More foreign conductors leading Korean symphony orchestras Finnish violinist and conductor Pietari Inkinen speaks during a press conference at KBS Art Hall in Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapBy Dong Sun-hwaSince January, Finnish violinist and conductor Pietari Inkinen has been leading the KBS Symphony Orchestra as the new music director, succeeding Romanian-born conductor Yoel Levi. “I want to bring people together and communicate with them through our universal language, music,” Inkinen, who also serves as the chief conductor of the Deutsche Radio Philharmonie and Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, said during a press conference at KBS Art Hall in Yeongdeungpo District in Seoul, Wednesday. “I will strive to raise the international profile of the KBS Symphony Orchestra and help it solidify its position as a leading orchestra in Asia.” He added that he also wants to perform in different countries, including North Korea, saying, “I hope we have a chance to send a message of peace via our music in North Korea.”The 41-year-old maestro is set to stage his first concerts following his inauguration atJan 26, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
INTERVIEW Music is about savoring, not competing: Hareem World music artist Hareem plays a Drehleier, also known as a hurdy-gurdy, after an interview with The Korea Times at a cafe in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul. Korea Times photo by Kim Kang-minWorld music artist discloses why he hasn't released an album in 18 yearsBy Dong Sun-hwaMost singers release albums regularly ― or at least occasionally ― throughout their careers. But world music artist Hareem does not. This free-spirited musician has not put out a new album in 18 years, out of the belief that music is not about commercialization and competition, but is more about savoring and sharing. Hareem, whose real name is Choi Hyun-woo, said he did not realize the authentic value of music when he was young. The 45-year-old began his singing career as a member of the band VEN in 1996, with the album “ONE,” and went solo in 2001 with the album, “Split Personality.” But shortly after making his solo debut, he began traveling different countries, including Namibia and Ireland, to uncover the “true reason” for why he had been doing music. And by taking a Jan 25, 2022By Dong Sun-hwa
Two orchestras hit sour note vying for official 'national' recognition The Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) / Courtesy of the KSOKSO seeks to be national orchestra, while KBS believes it deserves that statusBy Park Ji-wonOne of Korea's two leading symphony orchestras has set off a cacophony of sorts after attempting recently to be named as a “national orchestra.”That status, granted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, would guarantee the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) access to more state funding and other perks, not to mention added prestige.But KBS Symphony Orchestra, the other leading philharmonic, is trying everything to mute KSO's bid.The KBS orchestra tried to block the KSO from officially using the word, “national,” fearing that its own status could be negatively affected if the rival orchestra gets the nod from the authorities to become the only national organization. The KBS-KSO dispute erupted after the KSO and the culture ministry began openly seeking the public's opinion about changing the name from “KSO” to the “National Orchestra” or the “National Symphony Orchestra.” Jan 13, 2022By Park Ji-won
Korean violinist invited to Basel Peace Forum Violinist Won Hyung-joon will give a speech at the Basel Peace Forum, sharing his experiences promoting inter-Korea relations through music. Courtesy of Won Hyung-joonBy Kwon Mee-yooKorean violinist Won Hyung-joon will give a speech at the Basel Peace Forum, the first Korean to speak at the event, which promotes peace building initiatives.Won, the artistic director of the Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra, will speak during the "Emotions, Art, and Peace" session on Jan. 21, along with other artists. Won will talk about his experiences bridging different ideologies through music.Back in 1990, Won performed at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, which was celebrating Germany's reunification. The experience led him to recognize music as a medium of reconciliation and he then performed under the theme of world peace at the U.N. General Assembly Hall in 1996. He founded the Lindenbaum Festival Orchestra in 2009 with the aim of bridging North and South Korea through music and promoting peace. Won tried to create a joint orchestra of young people from the two Koreas, taking inspiration froJan 12, 2022By Kwon Mee-yoo
INTERVIEW Jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun awakens pandemic-weary with new album Jazz singer Nah Youn-sun / Courtesy of NPLUGBy Park Ji-wonJazz singer Nah Youn-sun has been one of Korea's most active singers, performing and spending time outside of Korea, especially in France. But the COVID-19 pandemic has canceled stage performances and, like many other musicians, she has been anxiously longing for the end of the pandemic, as she has otherwise had a hard time finding meaning doing music.She said during an interview with The Korea Times in Seoul, Friday, that at the beginning of the pandemic, “I felt my life was a mistake. I was almost thinking of quitting my career as a musician. I was happy because I spent a lot of time with my family in Korea, but at the same time, I left my home in Europe and musical career there. I was missing home while being stuck at home. So it was tough to endure a life without music, and at the same time thought that doing music was a luxury while people were dying. I ended up failing to listen to music and making music only about a year after the outbreak of the virus.”Nah has included her own compositions from time to timeJan 11, 2022By Park Ji-won
Chung Myung-whun named honorary conductor of KBS Orchestra Conductor Chung Myung-whun, left, receives an appointment letter naming him as honorary conductor from Nam Chul-woo, acting president and CEO of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, at the orchestra's headquarters in Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of KBS Philharmonic OrchestraBy Park Ji-wonConductor Chung Myung-whun was appointed as honorary conductor, or conductor laureate, of the KBS Symphony Orchestra, according to the orchestra.“He will be conducting the KBS Symphony Orchestra one or two times a year in the future,” the orchestra said. “He is also planning to join the projects for developing talented musicians to foster peace between the two Koreas and raise the status of classical music as performed by Korean musicians.” An official of the orchestra said, “He was awarded the position because he served as a musical director of the orchestra in the past and has conducted the orchestra several times recently. It is an honorary position ― volunteer work. So he will not be paid for any of his services.” The orchestra said Chung's term length has not been decidedJan 7, 2022By Park Ji-won
Classical concerts you shouldn't miss in 2022 Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini / Courtesy of Mathias Bothor and DGBy Park Ji-wonThis year's event schedule for classical concerts is filled with world-class orchestras, as well as performances by famous Korean artists active in the overseas concert music scene.Italian pianist Maurizio Pollini will be performing for the first time in Korea at the Seoul Arts Center on May 25. For years, Korean audiences longed for the recital of the 79-year-old musician as he has been active in other Asian countries, such as Japan and China. He was the first-place winner of the Chopin Competition in 1960. Since then, Pollini has been building his artistic reputation not only as a Chopin player, but also being adept at compositions by Beethoven and Debussy. A detailed program hasn't been announced yet.The Metropolitan Opera led by Yannick Nezet-Seguin will be performing for the first time in Korea from June 21 to 22 at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul. Renowned singers of the company, such as mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, soprano Christine Goerke and tenor Brandon Jovanovich, will be showcasing their trademaJan 3, 2022By Park Ji-won
2022 kicks off with bevy of New Year's concerts The poster for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)'s New Year's concert, “#Cheer Up Seoul” / Courtesy of SPOBy Park Ji-wonMany concerts scheduled to be held in 2020 and 2021 were canceled, postponed or held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Concert schedules were thrown into such disarray that many audience members' memories might be a blur as to whether specific concerts were held in 2020 or 2021. But audiences will be sure to remember the New Year's performances being held in January, as many of them will be held offline, with a variety of music ― including Korean traditional music as well as classical music ― marking the Year of the Tiger.The National Jeongdong Theater will begin its 2022 season and the New Year with a work titled, "Hogi: The Aura of a Tiger" ― a performance consisting of musicians and performers from various musical areas, such as traditional music, classical music and theater musicals, inspired by the tiger ― that will be showcased at the theater on Tuesday. Media arts adapting images from folk paintings will be also presented along with the peJan 2, 2022By Park Ji-won
Adele's '30' tops the US album chart for fifth week In this February 2017 file photo, Adele performs at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., U.S. Reuters-YonhapSinger-songwriter Adele's 30 is the No. 1 album in the United States for a fifth week.Coming in at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart dated Saturday is Michael Buble's Christmas, followed by Taylor Swift's Red (Taylor's Version) at No. 3, Roddy Ricch's Live Life Fast at No. 4 and Olivia Rodrigo's Sour at No. 5.Rounding out the top tier are A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack at No. 6, Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas at No. 7, Nat King Cole's The Chritmas Song at No. 8, Juice WRLD's Fighting Demons at No. 9 and Bo Burnham's Inside (The Songs) at No. 10. (UPI)Jan 2, 2022
INTERVIEW Violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill revisits euphoric moment of winning Grammy Violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill / Courtesy of CrediaO'Neill is grateful to Korean fans for their unwavering supportBy Park Ji-wonAs the adjective, “award-winning,” always seems to come before his name when people introduce him, violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill is the winner of numerous international awards. Nonetheless, he says, it always feels too good to be true when he wins one. That euphoric moment hit him again earlier this year when he was named the winner of this year's Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo, for his 2020 album, “Theofanidis: Concerto For Viola And Chamber Orchestra,” during the awards ceremony. This time, he says, the joy of winning was something that he revisited several times again and again in the following months to fully digest, mainly because of the format of the event: the Grammys went online this year due to the pandemic. “They announced my name and I was on the screen. And I had to give a speech (online) and they cut you off … But then, you're back in your room,” he told The Korea Times during a ZoDec 23, 2021By Park Ji-won
