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
Paloma Faith Offers Something BeautifulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter With her smoky voice, retro fashion and stimulating stage performances, British singer Paloma Faith has been attracting fans all around. Faith was thrust into the spotlight this year with the hit single ``Stone Cold Sober'' from her debut album ``Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful?'' In an e-mail interview with The Korea Times, the 24-year-old singer talked about her music, her stage style and a role in Terry Gilliam's film ``The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.'' The album title, Faith says, is about honesty, and how sometimes it's not necessarily the best thing. ``You know when people ask you questions, and they don't necessarily want the answer? It's also about how something beautiful, even if it's a myth, is better than reality ― and I don't think there's anything wrong with that,'' she said. Her favorite song from the album is the title track, which she says is the ``most true to her real self.'' ``It is rare that one is accepted for who they really are without criticism or contempt and mostly we go through lDec 30, 2009
Album ReviewsAlicia Keys `The Element of Freedom' (SonyBMG) Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Alicia Keys continues to shine with her fourth album``The Element of Freedom.'' A well put together album, it shows a more mature side to Keys. There's a string of good R&B tracks, such as the first single ``Doesn't Mean Anything''; ``Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart'' and ``Un-thinkable (I'm Ready),'' which includes background vocals from hip-hop sensation Drake. ``Put It In A Love Song'' is one of the best tracks, although Beyonce almost overshadows Keys. Yet, the New York City native's soulful vocals are always top-notch. For such a confident album, it's surprising that none of the tracks really stand out as a hit single like ``Fallin'.'' ―Cathy Rose A. Garcia John Mayer `Battle Studies' (SonyBMG) With his growing reputation as a ladies' man, it's easy to forget that John Mayer is one very talented singer-songwriter. ``Battle Studies'' reminds listeners of this fact. It's an enjoyable album filled with Mayer's brand of bluesy pop tunes dealing with the theme of lost lovDec 29, 2009
Big Orchestras to Hit Seoul Stage in 2010By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Classical music buffs should be prepared to mark their 2010 calendars. This past year, the world financial crisis resulted in the cancellation of several local tours by top international ensembles. Fans however can look forward to a long lineup of orchestral performances in the new year. Several of Britain's top orchestras will visit Korea in the spring and fall seasons, and concertgoers will be able to see some of the country's most popular musicians appear as soloists. The London Philharmonia, led by the Russian master pianist-conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, will take the stage at Seoul Arts Center on May 3 and at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex on May 6. Prodigy pianist Kim Sun-wook will play with the orchestra. The BBC Symphony will perform on May 16 at Seoul Arts Center, joined by violinist Chee-Yun. On Sept. 17, the London Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at Seoul Arts Center. Star violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill, who played with the ensemble last year, will reappear as a soloist. Also set to appear is talented violinist Stefan JackiwDec 29, 2009