Sarah Chang's national tourStar violinist marks 20 years with EMIKorean-American violinist Sarah Chang speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Thursday. / YonhapBy Do Je-haeViolinist Sarah Chang burst on to the music scene at age 9, making her debut with the New York Philharmonic in a 1989 concert under maestro Zubin Mehta. It didn’t take long for EMI to sign her and in 1992 she released her first album “Debut” consisting of solo pieces for violin and piano.This year marks the 20th anniversary of Chang’s exclusive association with the label that boasts a tradition of recording some of the most respected violinists in history, including Nathan Milstein, Yehudi Menuhin and Itzhak Perlman.The Korean-American will celebrate the landmark year with a national recital tour starting today. She visits various citieNov 30, 2012By Do Je-hae
Violinist Sarah Chang to celebrate 20th anniversary of debut albumKorean-American violinist Sarah Chang, who will perform for Korean fans in a concert tour marking the 20th anniversary of her debut album, said Thursday she was able to keep up her two decade-long music career without any breaks because she "just didn't have the time to fall into a slump." "With the series of ongoing performances, my condition always has to be up to a certain level, so I just didn't have the time to fall into a slump or worry about things" the violin virtuoso told reporters at a Seoul press conference."These days, especially, I am the one to make decisions about which music I'll play or the people I'll perform with, so I take personal responsibility for all of my work and try to think positive thoughts, focusing on today and tomorrow's performances instead of previous ones."Chang, who has been playing the violin since age four, is widely recognized as a one-time child prodigy as well as a musical role model after her debut performance with renowned conductor Zubin Mehta and the New York Philharmonic when she was just eight years old.Chang arrived in Seoul Wednesday eNov 29, 2012
Elton John still packs real punch with strong voiceElton John performs in Seoul: British rock star Sir Elton John sits atop his piano at a concert Tuesday in the Olympic Gymnastic Arena in Seoul where he enraptured Korean audiences with his performance and formidable skills as a showman. / Courtesy of Access EntertainmentBy Rachel LeeBritish rock legend, Sir Elton John, still has a strong voice, wit and playfulness despite being of retirement age, 65.The performer, who came to Korea for the first time in eight years, proved he is still an enduring world class act through music that is much loved by pop and rock fans regardless of age and gender.After a short rhythmical performance by support act cello duo 2Cellos, Elton John appeared on stage singing his opening number “The Bitch is Back” dressed in a magnificent outfit: sporting his trademark glasses and a sparkling blue jacket. The crowd became ecstatic and cheered.This tour celebrates 40 years Nov 28, 2012
Patti Kim's farewell tourPatti Kim will perform at the Goyang Aram Nuri concert hall on Dec. 28-30. / Courtesy of Goyang Cultural FoundationBy Do Je-haeFans will have one last chance to hear pop diva Patti Kim live at the end of this month in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. She will perform three concerts at the Goyang Aram Nuri concert hall on Dec. 28-30.The 74-year-old singer announced her retirement from performing in February, and has been staging a farewell tour in various parts of the country since.Kim’s farewell tour has been received with great enthusiasm. All of her concerts in Seoul, Busan, Changwon, Daejeon and other major cities have been sold out. The concerts in Goyang are the finale of the singer’s farewell tour that has been ongoing since March.Her popularity transcends generations, as older fans and young people in their 20s and 30s have come together to hear the poNov 28, 2012By Do Je-hae
Violin prodigy steals show at benefit concertElli Choi plays with the Sejong Soloists at Seoul Arts Center last Tuesday. / Courtesy of Sejong Soloists Elli Choi, a violin prodigyBy Do Je-haeKang Hyo, a renowned violin professor at the Juilliard School, has taught numerous violin prodigies during his lengthy career at the prestigious U.S. school.One of his prized pupils of late is Elli Choi, 11, who came to Seoul last week to perform at a benefit concert of the Sejong Soloists, a chamber music group founded by Kang. She wowed the audience with Sarasate's "Zigeunerweisen" last Tuesday at Seoul Arts Center.Choi is the youngest recipient of an instrument from the Stradivari Society in Chicago; she is playing a three-quarter-sized violin made by Giuseppe Rocca of Turin in 1852.A native of San Diego, Choi mNov 27, 2012
MAMA loses Asian touchPsy, left, will attend the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA), which is to be held at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre on Nov. 30./ Courtesy of CJ E&MBy Rachel LeeAfter gracing EMA and AMA ceremonies in Europe and the United States, world star Psy will take to the stage at Mnet Asian Music Awards in Nov. 30 in Hong Kong.It couldn’t be a more fitting stage for Psy nor could there be a better guest for MAMA, an annual music award ceremony hosted by CJ E&M.“With increasing popularity of K-pop, we are hoping to share more of our music with the rest of the world and become the best music award in Asia,” said Shin Hyung-kwan, executive director of channel Mnet, at a press conference held Tuesday in Seoul.To be held at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, MAMA has long aimed to promote Korean music while interacting closely with other Asian neighbors since it first began in 1999 under the title “Mnet Music Video Awards.”Korean boy band Super JuniorThis awards ceremony, which the production team describes as “global Nov 21, 2012
Elton John to hold second concert in Korea next weekBritish singer-songwriter Sir Elton John is to perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul on Nov. 27 and at BEXCO in Busan on Nov. 29. / Courtesy of Access EntertainmentBy Rachel LeeBritish rock giant, Sir Elton John, is surely among the most awaited artists of this season. He is coming to Korea next week to wow audiences once again.The 65-year-old artist, who captured the world’s attention with tracks including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word,” will perform in Seoul on Nov. 27 and in Busan on Nov. 29. The concerts are part of his “40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man Tour,” which marks 40 years after the release of his mega hit “Rocket Man.”“The show will be a combination of the big hit singles and much-loved albums tracks,” said Elton John in an email interview. “I can guarantee that everyone who attends will know many, if not all, of them!”This is his first performance here since a 2004 concert at the Olympic Stadium, which attracted about 25,000 fans.“I remeNov 18, 2012
Elton John to hold second concert in Korea next weekBritish singer-songwriter Sir Elton John is to perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in Seoul on Nov. 27 and at BEXCO in Busan on Nov. 29. / Courtesy of Access EntertainmenBy Rachel LeeBritish rock giant, Sir Elton John, is surely among the most awaited artists of this season. He is coming to Korea next week to wow audiences once again.The 65-year-old artist, who captured the world’s attention with tracks including “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word,” will perform in Seoul on Nov. 27 and in Busan on Nov. 29. The concerts are part of his “40th Anniversary of the Rocket Man Tour,” which marks 40 years after the release of his mega hit “Rocket Man.”“The show will be a combination of the big hit singles and much-loved albums tracks,” said John in an email interview. “I can guarantee that everyone who attends will know many, if not all, of them!”This is his first performance here since a 2004 concert at the Olympic Stadium, which attracted about 25,000 fans.“I remembNov 18, 2012
Teenage girls ready to lead K-popBaek Ye-rin, left, and Park Ji-min of 15& put up their best pose for the camera. Following a release of their single, they are now working on their next single. / Courtesy of JYP EntertainmentBy Rachel LeePark Ji-min and Baek Ye-rin are no different from other teenagers;15 years old, they brim with curiosity, are interested in fashion and love hanging out with friends. But their booming and powerful voices tell more about themselves. Park and Baek who are now a duo called 15& may well be the next big thing in K-pop. Managed by JYP Entertainment, they made their debut last month with the single “I Dream” amid much interest and anticipation. They are currently working on their next single. “It felt really good to appear on stage and sing our first single as professionals, though I could not feel relaxed during the past month,” Park Ji-min said Wednesday in an interview with The Korea Times. Their single “I Dream,” a ballad, is about the two girls who realize what they had long dreamt of. Park beat out other powerful and older singers in Nov 14, 2012
Romania's 'Painter at the keyboards'Pianist Radu Lupu is one of the most respected interpreters of the the First Viennese School, including Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven and Schubert. He will make his Korean debut on Nov. 17 at Seoul Arts Center with an all-Schubert program. / Courtesy of MastmediaLegendary pianist to make Korean debutBy Do Je-haeFor local pianophiles, Romanian pianist Radu Lupu’s concerts in Seoul this month are the most anticipated classical music event of the year.The legendary performer of the Austro-German classics has never given a concert here, although he has had 10 tours of Japan throughout his lengthy career. The two upcoming concerts will be a rare opportunity for Korean audiences to hear one of today’s most respected interpreters of Schubert, along with Mitsuko Uchida, Andras Schiff and Murray Perahia.In a previous radio interview, Japanese-British pianist Uchida called Lupu “possibly one of the greatest, most original musicians that I have encountered in my life.”Schubert's many lyrical gems for the piano are ideally suited for Lupu's limpid, beautiful tone and use Nov 11, 2012
