INTERVIEW Norah Jones releases Christmas album Cover image for singer-songwriter Norah Jones' first Christmas album “I dream of Christmas” / Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonNine-time Grammy winner Norah Jones will be releasing her first Christmas album “I Dream of Christmas” on Wednesday.“I mostly made this album to comfort myself in this time … I think this album did come out of the very long first year of the pandemic. I needed something to look forward to and a way to be creative that had a little joy baked into it. This was the perfect project for me,” Jones said in a recent email interview with Korean reporters.“Christmas is a nostalgic, beautiful and magical time of year that is something to look forward to. A time to shut off the phones and just hang out and eat and spend time with those who matter most.”She said in a press release that she decided to come up with the Christmas album last year after feeling comfort while listening James Brown's “Funky Christmas” and Elvis Presley's “Elvis' Christmas Album.”Of the 13 tracks on the album,Dec 21, 2021By Park Ji-won
Lotte Foundation for Arts announces star-studded 2022 lineup Metropolitan Opera / Courtesy of Rose Callahan of Met OperaBy Park Ji-wonThe Lotte Foundation for Arts has announced its 2022 lineup to be presented at Lotte Concert Hall including renowned artists: New York's vibrant Metropolitan Opera, pianist Cho Seong-jin, ballerina Park Sae-eun and other star art troupes.Tenor Jonas Kaufmann will open the “World Class Concert Series” on May 31 and June 3 with KBS Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jochen Rieder. The Metropolitan Opera led by Yannick Nezet-Seguin will be performing for the first time in Korea from June 21 to 22. Renowned singers of the company such as mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, soprano Christine Goerke and tenor Brandon Jovanovich will be showcasing their trademark performances such as Berlioz's “Les Troyens” and Wagner's “The Valkyrie.”In “2022 Etoile Gala,” ballerina Park Sae-eun, the first Korean etoile of the Paris Opera, the highest rank of the art troupe, will be performing for the first time in Korea along with her etoile and premier colleagues from July 28 to 29.On Oct. 14, Dec 19, 2021By Park Ji-won
INTERVIEW For Chopin finalist Lee Hyuk competition is way to meet audiences Pianist Lee Hyuk / Courtesy of Etoile ClassicBy Park Ji-wonMany Koreans hoped Lee Hyuk, the Korean finalist in the 18th International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition held in October, would be triumphant as its last winner was Cho Seong-jin, also a Korean, but the trophy went to Chinese-Canadian competitor Bruce Liu.But Lee's disappointment was short-lived. At the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021, held between Dec. 3 and 7, right after the Chopin competition, the 21-year-old won the first prize with his rendition of Fantaisie, Op. 49. The musician humbly said he didn't expect to win and was simply happy to perform for the audience.“I never expected to win. I just enjoyed every round. I was grateful to have an opportunity to be able to communicate with the audiences in Paris with Chopin's works after the Chopin competition,” Lee said during a telephone interview with The Korea Times, Friday. He was in Warsaw, Poland, to support his brother in another piano competition.Reversing people's normal thinking that he must aim to win at multiple coDec 19, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Suh Hyung-min wins Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn Suh Hyung-min, center, receives the top prize in Germany's International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn, Germany, Saturday (CET). Courtesy of the International Telekom Beethoven Competition BonnBy Park Ji-wonPianist Suh Hyung-min, also known as Hans H. Suh in English, won the top prize in Germany's International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn on Saturday (CET). Together with the top prize, he also won three special prizes.Suh played Klavierstucke Op. 7, which he composed in 2017 and Beethoven's Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 1, No. 3, in the chamber final, as well as Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37, in the orchestra final with the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, conducted by Hans Graf.The International Telekom Beethoven Competition Bonn, which was founded in 2005 and honors young pianists between the ages of 18 and 33, said that the nine-member jury chaired by Pavel Gililov was convinced by Suh's interpretation of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor.Suh also won the "Audience's Favourite" Prize for the best interpretation of a piano concerto in the final, whDec 13, 2021By Park Ji-won
Korean symphony orchestra unveils 2022 program led by new conductor, David Reiland Newly appointed artistic director David Reiland of the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) / Courtesy of the KSOBy Park Ji-wonThe poster for the 2022 season of the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) / Courtesy of KSOThe Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) announced its 2022 season program, Thursday, under the leadership of newly appointed artistic director David Reiland, who is Belgian and whose background is shaped by various cultures of Europe, featuring German and Austrian pieces, as well as works from France.Under the theme, “New Wave,” the new director, who was given the title of “Schumann Guest” at the Dusseldorfer Symphoniker, and who has served as a guest conductor for many orchestras in Europe, will open up the season with Schumann's Symphony No. 2, Op. 61 on Jan. 23. The KSO, conducted by the new director, will play Mozart's “Clarinet Concerto,” one of the highlights of Reiland's conducting, and Haydn's “The Creation.”A number of leading and emerging conductors will perform during this upcoming season. Conductor and violinist Guy BraunstDec 11, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Lee Hyuk wins France's Animato international piano competition Pianist Lee Hyuk, third from left, smiles after receiving the first prize at the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021 in Paris, France, Tuesday, in this photo released on Thursday (CET). Courtesy of Philippe BreullesBy Park Ji-wonKorean pianist Lee Hyuk, a finalist in the Chopin international competition this year, has won the first prize at the Concours International de Piano ― Grand Prix Animato Chopin 2021, held between Dec. 3 and 7, its organization said, Thursday (CET).In the final, where six contenders were able to compete with works of Chopin, including Lee, he played the Fantaisie, Op. 49.He will be receiving the prize money of 30,000 euro (39.9 million won) from Animato, the association which organized the competition, run under the slogan, “Tomorrow's great pianists, today,” and be invited to join recitals and concerts organized by the group.Lee debuted at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2012. In 2018, he won third prize at the Hamamatsu Piano Competition, the second prize at the Poshan Chopin International Piano Competition and the firsDec 10, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Yang Bang-ean releases new album to mark 25-year solo career Pianist Yang Bang-ean / Courtesy of Endorf MusicBy Park Ji-wonCover image for pianist Yang Bang-ean's new album “Light & Shadow” / Courtesy of Endorf MusicPianist and composer Yang Bang-ean released his latest album “Light & Shadow” on Nov. 30. The new double album includes 25 pieces recorded during live performances since 2017 in the “Light” side and new pieces in the “Shadow” side.Yang, who has also worked as music director from time to time for various high-profile shows including the opening and closing ceremonies of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018, said he was planning to release an album with new songs to mark the 25th anniversary of his solo career this year, but decided to release the recordings of live performances as well as new songs due to the COVID-19 pandemic making it difficult for him to record with orchestras. The title song “Meteor ~ Nora” is composed for his late friend ORIGA who died in 2015 and is aimed to give pandemic-hit people hope that their wishes could come true.“I wanted to Dec 9, 2021By Park Ji-won
Renowned accordionist Shim Sung-rak dies at 85 Accordionist Shim Sung-rak / YonhapBy Park Ji-wonShim Im-sub, an accordion virtuoso better known by his stage name Shim Sung-rak, died Saturday. He was 85.According to his acquaintances, Shim underwent surgery earlier for pain in his waist and his health worsened while recovering from the operation.He has been known as one of Korea's leading accordionists, laying the foundation for the development of the country's popular music industry and taking part in many popular music recordings and soundtracks.Born in Kyoto, Japan, in 1936 when Korea was under Japanese occupation, Shim participated in about 7,000 songs on 1,000 albums as an accordionist and electronic organist. He had worked with famous singers, including Patti Kim, Cho Yong-pil and Na Hoon-a, to name a few. He also participated in the soundtracks of famous films, such as “One Fine Spring Day” (2001).He was known as a self-taught musician who first encountered the accordion in 1953 while working as a part-timer in an instrument shop in Busan. Shim started his career as an accordion player for a singing contest on tDec 8, 2021By Park Ji-won
JYP unveils new boy band Xdinary Heroes JYP Entertainment's new boy band Xdinary Heroes / YonhapK-pop powerhouse JYP Entertainment on Monday revealed its much-anticipated first boy group in six years since the debut of Day6 in September 2015.Xdinary Heroes is to land in the highly competitive K-pop music scene, dropping its debut digital single titled "Happy Death Day" at 6 p.m.During a media showcase for the upcoming release, which was livestreamed from a music hall in Seoul, the band members said they are so thrilled to become finally able to make their debut."I'm nervous even now, facing our debut. It feels so unreal," member O.de said. "I hope you will view us positively."Jungsu said he was both excited and thrilled about the upcoming moments but that the group will do its best to "present our own colors, which haven't existed in the world before."The band name is short for "Extraordinary Heroes," meaning everyone can become a hero, according to the group. It consists of six members ― drummer Gun-il, keyboardists Jungsu and O.de, guitarists Gaon and Junhan, and bassist Jooyeon."When I first heard the name, I was worrieDec 6, 2021
INTERVIEW Korean-German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger releases debut album 'Wonderworld' Pianist Gina Alice performs during a promotional event held online for her debut album, “Wonderworld,” in Frankfurt, Thursday. Courtesy of Universal MusicBy Park Ji-wonThe 2019 marriage of renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang made headlines in Korea, as he married Korean-German pianist Gina Alice Redlinger. Since the marriage, she has become better known as the wife of the superstar pianist, as well as a TV star, after appearing on some programs in China following her move there. However, she is a promising pianist and talented musician in her own right.Born in Wiesbaden, Germany, Redlinger started playing piano at the age of four, performing in public for the first time at the age of eight and giving her first solo recital at 15. Following graduation from the Hamburg University of Music, the 27-year-old has collaborated with a number of orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Shenyang Symphony Orchestra and the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra.After giving birth to a baby boy this year, she is about to resume her journey as a pianist, with her first album, “WoDec 5, 2021By Park Ji-won
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