Rock isn't dead; at least not yet From left, Zeze, Dguru and DR of Idiotape perform at the Rainbow Island Festival on Nami Island, Gyeonggi Province, in June 2012./ Courtesy of VU Entertainment Idiotape's heavy, analogue sound is fresh blast in era of digital neatness By Kim Young-jin It was early one morning in Japan when the members of Idiotape realized they could be on the cusp of something big.The three-piece from Seoul, little-known in the neighboring county, was slated to play one of the first sets of the 2011 Summer Sonic festival in Tokyo. Given the early time, the audience was sparse.“I told the band to forget about it and just play for ourselves,” Idiotape’s drummer, who goes by the name DR, recalled during an interview. “But I played with my eyes closed.”He was shocked when he looked again: the band’s pulsating instrumentals, created by fusing analogue keyboards with live drums, had attracted a huge crowd.Given its trajectory since forming in 2008, fans are likely to continue flocking to see the band, whose beats are tailor-made for both clubs and the moshApr 24, 2013
Cho Yong-pil sparks a dying CD market People wait outside the Youngpoong Bookstore in central Seoul, Monday morning, hours before Cho Yong-pil’s new album, “Hello,” went on sale./ YonhapBy Kim Tong-hyungThe compact disc (CD) was left for death as downloads ate away at the physical sales of singles. But it appears Cho Yong-pil has given it a shot in the arm.The 63-year-old singer-songwriter of iconic status is obviously the only musician who could make Korea in 2013 look like it was 1993. The line of his fans at Youngpoong Bookstore in central Seoul stretched for more than 200 meters hours before the sale of Cho’s new album, ``Hello,’’ went on sale at 9 a.m. Tuesday.The first orders for Hello came in at around 20,000 copies, a large number in a deflating music market where albums that sold more than 100,000 copies have been non-existent for a while.``This reminds us of the 1980s when people would line up at record stores to buy Cho’s new album. This is his 19th album and it’s really exciting that people are responding to him like this,’’ said an official from YPCApr 23, 2013
Seoul Music fest to kick off May 14 Moscow Soloists Chamber Orchestra and violist Yuri Bashmet, center, will perform at Seoul Arts Center on May 29. / Courtesy of Seoul International Music Festival CommitteeBy Do Je-haeA number of classical music festivals in the last few years have been providing a world-class concert experience at an affordable price in Seoul, a city where concerts featuring renowned classical musicians or ensembles tend to be overpriced.The upcoming Seoul International Music Festival (SIMF) will feature celebrated violist Yuri Bashmet and the Moscow Soloists chamber orchestra. The SIMF will consist of seven concerts held between May 14 and 30.Founded in 2009, the SIMF has become one of the most important classical music festivals in the country, with the Great Mountains Music Festival & School in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province; the Daegu Opera Festival; and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music.Bashmet, a violist and conductor, will lead the Moscow Soloists chamber orcheApr 21, 2013By Do Je-hae
Cho Yong-pil is still Korean king of pop By Baek Byung-yeulCho Yong-pilWhile Psy is a worldwide YouTube sensation again, the chubby, galloping rapper might not be the most popular singer in his own country.That title has long belonged to Cho Yong-pil, the 63-year-old singer-song writer of iconic status, and he doesn’t seem too interested in giving it up. Cho Tuesday released ``Bounce,’’ his first new song in a decade that will be included in his upcoming album, ``Hello,’’ which will be the 19th of his career that spans over four decades. Music fans reacted explosively to Bounce, which has topped all the major download charts aside of Melon and leaving ``Gentlemen,’’ Psy’s follow-up to his viral hit ``Gangnam Style,’’ a distant second.The last time Cho released an album, CDs were still relevant. The popularity of Bounce proves that his music is resonating with the generation of music listeners that grew up on iPods and peer-to-peer music sites. Cho’s voice and style of music has virtually stayed the same over the years and so have his lyrics about emotional trApr 18, 2013By Baek Byung-yeul
Predictable, stale and boring U.S. maestro Lorin Maazel was in Seoul in March with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) as a last-minute replacement of the ailing CSO music director Riccardo Muti. He will be in Korea again at the end of the week with the Munich Philharmonic, where he has served as music director since 2012. / Courtesy of VinceroMunich Philharmonic in Seoul to perform Beethoven againBy Do Je-haeThere was a time when Korean fans used to envy the Japanese audience that had the chance to hear top ensembles like the Berlin Philharmonic on a regular basis in their own backyard. But in the last few years, particularly since the mid 2000s, top European orchestras have consistently included Seoul in their Asia tours.This, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the local audience has been able to get the simiApr 15, 2013
Can Psy replicate 'Gangnam' success? Psy performs during his concert “Happening” in Seoul, Saturday. Korean pop star Psy unveiled the hip-swinging dance and music video for his new song, aimed at replicating the global success of “Gangnam Style” and its famous horse-riding dance. / AFP-YonhapBy Kim Young-jinPsy appears to have another hit with “Gentleman,” which entered singles charts over the weekend and was the centerpiece of his large show in western Seoul, Saturday.But while the song’s release drew heavy international attention, many wonder whether it will make enough of an impact for the rapper to maintain his popularity following “Gangnam Style,” his worldwide smash last year.The single, which spoofs a man who is anything but gentlemanly, entered the top 10 iTunes Single Chart in Asian, European and South American countries, according to YG Entertainment. It swept the domestic charts shortly after its release and racked up more than 10 million views on YouTube as of Sunday. For international media outlets, the song release provided a respite from the deluge of Apr 14, 2013
Making piano history Paris-based HJ Lim, who made headlines with her Beethoven sonata cycle for EMI, will make her Seoul debut in May. / Courtesy of MastmediaYoungest artist to record full Beethoven sonata cycle to make Seoul debutBy Do Je-haeLim Hyung-jeong, or HJ Lim, may not be the most well-known among her generation of Korean pianists. But she certainly is the boldest, making her recording debut for EMI with none other than the complete cycle of the 32 Beethoven sonatas.For any concert pianist, an exclusive contract with an influential company like EMI is a miracle in itself. But to debut with the 32 Beethoven sonatas is an incredible feat not likely to be repeated in the near future.Already an exclusive Yamaha artist, she signed with EMI in 2011 and became the youngest pianist in history to record the complete cycle of the sonatas.Despite her unique achievements, she is not well known in her homeland. The Paris-based pianist will give her first recital in Seoul on May 23 at Seoul Arts Center, according to Mastmedia, Tuesday. She wMar 29, 2013
Hoffman's coming of age Maggie Smith in “The Quartet”Iconic actor's directorial debut is charming tale of retired musicians and their bout with mortalityBy Yun Suh-youngFor people of any age, getting old is accompanied by an endless process of denial. And denial leads to delusion.In his directorial debut at the age of 75, Dustin Hoffman stares directly at the emotional toll of aging and fear of mortality and still manages to be witty and uplifting. ``The Quartet,’’ a movie adaptation of the eponymous play written by Ronald Harwood, is an engaging tale built around a retirement home for musicians and a reluctant star moving in.As one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, Hoffman has managed to be a leading man, character actor and comedy juggernaut all at once. “The Quartet” truly feels like a movie equivalent of his acting, managing to be emotionally significant but funny and charming at the same time.Every year on the birthday of Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi, the retired opera singers at the Beecham House, named after conductor Thomas Beecham, hold a concert to Mar 27, 2013
Diversity of music cherished by diplomats By Kim Se-jeongDiplomats in the audience at The Korea Times’ Spring Music Festival, Thursday, were impressed by the diversity of the musical works performed.Camila Avina Zavala from the Mexican Embassy was thrilled to hear music by his country’s composer musician Agustin Lara.“I was particularly surprised and moved by the deeply-felt interpretation of Granada, one of the masterpieces of the Mexican composer Agustin Lara.”The song “Granada” was written about Spain where he gained fame in the 1940s.The 100-minute concert featured musicians from Russia, Spain, Italy, Argentina, Austria and Korea.The diplomatic community has long supported the concert, which has become an annual event organized by The Korea Times.Diplomats from nearly 20 countries were present. Attendees include Brazilian Ambassador Edmundo Fujita and his wife Maria Ligaya; Malaysian Ambassador Dato Ramlan bin Ibrahim; Peruvian Ambassador Jaime Pomareda; Paraguayan Ambassador Ceferino Valdez; Kenyan Ambassador Ngovi Kitau; Romanian Ambassador Calin Fabian; Lebanese Ambassador Jad El HaMar 21, 2013
Spring music graces anniversary concert at Sejong The audience packs the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul as they await the start of The Korea Times’ Spring Music Festival, Thursday, which celebrates the 63rd anniversary of the newspaper. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Baek Byung-yeulThe Mostly Philharmonic Orchestra led an acclaimed lineup of musical acts at the Korea Times’ Spring Music Festival, Thursday, warming up an otherwise chilly night at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul. The orchestra opened the concert, held in celebration of the newspaper’s 63rd anniversary, with a stirring rendition of Mikhail Glinka’s overture “Ruslan and Lyudmila.” Led by conductor Park Sang-hyun, it followed with Pablo Sarasate’s violin concerto “Zigeunerweisen,” featuring violinist Lee Moon-kyMar 21, 2013
