Discover Magic of Choral Music at Goyang FestivalBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The ultimate musical instrument, the human voice, forms en masse a symphony orchestra ― the chorus. The Goyang Choir Festival, the first of its kind in the country, brings together eight ensembles beginning today through Sept. 12 at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center, Gyeonggi Province. The newly launched event aims to develop the quality of domestic choral music and explore new repertoires, said the Goyang Cultural Foundation. Some 100 choristers, including members of the Goyang Civic Professional Choir and the Ansan City Choir, will open the festival tonight. The program features works including Leonard Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms," in which the theme is repeated but with different vocal techniques and forms. In order to cater to a wider audience, various pieces of music have been specially arranged for the concerts. In the Ansan City Choir's concert on Saturday, orchestral works such as Mozart's Symphony No. 40, the overture of Rossini's opera "William Tell" and Khachaturian's violin solo piece "Sabre Dance" will be reborn through theSep 1, 2009
Album ReviewsColbie Caillat Breakthrough (Universal Music Korea) Pop singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat became a breakout star in 2007 with ``Coco,'' an album of lighthearted tunes. Now she's back with a new album ``Breakthrough'' that promises more of the unfailingly cheerful and breezy love songs. With her sweet and innocent voice singing about love, it almost makes listeners want to fall in love too. Some of the songs may have sugary lyrics, but it never gets annoying. Listeners will love ``Fallin' for You,'' ``Rainbow,'' and ``I Never Told You.'' Caillat worked with singer-songwriters Jason Reeves, Jason Mraz, and American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi on several tracks. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Apollo 18 `The Blue Album' (GMC/ Estella Records) Korean indie band Apollo 18 has just released their latest effort ``The Blue Album.'' The band, composed of bassist and vocalist Kim Dae-in, guitarist and vocalist Choi Hyeon-seok, and drummer Lee Sang-yoon, are known for a post-rock and experimental sound. Apollo 18 opens the album with the haunting sounds of the ocean on ``Pause 0Sep 1, 2009
Dutch Jazz Singer Charms SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Dutch singer Wouter Hamel treated Korean fans to an evening of cheerful, jazzy tunes in his first concert in Seoul, Sunday evening. The concert was held at the outdoor Waterside Stage, Olympic Park, allowing fans to enjoy the cool evening weather while listening to Hamel's songs. Cheers of excitement greeted Hamel when he walked to the center of the amphitheater with his band members. The boyishly handsome singer wore jeans, a jacket and sneakers, making him look much younger than his 32 years. ``Thanks for coming tonight. We're so proud to be back in Korea so soon after the Seoul Jazz Festival (in May), and now we have our own stage,'' he said. To open the show, Hamel sang the ballad ``Quite the Disguise'' while playing a guitar. It was followed by the swing jazz-influenced ``We Have Today,'' which had the audience clapping to the beat. He sang songs from his first two albums, ``Hamel'' and ``Nobody's Tune.'' Fans clapped their hands to the beats of pop-jazzy and swing-influenced songs like ``Breezy,'' ``Cheap ChardonAug 31, 2009
Violinist Kim Suyoen Brings New Impulse to MozartBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Violinist Kim Suyoen is bringing something of a ``new impulse’’ to South Korea’s classical music scene. Praised as a ``brand new world star’’ by the Danish daily Jyllands-Posten in her teens, the 22-year-old is fast emerging as an artist to watch out for, jamming with Maestro Chung Myung-whun in the hottest chamber concert of the season ``Seven Stars.’’ Though German-born and marketed as a German artist, Kim insists on carrying her Korean passport, and makes her Korean album debut with a fresh take on Mozart opposite a couple of the talked about young artists of the hour. The tracks of ``Mozartiana’’ (Deutsche Grammophon Korea) brim with vim and vigor: Sonatas for Violin and Piano K. 454, 304 and 378 featuring the Bulgarian Evgeni Bozhanov, who was a finalist in the 13th Van Cliburn Piano Competition, and Viola Duo K. 423 and variations on ``Ah, Vous Dirai-Je Maman’’ (arranged for the two instruments) with the popular violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill. The three sonatas are marked by constant push and pull between the keyboard and strings.Aug 31, 2009
Weekender From the Meisters Fingertips: Art of Violin MakingBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter An artist's limitless imagination is not always enough ― a rich color palette is needed to allow dreams to materialize onto canvas. Likewise, a superior violin yields sounds not available on a lesser instrument. The Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman is famous for playing the 1690 "Ex-Leopold Auer" Stradivarius, and told The Korea Times that "playing an instrument of this caliber gives an artist almost limitless expressive possibilities." South Korea is producing some of the most talented classical musicians and hosting premier music events ― but how about crafting the essential hardware for music? Chung Choon-sub is one of the country's few "meisters" of crafting string instruments. While there are many local violin makers, not many are entitled to the privilege of being called "master" in German. The 42-year-old is the only Korean to graduate from the violin division of the department of musical instrument making at Westsachsischen Hochschule Zwickau (University of Applied Sciences), Markneukirchen, Germany. There is only one other Korean knAug 27, 2009
Top Musicians to Appear in Chamber ConcertsBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The local classical music, after a slow summer season of youth-themed programs, is regaining momentum with a couple of star-studded chamber concerts. Seven Stars Seven of the country's most prominent soloists will take the stage tonight at Seoul Arts Center after a seven-year hiatus. Under the artistic direction of maestro conductor-pianist Chung Myung-wun, the 2009 season brings together esteemed cellist and professor Yang Sung-won, Korea's pioneer violist Choi Eun-sik and popular cellist Song Young-hoon (Young Song). They will be joined by three rising young prodigies ― pianist Kim Sun-wook, who recently made his Carnegie Hall debut, and U.S.-based violinist Yura Lee and Germany's hottest violin talent Suyoen Kim. The chamber series began in 1997 under the title "Seven Men" featuring Chung, Choi and Yang as well as pianist Han Dong-il, violinists Kang Dong-suk and Kim Young-uck and cellist Cho Young-chang, and has since given sold out performances. Past editions featured guest artists of the highest caliber including the piano diva Paik HAug 25, 2009
Album ReviewsDepapepe `Do!' (SonyBMG) Japanese acoustic guitar duo Depapepe has just come out with new album ``Do!'' This marks the fifth anniversary of their debut album's release. Composed of Takuya Miura and Yoshinari Takuoka, Depapepe gained popularity for their catchy guitar riffs and entertaining melodies. Depapepe's album includes bright and cheerful tunes like ``PaPaPa,'' ``FAKE,'' ``High Rock!'' and ``Sailing.'' There is something special about Depapepe's music, because it never fails to leave you in a good mood. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia The Dead Weather `Horehound' (SonyBMG) As if he's not busy enough with The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, Jack White has formed an alternative rock super group with The Kills' Alison Mosshart, Queens of the Stone Age's Dean Fertita and The Raconteurs' Jack Lawrence. White once again shows his many talents, this time, taking on drumming duties. With a line-up like that, it was expected that The Dead Weather's debut album ``Horehound!'' would rock. While they don't quite live up to the high expectations, the album still has a Aug 25, 2009
DJs From Tokyo to Party in SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Partygoers will get a taste of the raw and exciting underground Tokyo party scene in Seoul this weekend. Tokyo-based DJs will be partying at The Hive, Itaewon, Aug. 29. The ``Tokyo Underground'' party will feature producer/DJs like Sonpub from Phoenix Players, Sol Rom from 663A and Keyth Death from Kazenohito. The party will feature the hottest mixes of techno, breakbeat, dancehall, reggae and fidget music. Sonpub, who started as a producer and became a DJ, is looking forward to making the club goers dance all night to his music. ``I want people in Korea to feel a power to dance from my DJ-ing,'' Sonpub told The Korea Times, in an e-mail interview. Sonpub plays different genres of music, like techno, electronic, house, hip-hop, rock and pop music. He says his music has been influenced by a wide range of artists from the Beatles and Eric Clapton to Guns N' Roses and Oasis to Jay-Z and Timbaland. On his Web site (www.sonpub.com), he recently offered a free download of his remix of the late pop superstar Michael JacksAug 25, 2009
Violinist Gluzman to Uplift Fans Into Musical HighBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The Israeli violinist Vadim Gluzman returns to Seoul Thursday and Friday, and invites fans to join him on a thrilling musical excursion. In his third collaboration with the KBS Symphony Orchestra, he will play Brahms' Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 opposite conductor Hubert Soudant. "Brahms really is a composer whose music made its way to me not by storm," Gluzman told The Korea Times via e-mail. "I did not even notice when I 'fell in love,' but the moment that (it) happened I knew that this was forever." He said the greatest challenge ― and interest ― with the Romantic piece is "finding the balance between the incredible emotional depth and intellectual sense of structure." He compared playing the masterpiece to climbing Mt. Everest ― "(It's) exhilarating, challenging both emotionally and physically, and above all the most fulfilling musical experience." He emphatically agreed that the audience is crucial in such musical mountain climbing. "For a great concert, one needs a triumvirate of talent: composer, performer and audience," hAug 24, 2009
Band Brings New Orleans Jazz to SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter New Orleans has always been known for its vibrant, soulful jazz music scene. Korean fans will soon have a chance to enjoy an exciting jazz party with a venerable music institution from New Orleans, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, at the LG Art Center, Sept. 1. The band is named after Preservation Hall, which was founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe in the city's French Quarter. At the time, the building housed an art gallery owned by Larry Borenstein, who began holding jam sessions for his close musician friends. The sessions included Jaffe, who was then a young tuba player, and eventually Preservation Hall was born. The venue still stands, and welcomes ``people of all ages interested in having one of the last pure music experiences left on the earth." It also continues with its decades-long standing policy of ``no drinks" and "no air conditioner." The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, featuring New Orleans musicians, began touring in 1963 and has helped carry on and promote the tradition of New Orleans jazz. ThroAug 24, 2009