Placido Domingo to Dazzle Korean FansBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter He inspired 101 curtain calls lasting 75 minutes in Vienna and a 300-kilogram statue in Mexico City. The man in question is Placido Domingo, and he is back in Korea. ``I'm very, very happy to come back,'' the maestro told reporters in Seoul Monday about returning for a concert tonight at the Olympic Stadium. ``I really love the beautiful country, the music, and I'm really amazed by the way the city has changed so much,'' he said. The Grammy Award-wining tenor was last here in 2001 for a performance celebrating the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and his last full scale recital was in 1995. The Spanish singer, who turns 68 on the 21st, expressed much excitement about the 40th anniversary of his debut, which falls on March 15. Many celebrations are planned in New York and Milan, he said. Seoul is the only Asian city he will be visiting in the meantime. ``Every morning, I wake up and it's a great feeling to know I can still sing,'' he said about the prospects of retiring. He has no concrete plans to retire, though it ``certainly is closer.'' ``The tJan 12, 2009
Classical Music Galore in Gyeonggi ProvinceBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Gyeonggi Province will resound with classical music, as various city ensembles welcome the New Year with full, diverse programs. Concertgoers in Bucheon, Suwon and Seongnam will be able to enjoy affordable, quality concerts inspired by anniversaries such as Mendelssohn's 200th birthday and recent hype in the genre. New Year Celebration in Bucheon Last year, the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra marked its 20th anniversary, and this year it celebrates conductor Lim Hun-joung's 20th year of tenure. The orchestra opens what is expected to be another fruitful season, beginning with a New Year concert Jan. 30. The New Year concert will feature Strauss's ``Don Juan,'' Ravel's Piano Concerto in G Major with star pianist Son Yeol-eum as soloist and Medelssohn's Symphony No. 4 ``Italian'' in time for the late musician's 200th birthday. Son, among ``the next generation of classical musicians'' according to The Korea Times in 2008, is a former child prodigy making a name as a young virtuoso. Fans can look forward to another fiery performance of Ravel'sJan 11, 2009
Akon Seeks Freedom From ControversyBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter There seems to be no stopping the rise of Senegalese-American hip-hop star Akon. His new album, ``Freedom,'' is topping the charts around the world, and his single ``Right Now (Na Na Na)'' can be heard in clubs everywhere. But Akon's rise to fame has been dogged by controversy, from his criminal past to sexually explicit dancing with an underage girl to altercations with fans. Will 2009 be the year that Akon finds ``freedom'' from controversy? Jan 7, 2009
Ne-Yo Excited to Return to SeoulBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The enthusiastic reception of Korean fans at his first concert in Seoul last year made a big impression on R&B star Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo, who returns for another concert in Seoul Jan. 11, is thrilled about performing for Korean fans once again. ``I remember that I was given an enthusiastic welcome from lots of Korean fans. It was kind of different from European and American fans who enjoy the concert like they enjoy a party. But Korean and Asian fans were deeply absorbed in the songs rather than the concert. I was absolutely fascinated by this. So I'm pleased that I can host my concert in Korea again," he said in an email interview with The Korea Times. Ne-Yo is undoubtedly one of the hottest R&B singer/songwriters, having been nominated for six Grammy Awards for his third album ``Year of the Gentleman.'' He also nabbed nominations for Best Male Pop Performance for ``Closer'' and Best Male R&B Performance for ``Miss Independent.'' His favorite song from the album is the first single ``Closer'' which Ne-Yo says was inspired by the thumpinJan 6, 2009
Album ReviewsTake That `The Circus' (Universal) It's always hard to stage a comeback, but British boyband Take That has proven detractors wrong when they reunited in 2006 with ``Beautiful World.'' Take That continues to surpass expectations with their new album ``The Circus.'' Members Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange and Howard Donald have shown that a boyband can reinvent itself into a vocal group. The album is filled with a mix of cheery songs such as ``Hello'' and sentimental including the Beatles-inspired ``The Circus.'' The best track is probably ``Greatest Day,'' a soaring number that shows hints of U2. Barlow, frontman and songwriter, has to be given credit for bringing Take That back to the top. -Cathy Rose A. GarciaJan 6, 2009
Chung Extends Contract With Seoul PhilharmonicOrchestra Presents Full, Diverse Program for 2009 By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) is launching a new season with conductor Chung Myung-whun continuing onboard. After being appointed as the leading Korean ensemble's music director in 2005, the maestro served as its artistic director from 2006 to 2008. He will continue his tenure for three more seasons until the end of 2011, the SPO announced Friday. Chung, who turns 56 on the 22nd, shot to stardom in 1974 as the nation's first winner of the Moscow Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. He began his conducting career in 1978 as assistant conductor of the Carlo Maria Giulini-led Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has since been leading the world's premiere ensembles. The conductor is credited with the SPO's positive growth, with 2007 profits making a 16-fold jump from the year before. Last year, the orchestra celebrated its 60th anniversary and enjoyed a busy season with themed serial concerts and an ambitious new Mahler repertoire. SPO Opens New Season The 2009 season presents a total oJan 5, 2009
Album ReviewsKanye West `808s and Heartbreak’ (Universal) Hip-hop star Kanye West has channeled the pain of losing his beloved mother and a broken engagement into his fourth and perhaps most melancholic album to date. West has headed towards a new musical direction, moving away from his trademark rap and upbeat hip-hip sound. ``808s and Heartbreak’’ shows West singing, although there has been much ado over the use of audio processor Auto-Tune to enhance his voice. West mouths depressing lyrics to the monotonous electronica beats of ``Love Lockdown.’’ He should be given credit for experimenting with a much more darker sound, as shown in songs like ``Say You Will,’’ ``Bad News’’ and ``See You in My Nightmares,’’ a collaboration with Lil’ Wayne. For an album about pain and misery, there’s a lot to love about it. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Dec 30, 2008
Trio Hopes to Be Jazz MessengersBy Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Forming a group requires much in common, such as musical preference, background and style. But for the Amsterdam Jazz Trio (AJT), it seems flexibility and understanding each other were all it took. ``The performances differ depending on who you're playing with. For us, we are very similar in terms of musical preference and also personality,'' Kim Sung-su, doublebassist, told The Korea Times during an interview. The band met and formed the AJT two years ago at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, a music conservatory and prestigious school for aspiring musicians in Amsterdam, Netherlands. ``The school is quite big and as a new student, it can be a bit overwhelming because everybody plays so well. But everyone is different and they have their favorite styles, and then you find someone that fits you naturally,'' Nissen explained. ``We were jamming, which is playing impromptu, and we realized that we were similar both emotionally and musically,'' Kim added. For Kim, who worked with popular rock bands like the Shin Jung-hyun Band before leavDec 28, 2008
Album ReviewsTony Bennett `A Swingin' Christmas' (SonyBMG) Grammy Award-winning music legend Tony Bennett will help keep the Christmas spirit lively and festive with his new holiday album ``A Swingin' Christmas.'' He sings swing versions of beloved Christmas tunes like ``The Christmas Song', ``Christmas Auld Lang Syne,'' ``I'll Be Home for Christmas,'' ``Winter Wonderland'' and ``Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.'' Even though these are all songs that everyone knows, Bennett's versions have a special quality that makes it sound new. Bennett sings a sweet duet with his daughter Antonia Bennett on Irving Berlin's classic ``I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.'' -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Dec 23, 2008
Once Star Prefers Music to ActingBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Despite the success of the indie film ``Once," Irish singer Glen Hansard says he still prefers music to acting ``Acting was a great experience, but not something I feel a need to pursue. Although having said that, if a script came my way that I really felt I could give myself to, I'd be happy to act again," Hansard said in an email interview with The Korea Times. Korean fans will have a chance to listen to music by Hansard and his ``Once" co-star Marketa Irglova, who will perform as The Swell Season in Seoul in January. ``We're very similar people to the characters we played, so there will be some familiar ground I'm sure, but we'll simply play it as we feel it," he said. Interestingly enough, Hansard, who is also frontman for the Irish rock band The Frames, was not the first choice for the lead role of a struggling street singer. His friend and ``Once" director John Carney, had originally asked him to write the songs for the film, which was supposed to star Cillian Murphy, who played Scarecrow in Batman Begins and The Dark KnighDec 22, 2008