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
DJ Kai to Perform on White DayBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter DJ Kai, one of the hottest DJs from New York, will electrify Seoul's club scene on White Day, Saturday. Known for his electro-tribal-funk sound, Kai will perform at the ``White Day Party'' at club Vera in Hongdae. He has played some of the best clubs in the world including New York's Crobar and Tokyo's Womb, and is now preparing surprises for Seoul. ``I'm taking my sound into deeper territory lately. The electro thing is over and overdone to the max. It is time to get back to the basics. I want to take the crowd into more groove and bass driven tracks,'' he told The Korea Times. He worked with Korean friend Kyle Kim on a new single ``Love No Limit,'' which is already getting a lot of buzz in the United Kingdom. Under the ``Kai & Kyle" moniker, he said they are going for a more Afro/Latin-influenced sound like ``Jamiroquai-meets-Deep-Dish." ``It is a deep house-styled track where I laid some vocals on top. We've got some big remixes from house legends Kerri Chandler, Zoo Brazil, MJ Cole, and Korea's Oriental Funk Stew. It'sMar 10, 2009
X Japan Promises to Astound FansBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter X Japan is promising to give Korean fans two amazing concerts they won't easily forget, when the Japanese rock legends hit Seoul March 21 and 22. In an email interview with The Korea Times, X Japan frontman Yoshiki said the two Seoul concerts will have superb visual effects and different themes for each night. ``I am most concerned about telling a certain story on stage. This story must symbolize `X Japan-ness.' I must portray this in the most dynamic way as I can. For the two Korean concerts, we will have two different themes. Fans can look forward to it,'' he said. Yoshiki admitted at first he was surprised to know that X Japan was famous in Korea, but is nonetheless grateful for Korean fans' support throughout the years. ``I want to thank the Korean fans for supporting X Japan for all this time,'' he said. ``When I was living in L.A., I had a few Korean friends. To be honest, I was very surprised when they told me that X Japan was famous in Korea. That was how I got to know about my fame. I remember many fans went to the aMar 10, 2009
Album ReviewsU2 `No Line on the Horizon' (Universal Music) The wait is over for U2 fans. Five long years after their last album, U2 has finally released ``No Line on the Horizon.'' U2 doesn't disappoint with an impressive album that pushes the band's sound to the next level. The first single ``Get On Your Boots'' is full of rock star bravado. Other stellar tracks include ``I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight,'' ``Stand Up Comedy'' and ``Breathe.'' Let's face it, U2 is one of those superstar rock bands that can't seem to do anything wrong. The only thing fans have to worry about is which limited edition version of the album set to pick up: a digi-pack with a poster and free download of Anton Corbijin's movie featuring U2's music, a box set with a DVD and book or magazine, or the vinyl version. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Various Artists `Knowledge Channel E Season 1' (SonyBMG) Rock bands Travis, Mika and Franz Ferdinand are not exactly the kind of music you expect to be played during an educational show. But songs by these rock bands, as well as pop, world music and new aMar 10, 2009
Lady Gaga Burning Up Album ChartsBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter New pop sensation Lady Gaga is burning up the charts around the world with pumping dance tracks like ``Just Dance'' and ``Poker Face,'' and attracting lots of attention for her eclectic fashion sense. Her debut album ``The Fame'' is all about today's celebrity-obsessed world, with songs about the paparazzi, star struck fans and instant wealth. With her sudden rise to fame, Lady Gaga has experienced ``fame'' and its pitfalls firsthand. ``I feel that people treat me differently now because I've become famous. In the past, people gave me weird looks at the clubs because I was dressed differently and acted differently from other clubbers. Now they look at me just because I'm a celebrity, but really, I'm still the same person,'' Lady Gaga said in an email interview with The Korea Times. Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, Lady Gaga grew up in Manhattan, New York. She studied at private Catholic school Convent of the Sacred Heart with Paris and Nicky Hilton. A few years later, she attended New York University's Tisch School of Mar 8, 2009
String Concerts to Herald SpringBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Various string concerts are lined up for March, and will melt away the last winter chills with mellifluous music. This weekend, fans should not miss performances by the internationally acclaimed Sejong Soloists and newly launched Quartrabratsche. Sejong Soloists Sejong Soloists will tour South Korea beginning with Seoul on Saturday for their 15th anniversary and the release of their latest album, ``Passion'' (Universal). Named after the famous Korean king, Sejong Soloists was founded in New York in 1994 by Hyo Kang, and the conductor-less string ensemble has been ``taking the world by storm with their expert playing, upbeat image and egalitarian approach to performance'' (Muso Magazine).'' Their previous album, ``This is Vivaldi,'' showed that the composer's overplayed ``Four Seasons'' can take on freshness, and made its way to Hollywood when it was featured in the soundtrack of ``Hellboy 2.'' ``Passion'' revisits the classic, but this time the group jazzes it up with Astor Piazzolla's tango tunes, ``The Fours Seasons of Buenos Aires.'' Mar 4, 2009
Travis Overwhelmed by Korean FansBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Paper airplanes flew around the packed Olympic Hall, as Scottish rock band Travis performed ``Closer" in the middle of their concert in Seoul, Sunday evening. Frontman Fran Healy could not hide a wide grin while singing, as Korean fans threw dozens of paper planes and confetti during the song's chorus. ``That's the coolest thing that has ever happened on stage. We will never forget that ever," Healy said, adding he wanted to collect the paper airplanes to bring back home to his son. Travis was overwhelmed by the raucous reaction of Korean fans at the concert. ``We're just totally blown away tonight. It's so amazing. You're all great. I'm very seldom at a loss of words, but I'm lost for words now. I don't know what to say. I'm touched with the paper airplanes. That was fantastic," Healy said. Sunday's concert was only the second time Travis has performed in Korea, after last year's thrilling set at the Pentaport Rock Festival in Incheon. Fans gathered at Olympic Hall with high expectations for the band, and they were not diMar 2, 2009
Album ReviewsBruce Springsteen `Working on a Dream' (SonyBMG) American singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen is brimming with hope and optimism in his 24th album ``Working on a Dream.'' Featuring 12 new songs, Springsteen offers his thoughts and reflections on life and love. There is none of the usual political lyrics that people are used to getting from Springsteen. He gets a little too sappy with ``Queen of the Supermarket'' and ``Surprise, Surprise.'' But perhaps the most moving song is ``The Wrestler,'' which was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards and won the Golden Globe. - Cathy Rose A. Garcia The Blue Note 7 `Mosaic' (Warner Music Korea) To commemorate the jazz label's 70th anniversary, Blue Note created the Blue Note 7, a band composed of top jazz musicians such as pianist Bill Charlap, saxophonist Ravi Coltraine and trumpet player Nicholas Payton. Blue Note 7 is not just a tribute band but ``a cadre with cohesive compatibility, dealing with powerful music and reinterpreting it.'' ``Mosaic'' is an exceptional album featuring fresh interpretationFeb 24, 2009