday./ Korea Times photo by Kim Hye-kyungBy Kim Hye-kyungA turbaned man started singing in a soft yet husky voice with piano accompaniment at Hanbit Park, central Seoul, on a rainy Thursday evening. Many wet seats were empty at first, as a few passersby stopped to listen. But soon the square was filled with people listening to the unfamiliar but attractive melody on a chilly autumn night.The singer was Idan Raichel, a musician from Israel. He sang a few songs including his hit “Bo'ee” (Come with Me) and “Im telech” (If You Leave) and collaborated with "geomungo" (Korean six-string zither) player Heo Yoon-jeong, reinterpreting his song "Mi'ma'amakim" (Out of Death). The audiences could not understand his Hebrew lyrics, but Raichel’s music tugged at their heartstrings.The Israeli singer-songwriter, 37, is in Korea for the first time to take part in the Korea Foundation Cheonggyecheon World Music Festival and the Jarasum International JazOct 3, 2014
Defector rapper won't rest until unification Art student Kang Chun-hyuk, a North Korean defector, poses for a photo during an interview at a cafe in Hongdae, western Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Kim Hye-kyungBy Kim Hye-kyungIn many ways, Kang Chun-hyuk is a typical student. He dresses in a T-shirt and baseball cap, loves hip-hop and spends most of his time at Hongik University in western Seoul, where he majors in art.His life, however, has been anything but ordinary.Kang, 28, escaped from North Korea with his family in 1998, making the perilous journey through China and Southeast Asia before arriving in Seoul. Like other young defectors, he faced identity issues in the South, a vastly different world compared to where he grew up.In addition to being a visual artist, Kang is a hip-hop MC. He showcased his rap skills last month on the music competition show “Show Me the Money” ― and wowed the judges with his impassioned, critical lyrics about the Kim Jong-un regime. Kang says he uses his art to tell the world about the difficulties facing the North Korean people, including those who defect.“I will letSep 17, 2014
McCartney cancels Korea show for health reasons Paul McCartney, a former member of legendary British band the Beatles, has canceled his planned first-ever concert in South Korea due to health problems, organizers said Wednesday.The legendary pop star planned to hold a concert at Seoul's Jamsil Stadium on May 28 as part of his "Out There" world tour, which began in Brazil last year and has taken him to 23 big cities around the world.The 71-year-old artist earlier canceled all of his four concerts planned in Japan as he failed to improve after contracting a virus. It has been widely expected that the Seoul show would be affected too, if his conditions do not improve quickly."McCartney canceled his planned concert in Seoul as doctors ordered him to have a complete rest," South Korea's Hyundai Card Co., which organized the show, said in a statement. "We and McCartney's side will discuss later to reschedule the show," it added.McCartney said he is "so disappointed" and "sorry" for letting his Korean fans down, in a message delivered through Hyundai Card. (Yonhap)May 21, 2014
