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
K-pop stars to throw after-exam party“2012 K-pop concert,” for high school seniors and their families, is to be held at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University’s Seoul campus on Nov.18. Such of K-pop artists as SHINee and B.A.P will perform at the concert. / Courtesy of Sports HankookBy Rachel LeeSHINee and B.A.P are among a number of artists who will take to the stage for a concert in Seoul on Nov. 18. Hosted by Sports Hankook, a sister paper of the Hankook Ilbo, “2012 K-pop concert” is designed for high school seniors their and families to unwind after taking the college entrance exam today. Rainbow and Clover are among the other acts that will perform at the Grand Peace Palace of Kyung Hee University’s Seoul campus from 6 p.m. Five-member boy band SHINee will play for Korean fans again after a concert in Hong Kong last month. The band proved their ongoing popularity with the success of EP “Sherlock,” released in March. The group made their debut in May 2008 when they were all teenagers with the EP “Replay.”B.A.P, a six-member hip-hop boNov 7, 2012
Bavarian Radio Symphony brings BeethovenWorld-renowned conductor Mariss Jansons will lead the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) during a two-day Beethoven tour in Seoul onNov. 20-21 at Seoul Arts Center. / Courtesy of VinceroBy Do Je-haeA number of extraordinary conductors and orchestras have performed in Korea this year, but none have aroused as much excitement as the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO) under the direction of Latvian maestro Mariss Jansons.The BRSO’s upcoming concerts on Nov. 20-21 at Seoul Arts Center were voted the most anticipated concert of the year in a survey conducted among editors of Gaeksuk, a local classical music magazine, in January.Several orchestras from Moscow and St. Petersburg that visited Korea this month invariably brought with them Russian music, but the BRSO will deliver an all-Beethoven programs without any soloist. For the two upcoming dates in Korea, Jansons has chosen Beethoven symphonies No. 2, No. 3, No. 6, and No. 7.The BRSO is widely considered the best German orchestra after the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO). The BRSO was rated the highest German orcheNov 7, 2012
Yamaha marks 125th yearAbove is a model from Yamaha’s latest CX grand piano series. / Courtesy of Yamaha Music KoreaBy Do Je-haeJapanese multinational corp. Yamaha has announced a new line of grand pianos to mark its 125th anniversary. This year also marks the 110th since the company began to manufacture grand pianos, one of the symbols of the company that makes a wide range of musical instruments, electronics, motorcycles and power sports equipment.Yamaha launched the CX Series this week, which inherits many qualities from the CFX concert grand pianos introduced in 2010 that have gained worldwide acclaim from performers and teachers.The CX Series includes six models, ranging from the entry-level C1X to the top-of-the-line C7X, intended for advanced artists. This new series has been characterized as “pianos that truly sing.”“The pianos that Yamaha is making are better than ever. And the CFX is one of the best pianos there are today in the market,” Yoheved Kaplinsky, chair of the piano division at the Juilliard School said in a previous interview with The Korea Times in JuNov 6, 2012By Do Je-hae
Chicago Symphony Orchestra to debut in KoreaAs part of the Hyundai Card Super Concert Series, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Italian maestro Riccardo Muti will perform in Seoul next February. / Courtesy of Hyundai CardBy Do Je-haeIn recent years, several renowned European orchestras have visited Seoul, such as the Berlin Philharmonic or Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw. But local tours of major U.S. orchestras have been rare.The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) Seoul tour in February 2013 at Seoul Arts Center is already creating a buzz in the classical music community here. It is the first time for the iconic ensemble to visit Korea in its 121-year history.The two dates on Feb. 6 and 7 are part of the Hyundai Card Super Concert Series, organized jointly by Hyundai Card and Credia.“A winner of 62 Grammy awards, the orchestra has built a reputation for an extensive repertoire. Their program in Seoul will focus completely on orchestral music, rather than starting the performance with a soloist,” Lee So-jung, a Credia PR official said. On Feb. 6, the orchestra will play Stravinsky’s &lNov 2, 2012By Do Je-hae
Upgrading Korean tourismCulture Minister Choe Kwang-shik / Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismBy Choe Kwang-shikInternational visitors to Korea reached 9.12 million on Oct. 20, up 18 percent from the previous year and are expected to hit a record high of 10 million by the end of the year. The number of tourists heading to Korea showed virtually uninterrupted double-digit growth between January and August compared to the same period last year, despite uncertainty resulting from the aftermath of the global economic crisis, the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami and ensuing radiation issues from Japan’s nuclear power plant leak among other factors. In the first 10 months of the year, 3 million people from Japan, accounting for the most arrivals from one country, and 2.45 million from China came to Korea, up 15 and 30 percent respectively from the previous year. The surging inflow of Japanese seems to be attributed to the attractive exchange rate helped by the rising yen and the development of regional specialty tourism products, attracts them to every corner of Korea, tOct 31, 2012
Originality holds key to growth of Seoul Arts CenterSeoul Arts Center (SAC) President Mo Chul-min poses at the opera house of the center. / Courtesy of SACBy Do Je-haeLarge-scale cultural complexes around the world are rushing to respond to the new demands of the digital era. Lincoln Center’s Metropolitan Opera, for example, is focusing on “The Met: Live in HD” project, which has been transmitting live performances to 1,500 venues in 46 countries with subtitles in English, French, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese and Korean since 2006. “That kind of project would be like a dream for us,” Seoul Arts Center (SAC) President Mo Chul-min said during a recent interview with The Korea Times. “Like many concert venues around the world, we have added more cameras for digital filming. But the primary source of such projects is the content. Our resident companies, like the national ballet and national opera, are not quite up to that level yet,” Mo added.A culture policy expert, Mo was named as president of the nation’s premier performance complex in Seocho-dong, Seoul, in April. A professor emOct 31, 2012
Korea's first global music forum to openPoster for Korea’s first music forum “MU:CON SEOUL 2012,” which is to kick offThursday, running through Saturday.By Rachel LeeThe world’s leading music experts are coming to Korea for the country’s first global music forum amid the rising popularity of K-pop.According to host the Korea Creative Content Agency Wednesday, the event titled “MU:CON SEOUL 2012,” to start Thursday, aims to introduce and promote K-pop to the world under the theme of “How Asian Music Collaborates with the World.”“Through this global music event, we hope to establish a foothold in the globalization of K-pop so that Korea positions itself as an influential market for the world’s music industry,” the agency’s CEO Hong Sang-pyo said.The three-day event comprises of three parts ― a conference, showcase and business matching program. About 100 local and international production companies will exchange the latest information and trends in the music industry. Participants include William Derella, manager of the Black Eyed Peas; HarveyOct 28, 2012
Renowned Russian orchestras to perform in SeoulBy Do Je-hae Russia is not only the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest composers and instrumentalists, but also the home of magnificent orchestras. Local classical music fans will have a unique opportunity in the coming weeks to hear four world-renowned Russian orchestras. They come from two great cities, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and will present programs filled with the best of Russian masters, including Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov. The most well-known is the Valery Gergiev-led Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, bringing with them a program of works by Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and Prokofiev. Founded in 1860, the Mariinsky Theater is a historic theater of opera and ballet that consists of 17 conductors, 240 orchestra members, 126 opera singers, 77 ballet dancers and 114 choir members. Gergiev is music director of the orchestra as well as general director of the theater, making him one of the most powerful cultural figures in Russia. He is also the music director of the London Symphony Orchestra. Under Gergiev, the Mariinsky Orchestra has becOct 10, 2012By Do Je-hae
Kara to perform at Tokyo Dome Girl group KaraBy Baek Byung-yeul Girl group Kara will become the first Korean female act to perform at Japan’s Tokyo Dome when they play there next year. “Kara will hold a concert on Jan. 6, 2013, and this is a first for female Korean singers,” said the act’s management company DSP Media. “This proves Kara’s status as a top draw.” The group broke the news to their fans while performing at “2012 Sigma Festival”, in Okinawa, Japan on Monday. The Tokyo Dome is the largest concert hall in Japan and can hold 50,000. It is called the “dream stage” among Japanese singers. Only a few male Korean stars such as Rain, TVXQ, Big Bang, Ryu Si-won, and Jang Geun-suk have performed at the venue,. In April and May, Kara played to 150,000 on their “Karasia” tour that took place in six cities in Japan. Kara are currently promoting new single, “Electric Boy” in Japan. The writer is an intern for The Korea Times. Oct 9, 2012
