The Prodigy Promises to Rock SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter British electronic group the Prodigy promises to drive the crowd crazy with their exciting performance at the electronic dance festival Global Gathering 2009 on Sept. 18 to 19 in Seoul. ``Expect a loud bunch of guys on stage playing some big tunes, jumping around and getting the crowd going mad,'' frontman Liam Howlett said in an e-mail interview with The Korea Times. Fans have been eagerly waiting for the Prodigy to come to Korea for years, but have been disappointed twice after previous shows were cancelled. Rest assured, it won't happen again, said Howlett. ``It was totally out of our control that those two shows were cancelled but nothing is going to stop us from getting there. I will swim if I have to," he said. "We can't wait to play for the Korean people.'' The Prodigy was formed in 1990 with Howlett, vocalist Keith Flint and MC Maxim Reality. They first gained a name for themselves in the underground rave scene, and topped the charts with albums ``Music for the Jilted Generation,'' and ``The Fat of the Land.'' TSep 8, 2009
Album ReviewsWhitney Houston `I Look to You' (SonyBMG) There used to be a time when Whitney Houston reigned as queen of the pop world, but she was dethroned after her disastrous marriage to Bobby Brown and a dearth of hit songs. Now, Houston is attempting a comeback with her first new album in seven years. Houston worked with some of today's hottest stars ― R. Kelly wrote some of her songs, including the ballad ``I Look to You,'' and Alicia Keys penned the catchy ``Million Dollar Bill.'' She also sings the duet ``Like I Never Left'' with Akon. Overall, the album's good, but it lacks the fiery, show-stopping power ballads for which Houston was known. ― Cathy Rose A. Garcia Original Soundtrack `Fame' (Universal Music) The remake of ``Fame'' is about to hit screens this month. The film has a cast of young new faces, and the soundtrack is throbbing with fresh energy and excitement. It offers a mix of hip-hop, R&B and dance music. The theme song ``Fame,'' originally sung by Irene Cara, is given a modern update by the film's lead actress Naturi Naughton. Naughton alsSep 8, 2009
Chang Han-na Expands Conducting CareerBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Chang Han-na will set aside her cello for the moment to wield the baton in Seongnam Art Center's ``Absolute Classic'' series, Sept. 11 and 12. ``I began conducting in order to broaden my horizons as a musician,'' Chang told reporters in a press conference Monday in Seoul. She said the beauty of conducting lies in ``creating sounds that resonate with individual spirit through the performance of others rather than my own.'' The 26-year-old made her conducting debut in 2007, at the helm of a group comprising Korean, Chinese and German youth orchestra members at the 1st Seongnam International Youth Orchestra Festival. Since then she has been taking small steps into the world of conducting, receiving tips from Maestro Lorin Maazel. ``I wanted to learn conducting from Maestro Maazel so I sent him a copy of Beethoven's Third Symphony that I conducted. When I received his reply saying he'll teach me, that I have a talent for conducting, I was grinning from ear to ear the entire day,'' she said. ``At first I began conducting with just excited pasSep 2, 2009
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