Once Stars Captivate Music AudienceBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Academy Award-winning singers Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova gave a truly ``Once''-in-a-lifetime concert experience, captivating fans with their music, Saturday evening. Hansard and Irglova, also known as The Swell Season, were in Seoul for the first time, but the Grand Theater at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts was packed with thousands of fans. Their independent film ``Once'' was immensely popular in Korea, making its soundtrack one of the best selling foreign albums in 2007. The concert began with Hansard coming out with an acoustic guitar with a scuffed body that looked similar to the one he used in ``Once." He went directly to the edge of the stage, and started singing ``Say It to Me Now'' without any microphone. The audience fell quiet as his powerful voice filled the hall. After the song, Irglova and Irish band The Frames joined him on stage to sing several songs from the ``Once'' soundtrack. Hansard appeared amazed at the film's success here. He said, ``The best response we've had to our film was in Korea,"Jan 19, 2009
Domingo Is Still King of OperaBy Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Placido Domingo showed he still reigns high as one of the century's greatest singers in his Seoul recital Tuesday. At 67, the silver-haired Spaniard sang with the fervent ardor of a young Romeo ― waltzing onstage with diva Katherine Jenkins and giving six encores, including a local favorite he sang here 14 years ago. Jenkins will undoubtedly be invited back after this impressive Korean debut, but the night's dark horse was the striking, jewel-toned South Korean soprano Lee Ji-young. Forward-thinking Domingo makes sure his reign is more than memorable, as he continues to pave paths for young talent. The Korean Symphony Orchestra, led by maestro Eugene Kohn, opened the evening with ``Rakoczy March'' from ``La Damnation de Faust.'' The heavily packed Olympic Stadium roared with applause as the tenor emerged onstage, but hushed immediately for his authoritative rendition of ``O Sourverain'' from Massenet's ``Le Cid.'' While pitch perfect as always, Domingo needed some time to fully unleash his reverberating wow factor. Midway through the concJan 14, 2009
Album reviewsDuffy `Rockferry: Deluxe Edition' (Universal) With her distinctive soulful voice, Welsh singer Duffy emerged as one of the breakout stars of 2008. Her debut album ``Rockferry'' was the best selling album in the U.K. last year. In the U.S., she's vying for three awards at the upcoming Grammys, including Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for ``Mercy.'' The deluxe edition of Rockferry includes an extra disc of seven new songs, including ``Rain on Your Parade,'' ``Enough Love,'' and ``Breaking My Own Heart.'' Duffy does a particularly stunning remake of the Drifters' ``Please Stay.'' Let's just hope Duffy won't go the same way as another soulful singer Amy Winehouse. -Cathy Rose A. Garcia Jan 13, 2009
Oasis Returns to Seoul in AprilBy Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter It's no April Fool's Day joke. British rock group Oasis is returning to Seoul for a much-awaited concert April 1, barely three years after their sold-out concert in 2006. Oasis, one of the most popular British rock bands in Korea, will perform at the Olympic Gym #1, Olympic Park, southern Seoul. Tickets will be sold starting 4 p.m., Jan. 15 on ticketing Web site Interpark. The Oasis concert is expected to be one of the most anticipated events in 2009. The group's first concert in Seoul in 2006 was an undeniable success, selling out thousands of seats in advance. In an earlier interview with The Korea Times, Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher said their upcoming world tour is the band's ``biggest'' ever. ``The tour is bigger than anything we've done before and the tour will be our boldest yet,'' he said. Oasis is mainly composed of the Gallagher brothers, Noel and his younger brother and vocalist Liam, who are largely responsible for coming up with Oasis' music. Other current members include guitarist Gem Archer and bassist Andy Bell.Jan 13, 2009
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