World-famous orchestras to perform in Korea through December The poster for the London Symphony Orchestra and pianist Cho Seong-jin's upcoming performance at the LG Arts Center Seoul / Courtesy of VinceroBy Dong Sun-hwaAs the most recent COVID-19 resurgence in Korea is slowing down, a number of internationally acclaimed orchestras are planning to visit the country and catch the ears of music lovers here. The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), one of the top 10 orchestras in the world, will perform in Seoul on Oct. 13 in celebration of the relocation of the LG Arts Center Seoul from Gangnam District to Gangseo District. The LSO, which is currently helmed by British conductor Simon Rattle, will take the stage with Wagner's “Tristan und Isolde ― Prelude & Liebestod” and Sibelius' “Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 105,” among others. For Rachmaninoff's “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43,” the orchestra will collaborate with award-winning Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin. The LSO is also set to perform at the Lotte Concert Hall (Oct. 14) and the Seoul Arts Center (Oct. 15) while the members are in Korea. TOct 5, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Virtuoso pianist Paik Kun-woo drops new album with music of Spanish composer This photo shows pianist Paik Kun-woo speaking during a press conference in Seoul, Sept. 19. YonhapVirtuoso pianist Paik Kun-woo, 76, is nicknamed "pilgrim on the keyboard" for his obsessive style to thoroughly explore Beethoven and Chopin nocturnes.At the same time, he is also well known for performing rare works by less-known composers like Sergei Prokofiev and Ferruccio Busoni.This time, he has a new album titled "Granados-Goyescas" with Deutsche Grammophon based on Spanish musician Enrique Granados' 1911 piano suite "Goyescas." The composition was inspired by works of Spanish artist Francisco Goya.The pianist said it has been his longtime dream to perform the Spanish composer's repertoire since he first heard the music at a New York recital about 40 years ago."It was a concert at Carnegie Hall and it was a bit cold in early winter. But I felt so warm and bright, like I was in the sunshine," Paik said Monday in a Seoul press conference. "It was glamorous and amazing music from the beginning to end. I promised myself to perform this music in the future."He said he visited Spain to Sep 19, 2022
Jaap van Zweden should give Seoul orchestra 'unique sound,' critic says Jaap van Zweden / Courtesy of Brad TrentBy Enid Tsui, Park Ji-wonJaap van Zweden, the music director of the New York Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, will be heading to Seoul after his contract with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra finishes in 2024 and his other contract with the New York Philharmonic ends at the end of the 2023-24 season. The Dutch conductor has accepted the post of music director of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO), soon to be vacated by Finnish maestro Osmo Vanska.Announcing the appointment on Sunday, the chief executive officer of the Seoul Philharmonic, Sohn Eun-kyung, said van Zweden's presence will “upgrade” the orchestra's performances and help it establish itself as a “world-class orchestra.”In Hong Kong, van Zweden, 61, has been credited with raising standards and lifting the international profile of the city's flagship orchestra, which in 2019 became the first Asian orchestra to win Gramophone magazine's “Orchestra of the Year” award.Highlighting the extent of South Korea's cultural ambition, Sep 6, 2022By Park Ji-won
TWICE to drop new EP 'Between 12' A teaser image from TWICE's music video "Talk that Talk" / Courtesy of JYP entertainmentPopular K-pop girl group TWICE will return Friday with its 11th EP, "Between 12," the group's management agency said.The album consists of seven tracks connected under the theme of the bond between ONCE, the group's global fandom, and TWICE as the title "Between 12" implies, according to JYP Entertainment.The EP had already surpassed 1 million copies in preorders as of Wednesday, heralding the band's rise to be the third K-pop girl group with a million-selling album after BLACKPINK and aespa.Included on the album are the lead single, "Talk that Talk," and the English-language song "Queen of Hearts.""Talk that Talk" is an upbeat summer song with a retro vibe that reminds listeners of the year 2000, which is related to "Alcohol-Free," the lead single of the group's 10th EP released in June last year, according to the agency.The new song was composed by local composer collapsedone, behind the group's previous hits "Knock Knock," "What is Love?" and "The Feels."A concept image of K-pop girl group TWICAug 26, 2022
BTS' 'Butter' music video tops 800 million views This photo marks BTS' "Butter" surpassing 800 million views on YouTube, Aug 26. Courtesy of Big Hit MusicThe music video for BTS' 2021 megahit single "Butter" has surpassed 800 million YouTube views, becoming the eighth video from the K-pop group to hit the milestone.The video passed the 800 million threshold at about 4 p.m. Thursday, about 15 months after it was uploaded online on May 21 last year, the group's agency Big Hit Music said Friday.The upbeat summer song became a global hit upon its release, staying on the Billboard's Hot 100 main singles chart for 10 non-consecutive weeks.The song's music video earned 108.2 million views in its first 24 hours, giving it the biggest first-day view count of all time on YouTube. The seven-piece group will hold a one-day concert in Busan, 325 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Oct. 15 to support the port city's bid to host the World Expo in 2030. (Yonhap)Aug 26, 2022
'England Belongs to' all-girl Korean punk band Rumkicks Rumkicks / Courtesy of RumkicksBy Jon DunbarOne week ago, the three members of Korean punk band Rumkicks were covering “England Belongs to Me” by U.K. band Cock Sparrer in a Seoul basement venue. A little over a week later, they'll be playing the same song on stages across the U.K. The all-girl band has been invited to this year's Rebellion Fest, where they'll be appearing alongside punk legends including the Buzzcocks, Bad Religion, the Boys, Billy Brag and ― yes ― Cock Sparrer.It's about as much as any Korean underground band can ever hope for, so how are they doing now?“I've been preparing for it for a long time, but unexpected things keep happening, so I'm actually running around a lot. Almost nothing is going as planned,” laughed Yeawon, guitarist and vocalist of the band. Rumkicks plays at Club SHARP in Mangwon-dong, western Seoul, June 20. / Korea Times photo by Jon DunbarRumkicks has been ubiquitous in the local scene for the last little while, as the band seems to be emerging out of the pandemic as the next exciting indie act hailing from Korea. The bJul 20, 2022By Jon Dunbar
From cardboard-cutout piano to Steinway, Aviram Reichert shows persistence leads to success Aviram Reichert, pianist and Seoul National University College of Music professor / Photo by Kang Tae-ukSNU professor says openness to personal interpretation of music is key for studentsBy Hagit Gili GluskaAviram Reichert is an impressive piano soloist in the field of classical music. He is known for his deeply intelligent interpretations, striking technique and exquisite tone. Reichert is a professor of piano at the music school of one of the top-ranked universities in Korea, Seoul National University (SNU), and he is also well recognized as one of Steinway's piano artists. But he did not start as a young student who could get enough financial and other kinds of support from his parents to attend an elite education with quality instructors.He was born in Israel to a poor European Jewish immigrant's family. At six years old, he started to show an interest in the piano during a visit to a neighbor's house. Reichert approached his neighbor while he was playing and tried to repeat the music he had just heard. The neighbor, who was a piano teacher, recognized his potential and that was Jul 19, 2022
Engineer-turned-violin maker plays role in Korea's musical instrument making history Violin maker Lee Sung-yeol makes a violin part at his workshop in southern Seoul. / Courtesy of Lee Eun-sholPassion for music leads Lee to become internationally recognized string instrument maker By Hagit Gili GluskaLee Sung-yeol was a computer engineer for almost 20 years. One day, he decided to change his life course and become a violin maker. Well, it was not exactly like that. You will have to read the whole story. He was born in Seoul to a father who was a Korean army officer and a mother who was a homemaker. When he was eight years old, his father died, his mother became poor and Lee's life changed. “I had dreams, but I realized later on that I had to work to help my mother,” he said about his post-university years.The ID card of Lee Sung-yeol when he was working as an engineer at CRAY Research becoming a violin maker / Photo by Hagit Gili GluskaHaving a passion as a child for supercomputers, he graduated university as a computer engineer and worked at the exclusive supercomputer company that operated the first supercomputer in Korea, CRAY Research. “Those weJul 12, 2022
Maroon 5's world tour image with Rising Sun design causes stir The promotional image for Maroon 5's 2022 world tour / Captured from Maroon 5 website By Kim RahnA promotional image for U.S. pop rock band Maroon 5's world tour is causing a stir as it incorporates the Rising Sun flag, which was used by the Japanese imperial military during World War II and is regarded as a symbol of its wartime aggression.The band recently disclosed its 2022 world tour schedule on its official website, which includes a concert at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Nov. 30. It is the group's first concert in Seoul since February 2019.Other cities also include Quebec, Orlando, Singapore, Tokyo, Osaka, Manila and Bangkok.What drew controversy is the promotional image of the tour, which has a black-and-white Rising Sun flag design. People in Korea and other Asian countries that had been invaded by Japan before and during WWII take offense to it.But some Western bands, such as Metallica and Led Zeppelin, have used the design in their posters or merchandise. Jul 4, 2022By Kim Rahn
Maroon 5 to hold concert in Seoul on Nov. 30 Adam Levine, front, and Maroon 5 perform during the Super Bowl half-time show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in the U.S. on Feb. 3. YonhapAmerican pop rock band Maroon 5 will hold a concert in Seoul on Nov. 30, its first in the country since February 2019.The band will perform at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul as part of its world tour, according to its website.Maroon 5 has produced numerous hits, including "One More Night," which is well-known among South Korean music fans for dethroning Psy's "Gangnam Style" from No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Yonhap)Jul 3, 2022
