Seoul Jazz Fest to Open in MayBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The Seoul Jazz Festival returns in May with a stellar line-up of foreign artists such as Latin jazz musician Omar Sosa; ``Once'' stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova; American singer Madeleine Peyroux; Dutch singer Wouter Hamel; and soul band Tower of Power. These artists will be performing at the four-day festival May 14-17 at the Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul. The music festival kicks off May 14 with ``Stylish Jazz Night,'' featuring Sosa, widely considered one of the most versatile jazz artists performing. Sosa, who was born and raised in Cuba, is a composer, arranger, producer, pianist, percussionist and bandleader known for combining elements of world music, electronic beats and Afro-Cuban sounds to create an exciting and unique Latin jazz sound. He has released numerous albums, including ``Sentir'' and ``Mulatos," both nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album at the Grammy Awards. In 2003, the Smithsonian Institution gave a lifetime achievement award to Sosa for his contributions Mar 23, 2009
Foreign Orchestras Cancel Korean ToursBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Amid the financial downturn, several big overseas orchestras scheduled to perform in South Korea this year have cancelled. The Radio France Philharmonic Orchestra, which was to feature twice in April under the baton of maestro Chung Myung-whun, and the Dmitiri Kitajenko-led Vienna Symphony's two December concerts were called off. Both orchestras withdrew plans to tour other Asian countries such as China and Japan. The Cincinnati Symphony has limited its Asian tour to Japan, calling off its performance in Taiwan, as well as its Korean debut with flutist Choi Na-kyung slated for October. Facing financial troubles, the American ensemble was forced to cut 20 percent from salaries for orchestra members, said Vincero, the local concert organizer. Meanwhile, domestic sponsors called it quits for the Pittsburgh Symphony's May concert. As various Asian tours are being called off, European and North American orchestras and music management agencies are also suffering. Until recently, orchestra performances were the cream of the crop among classicalMar 20, 2009
U2 Still Strong After 33 YearsBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Nearly 33 years after the band was formed in Dublin, U2 has racked up an impressive list of accomplishments that most rock bands can only dream of: selling more than 145 million albums, receiving 22 Grammy Awards, sold out concerts around the world and even a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for lead singer Bono. U2 shows no signs of slowing down. Its 12th album, ``No Line on the Horizon,'' was released earlier this month and topped charts around the world. The band is preparing for its much-anticipated ``U2 360 Tour,'' which kicks off June 30. While many of its contemporaries have fallen by the wayside due to drugs, alcohol or just plain bad music, U2 has stayed strong. The secret to the band's longevity and success? Bono says it's simply the chemistry between the members of the band, which also includes Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen Jr. and The Edge, who all met as teenagers in 1976. ``The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. People tell me that, when U2 walks out on stage, even if they don't like the band ― they've been draggMar 17, 2009
Tight-Lipped Gallagher Lets Music Speak for OasisBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Oasis returned to the music scene last year with the critically acclaimed album ``Dig Out Your Soul'' filled with pounding rock tunes ``The Shock of Lightning'' and ``Waiting for the Rapture.'' However, frontman Noel Gallagher, not necessarily known as the most loquacious interviewee, doesn't seem to like talking about the music, preferring the music to speak for itself. When asked where Oasis gets its musical inspiration, Gallagher simply replied, ``smoking and drinking.'' Not surprising since Gallagher and his younger brother Liam, at the height of Oasis' fame, were once known as the bad boys of British rock. Like most brothers, Noel and Liam have often had disagreements, leading to persistent rumors about Oasis splitting up. Gallagher simply brushes aside rumors, saying ``it doesn't affect (the group) at all.'' Noel has been responsible for many of Oasis' hit songs, but Liam wrote ``I'm Outta Time'' which was included in their latest album. While acknowledging his younger brother's songwriting skills, Gallagher does noMar 17, 2009
Album ReviewsTaylor Swift `Fearless' (Universal Music) Taylor Swift's second album, ``Fearless,'' reigned at the top of the Billboard charts for 11 weeks until U2 knocked it down two weeks ago. It's not hard to see why the 19-year-old pop princess is such a phenomenon; she sings catchy songs about boys, writes her own music, plays the guitar and is cute. Songs like ``Love Story'' and ``White Horse'' hit just the right note with young listeners. Swift always writes about her personal experiences, so it was no surprise she wrote ``Forever & Always'' after breaking up with heartthrob Joe Jonas. She successfully blends country music with pop, making her a true crossover star. The special Korea version includes three of Swift's early hit songs, including ``Teardrops on My Guitar.'' -Cathy Rose A. Garcia X Japan `X Singles' (SonyBMG) Fans of legendary Japanese rock group X Japan were sorely disappointed to hear about the postponement of their upcoming concert in Korea this weekend. To lessen the disappointment, fans can pick up ``X Singles,'' a compilation of the group's memorablMar 17, 2009
Piano Duo, Classical Marathon Invite FansBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Among the myriad of piano concerts that take place in Seoul, there are two that particularly stand out: a duo performance by wife and husband Moon Yong-hi and Lee Dai-uk, Thursday at Myeongdong Cathedral, and a marathon concert featuring all five of Beethoven's piano concertos, April 2 at KBS Hall. Two Plus Two Renowned pianist Moon Yong-hi, 60, and her husband Lee Dai-uk, 61, will host a piano concert, Thursday, at Myeongdong Cathedral in downtown Seoul. This is the couple's first duo in seven years since their 2002 concert at Seoul Arts Center. Moon is known as the first Korean professor at the prestigious Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University while her husband Lee splits his time teaching at Hanyang University and conducting the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra. The two often took to the stage together as soloist and conductor, so this will be a rare chance to hear their four hands together on the keyboard. ``As husband and wife and fellow musicians we have walked a long path together, and so we seem to know each other's thoughts Mar 17, 2009
X Japan Postpones Live ConcertBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Japanese rock group X Japan has decided to postpone its concert here, a week before the scheduled event. The X Japan Production Management Committee recently announced through the group's official Web site that the group will indefinitely delay its live concerts, which had been scheduled from March 21 to 22. They added that ticket sales for the concert to be held in Japan would also be postponed. The Tokyo concerts were to be held on May 2 and 3. ``We will announce plans as soon as possible. We express our apologies to fans who have been waiting and anticipating,'' the committee wrote on the Web site, but without clarifying the reason for the delay or further plans. IYESCOM Entertainment, the local concert producer, said that ``the postponement of the concert is confirmed, but we have not been given any specific details of future plans.'' The company also said they would offer a full refund for the 10,000 tickets sold for the concert. Speculation is centered on apparent conflict between group members over the unconfirmed depMar 13, 2009
Weekender Isang Yun’s Discordant Harmony Fills TongyeongTongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) Opens March 27-April 2 By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter They say a true artist transcends one's personal struggles and creates something new: ``A composer cannot view the world in which he lives with indifference. Human suffering, oppression, injustice... all that comes to me in my thoughts. Where there is pain, where there is injustice, I want to have a say in it through my music,'' the late composer Isang Yun (1917-1995) was quoted as saying in 1983. Born in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945), Yun was recognized in his youth for partaking in the resistance movement against colonial rule. After studying music in Korea and Japan, he made his way to Europe in the 1950s. In Berlin, Yun became part of the international avant-garde and gained international prominence with his orchestral piece ``Reak'' at the 1966 Donaueschingen Festival. The composer's life, however, took an unexpected turn in 1967 when he became implicated in a political scandal called the East Berlin spy incident. HeMar 12, 2009
Yuhki Kuramoto Marks Decade in KoreaBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Beloved pianist, composer and arranger Yuhki Kuramoto fetes a decade of music-making with South Korean fans with his ``Romance'' tour through March 17. ``In my 10 years of performing in Korea, my first concert at Seoul Arts Center, in a full house of 2,800 people, remains my fondest memory,'' said the 58-year-old in an interview in Seoul, Monday. Always wearing a pleasant smile, he didn't forget to make polite greetings in Korean every now and then. When asked about what was special about the Korean audience, Kuramoto said that he is simply grateful for their love. ``Koreans were the first ones to appreciate my work,'' he said. Here, Kuramoto is considered the father of New Age, along with artists like George Winston. ``I don't really pay attention to how my music is categorized. My pieces are rooted in classical music and centers around beautiful tunes. They aren't long, like pop, and have a singing melody that Koreans seem to like,'' he said. Born in Japan in 1951, the pianist made a breakthrough in 1986 with ``Lake Misty Blue'' anMar 10, 2009
Vivaldi to Reign in Seoul This SpringThis past weekend, Sejong Soloists, the premier conductor-less ensemble whose fans include Hilary Rodham Clinton, celebrated their 15th anniversary with a vivacious rendition of ``The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.'' In addition to Astor Piazzolla's take on Vivaldi's famous seasonal song, the original work by Vivaldi and other floral inspirations of the Baroque period will continue lightening up the new season. Korean Chamber Orchestra The Korean Chamber Orchestra, the country's foremost chamber ensemble, celebrates its 44th anniversary with a star-studded Baroque concert March 25 at Seoul Arts Center. Just having completed an acclaimed tour in Germany last month, the orchestra promises a dreamy night of things classic, rare and even new. Violinist Magdalena Rezler, who has championed various international events such as the Queen Elisabeth in Brussels, will join the orchestra for Vivaldi's timeless ``Four Seasons,'' the first time in seven years that the orchestra will play the sometimes ``overplayed'' work. World celebrated cellist Gary Hoffman will also appear as a Mar 10, 2009