Seoul Philharmonic to Expand HorizonsBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) has long been reputed as one of the country's representative music ensembles, but in recent years it has risen to become a marketable brand. It's not unusual that the orchestra consistently performs to sold-out audiences; last year, sales went up in spite of the fact that more than half of its 127 concerts were charity events and that ticket prices were lowered for its subscription concerts. This year, the SPO is gearing up to take the next step in its musical endeavors, Maestro Chung Myung-whun, its music director and conductor, told reporters last week in Seoul. It will offer a more ambitious program, crowned by a series of Mahler symphonies, a bona fide overseas tour and a recording project. ``It's been five years since I began leading the SPO, and during that time there has been much improvement,'' he said. He had once said it would take a decade for the orchestra to become competitive in Asia, and another ten years to become a strong player in the global music scene. ``I think we have a strongJan 11, 2010
Chicago Returns to Seoul for Feb. ConcertBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Experience a sense of nostalgia for the 1970s and 1980s when legendary American band Chicago holds a concert in Seoul next month. Chicago is heading back here for its second concert on Feb. 23, at the Olympic Fencing Stadium, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. It has been seven years since the band first performed in Seoul, back in 2003. Chicago, whose music combines pop, rock and jazz, is one of the longest running pop-rock groups in the music industry, having been together for more than 40 years. Among its most famous songs are ``Hard to Say I'm Sorry,'' ``If You Leave Me Now,'' ``Love Me Tomorrow'' and ``You're the Inspiration.'' Formed in 1967 in the Illinois capital, the band was originally composed of saxophonist Walter Parazaider, guitarist Terry Kath, drummer Danny Seraphine, trumpet player Lee Loughnane, trombonist James Pankow, keyboardist Robert Lamm and bassist Peter Cetera. Their dream was ``to integrate all the musical diversity from their beloved city and weave a new sound, a rock 'n' roll band with horns.'' ThJan 11, 2010
Concerts Fete Chopin’s 200th BirthdayBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frederic Chopin, composer extraordinaire and ``piano poet,'' and concerts in Seoul will open up the year of celebrations. Chinese pianist Lang Lang gave a gala concert in Warsaw last Wednesday to officially launch a year of festivities feting the bicentennial of Chopin. In Seoul, esteemed professor and performer Yoon Chul-hee will give the last two sessions of his Chopin concert series. Yoon has a recording of the Polish composer's complete piano etudes under his belt and began the five-part concert series last year to coincide with the anniversary. As much as Chopin is reputed as ``the poet of the piano,'' Yoon notes that the beauty of the maestro's scores lies in ``the gentle tempo, which is like that of flowing water.'' On Thursday, at Sejong Chamber Hall, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul, he will perform Chopin's Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 2, which have been arranged for a chamber ensemble. He will be joined by violinists Kim Pil-gyun and Bae Sang-eun, violist KJan 10, 2010
UK Rockers Muse Rocks SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter British rock band Muse kicked off the New Year with an electrifying concert, Thursday evening at the Olympic Gym, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. The virtually sold-out audience didn't seem to mind the freezing temperatures outside and a delayed start. The crowd roared with excitement as lead singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy, bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dominic Howard appeared on stage. Muse performed ``Uprising,'' the first single off their latest album, ``The Resistance.'' They followed it with ``Map of the Problematique,'' and ``Supermassive Blackhole.'' ``Gamsahamnida, Seoul,'' Bellamy said to the cheering crowd. Known as one of the best live bands around, Muse did not disappoint. With slick graphics in the background, the band gave powerful performances of ``New Born,'' ``Butterflies & Hurricanes'' and ``Hysteria.'' Bellamy's haunting falsetto voice and skillful guitar solos impressed the crowd, as well as Howard and Wolstenholme's drum and bass jams. Muse also played songs from their latest album suchJan 8, 2010
Now ShowingSaw VI In the latest installment of the horror movie series, William is among others kidnapped by Jigsaw, a legendary killer. In order to survive, he must decide who to save and who to kill among the people trapped with him. He is given six chances and six choices. Who will he choose? 18 and over. 90 minutes. CGV Gonghang (1544-1122) near exit 2 of Gimpo Int'l Airport Station on subway line 5 CGV Prime Sindorim (1544-1122) near exit 2 of Sindorim Station on subway line 1 and 2 CGV Gangdong (1544-1122) near exit 2 of Gangdong-gu Office Station on subway line 8 CGV Gangbyeon (1544-1122) near exit 1 of Gang-byeon Station on subway line 2 Jan 7, 2010
Shin Young-ok Offers Songs From HeartlandBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Shin Young-ok opens the new year on a musical note, as always, but, this time, the soprano’s homecoming tour is more like reciting a lyrical love letter to Korea, through songs that have a special place in her heart. The singer kicks off a cross-country tour Saturday in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province to showcase her trademark operatic arias as well as Korean folk songs from her newly released album: ``Songs in My Heart’’ (Universal Music Korea). Shin has numerous recordings under her belt, from full-scale opera CDs and aria compilations, to collections of hymns and crossover numbers, but ``Songs in My Heart’’ is like no other ― ``It captures my appreciation for my homeland, where I was born and raised,’’ she told The Korea Times in an email. ``It is a truly special project for a Korean singer, to sing Korean songs in Korean. I’ve lived in New York for 30 years but I always miss Korea and my family. I’ve been an opera singer for 20 years now, but being introduced as `Korean soprano Shin Young-ok’ really pulls my heartstrings and fills me with Jan 6, 2010
Album ReviewsBeyonce `I Am ... Yours' (SonyBMG) Pop superstar Beyonce is undoubtedly one of the most exciting performers around today. Fans can experience the Beyonce concert experience with the CD and DVD ``I Am ... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas.'' The concert features 30 songs, including the catchy hits ``Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It),'' ``Irreplaceable,'' ``Halo,'' ``Sweet Dreams,'' and ``If I Were a Boy.'' Beyonce continues to impress with her strong vocals, powerful dance moves and charismatic stage presence. It also offers behind-the-scenes footage that gives a glimpse of the real Beyonce. ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia Snoop Dogg `Malice in Wonderland' (Warner Music Korea) Snoop Dogg returns to form in his 10th album ``Malice in Wonderland.'' The rapper's new album is full of collaborations with the hottest names in hip-hop such as Lil Jon, R. Kelly, The Dream and Soulja Boy. The tracks are a fusion of the gangsta rap that Snoop popularized, with today's trendy R&B and pop beats. ``I Wanna Rock,'' which samples ``It Takes Two'' by Rob Base and DJan 5, 2010
Backstreet Boys Back in Seoul in FebruaryBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Backstreet Boys, one of the most enduring boy bands in pop music, will be coming back to Seoul in February. The American group will be performing at the Melon-AX Hall, Feb. 24, as part of their ``This Is Us Tour'' to promote their latest album. This will be the Boys' third concert in Seoul, after shows in 2006 and 2008. Originally five members, Backstreet Boys are now just composed of Brian Littrell, Nick Carter, A.J. McLean and Howie Dorough. Kevin Richardson left the group in 2006. The Boys have sold over 130 million records throughout their 16-year career, and have had14 Top 40 hits on the Billboard charts. The group, formed by producer Lou Perlman in Orlando, Florida, made their debut in 1993. With their cute image, good vocals and slick dance moves, the Backstreet Boys first attracted fans in Europe and Asia. It was only in 1997 when they released their second album that American fans started noticing them. They racked up hit songs like ``Quit Playin' Games (With My Heart),'' ``I'll Never Break Your Heart,''Jan 5, 2010
Chung Kyung-wha to Return After Five-Year HiatusBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Violin virtuoso Chung Kyung-wha will return to the Seoul stage after a five-year hiatus. The 61-year-old artist will resume playing as a soloist with world-renowned orchestras in May and November. She has kept many fans waiting ever since taking a break due to a finger injury. She will appear with the Philharmonia Orchestra on May 4 at Seoul Arts Center. Russian Maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy will lead the esteemed British ensemble in Brahms' violin concerto. On Nov. 21 at Seoul Arts Center, she will showcase the Beethoven violin concerto opposite the Cleveland Orchestra. Rising young Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Moest will wield the baton. Born into a musical family, Chung trained at the Juilliard School in New York and has been lauded for her passionate musicality and dazzling technique. She has since appeared in major halls across the world in recitals and in concert with top tier orchestras, working with esteemed conductors such as Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim and Sir Simon Rattle, among others. She is a member of theJan 5, 2010
Strings to Quiver, Snap in ConcertsBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The deep, humanly warm voice of string instruments have made them star protagonists in the narrative of music. Hoam Art Hall, downtown Seoul, celebrates its first quarter-century anniversary with musical zest, offering a series of string concerts beginning Jan. 22. Different members of the string family will appear alone or in groups, to quiver in maudlin moods or even snap with attitude. Sejong Soloists, the critically acclaimed conductor-less orchestra, opens the new year season with one-of-a-kind performances, which will be followed by Chen Xi's violin recital and a set by Ensemble TIMF. Sejong Soloists Sejong Soloists' first concert on Jan. 22 features Earl Kim's ``Dear Linda.'' The ensemble gave the Korean premiere of the piece at the 2008 International Great Mountains Music Festival & School (GMMFS), Gangwon Province, and the upcoming event will be a rare opportunity to hear the work. For ``Dear Linda,'' the esteemed Korean-American composer added musical notes to a letter that Pulitzer-winning poet Anne Saxton wrote to her daughJan 3, 2010