US violinist Karisa Chiu wins ISANGYUN Competition Violinist Karisa Chiu performs during ISANGYUN Competition 2021 held from Oct. 30 to Nov. 7 at Tongyeong Concert Hall, South Gyeongsang Province, Saturday. Courtesy of Tongyeong International Music FoundationBy Park Ji-wonPoster for the competition “ISANGYUN Competition” / Courtesy of Tongyeong International Music FoundationTongyeong International Music Foundation (TIMF) said its jury selected violinist Karisa Chiu from the United States as the winner of the ISANGYUN Competition 2021 in South Gyeongsang Province, Saturday.The violinist played Brahms's “Violin Concerto” with the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra conducted by Dmitry Sitkovetsky. She will receive 30 million won in prize money ($25,391) and a chance to perform during the Korean Orchestra Festival.The second prize went to Jeong Ju-eun and the third prize went to Kang Na-kyung both from Korea.“As the chairperson of the ISANGYUN Competition 2021, I was pleased to listen to the unique performances by the outstanding young musicians who radiated their brilliant youth through music in the great concertNov 7, 2021By Park Ji-won
Travis Scott's shows are fun-filled, high energy and chaotic This combination of file pictures shows U.S. rapper Travis Scott, left, and U.S. rapper Drake. AFP-YonhapTravis Scott's high-energy performances are known for being chaotic and fun-filled shows with concertgoers encouraged to take part in a raucous nature involving mosh pits, crowd surfing and stage diving.Welcome to Scott's Astroworld Festival ― where concertgoers can become their rebellious selves.Tragically, the Grammy-nominated rapper's energetic show this time turned deadly after at least eight people ― between the ages of 14 and 27 ― were killed during a crowd surge at his music festival in Houston on Friday evening. A sizable group of the 50,000 in attendance pushed toward the stage at NRG Park as a timer clicked down to start the performance before the chaotic scene began to ignite.People in the crowd reported lots of pushing and shoving during the performances leading up to Scott's set ― which is normal at his shows. He's often encouraged fans to bypass security and rush the stage, but none of those previous situations resulted in fatalities.``Travis Scott's whole aesthetic Nov 7, 2021
David Reiland appointed artistic director of Korean Symphony Orchestra Belgian conductor David Reiland, the newly appointed artistic director of the Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) / Courtesy of KSO By Park Ji-wonThe Korean Symphony Orchestra (KSO) appointed Belgian conductor David Reiland as its seventh artistic director, replacing outgoing Chung Chi-yong and serving starting from January 2022 for the next three years, the orchestra said.Born in Belgium, the new director majored in conducting and composing at the Royal Academy of Music in Brussels, the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria. He served as associate conductor for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment of London. Since 2018, he has been serving as music director of the Orchestre National de Metz and the Sinfonietta Lausanne while serving as principal guest conductor at the Munich Symphony Orchestra and leading the Dusseldorf Symphony Orchestra as a guest conductor with the title “Schumann Guest.”Reiland worked with the KoreNov 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
'Solo party': Ed Sheeran releases album while isolating for COVID Music star Ed Sheeran / Courtesy of Warner Music KoreaMusic star Ed Sheeran released his fourth solo album, entitled "=" (equals) Friday while isolating for COVID-19, saying he was going to celebrate with a "solo party.” The singer, known for chart-topping hits such as "Shape of You" and "Thinking Out Loud," had told fans earlier this week that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, and had cancelled all in-person events to promote his new record."I'm obviously still in COVID isolation but please let me know what you think when it's out. It's the most proud (I've) ever been of a (piece) of work and I can't wait for you all to hear it," he said on Instagram Thursday evening."Gonna be having a solo party tonight and tomorrow to celebrate, blast it loud."Sheeran, who has named his previous solo albums after mathematical symbols, has said that "=" was his favorite record that he had made, with songs about his wife and daughter.Critics said the Grammy Award winner, who has sold more than 150 million records worldwide, had stuck to his successful formula of honest lyrics in the Oct 30, 2021
Cellist Han Jae-min wins third prize at Geneva International Music Competition Cellist Han Jae-min / Courtesy of Pie PlansBy Park Ji-wonCellist Han Jae-min, 15, has won third prize at the 75th Geneva International Music Competition, Switzerland, Thursday (CET). It was the first time for a Korean cellist to win an award in the competition in about 50 years, since cellist Chung Myung-wha won first prize in 1971, the Kumho Cultural Foundation said.Founded in 1939, the international competition has been held for musicians under the age of 29 for various instruments including cello, oboe, piano, flute, and voice. Also a string quartet category and a composers' category have been categories of the competition. This year, the competition for the categories of cello and oboe were held. The competition for the same category is held every four years. In addition to the third prize, Han was also awarded the special Rose-Marie Huguenin prize.Japanese cellist Michiaki Ueno, 25, and Canadian Bryan Cheng, 24, won the first and second prizes, respectively. Han played Elgar's “Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85,” accompanied by the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, coOct 29, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Paik Kun-woo fires back at MBC, in-laws over his actress wife Pianist Paik Kun-woo speaks during a press conference held to refute allegations that he is mistreating his wife, actress Yun Jung-hee, at White Hall in Seoul, Thursday. YonhapPaik takes legal action, denying allegationsBy Park Ji-wonPianist Paik Kun-woo denied allegations that he and his daughter abandoned his wife, actress Yun Jung-hee, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, and that his daughter has failed to fulfill her duty as a guardian, claiming they are false accusations.He has taken legal action against his in-laws who made the allegations.“Yun forgets everything within a few minutes … It is not good for an Alzheimer's patient to change the living environment and it's best to live with family … You don't have to worry about (Yun's treatment). She is surrounded by a lot of good people next to her and they are always taking care of her with affection,” he said during a news conference on Thursday. “Please leave us alone so that we can go back to normal.” He went on to say that in addition to Paik's daughter, who visits Yun every day whOct 28, 2021By Park Ji-won
INTERVIEW Singer-songwriter Seori talks about Shang-Chi OST, her music Seori / Courtesy of ATISPAUSBy Park Ji-wonThe list of artists who were featured on the 18-track soundtrack for Marvel Studios's "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," the first Asian hero-led movie in the action film series, came as a surprise to many Koreans as the album, produced by Sean Miyashiro and 88rising, included a lot of Korean musicians, such as DPR Ian, DPR Live, BIBI and Mark Tuan of GOD7.The biggest surprise was that singer-songwriter Seori, 24, who debuted last year, sang one of the main tracks, “Warriors,” for the film with Indonesian rapper Warren Hue. The duo was a good match partly because of Seori's charismatic but haunting and ethereal vocal style She recorded her singing in Korea, being remotely directed by 88rising, which is now in charge of promoting her in the U.S. and overseas.“The collaboration was something beyond my imagination. As a fan who has been loving the Marvel series, it means a lot to me. So I wanted to be a good part of the film with good music. I enjoyed the process and feel happy for being able to get closer to the filmOct 27, 2021By Park Ji-won
South Korean violinist wins second prize at Paganini contest in Italy Chung Nurie, third from left, a South Korean violinist, poses for a photo alongside other winners of the 56th International Paganini Prize Competition in Genova, Italy, in this photo provided by the Korea National University of Arts. YonhapA 16-year-old South Korean violinist finished second at a prestigious international competition in Italy earlier this week, his school announced Tuesday.Chung Nurie took the second prize at the 56th International Paganini Prize Competition in Genova that ended Sunday, according to the Korea National University of Arts. He also has two other awards, including the prize for the youngest competitor.Giuseppe Gibboni of Italy won the top prize, while Ava Bahari of Sweden and Lara Boschklor of Germany share third place. The competition, named after Italian violinist and composer Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840), was founded in 1954 as a contest to discover new young talents. It is regarded as one of the most respected competitions for young violinists, along with Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. (Yonhap)Oct 26, 2021
Adele to play first concerts in five years with London Hyde Park shows In this file photo, singer Adele arrives at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., Feb. 12, 2017. Reuters-YonhapMusic superstar Adele said on Tuesday she will play two concerts at London's Hyde Park next summer, her first in five years, an announcement British media said caused her website to crash as fans rushed to register for a ticket pre-sale.The 33-year-old, who topped U.S. and UK charts last week with comeback single "Easy On Me", took to Twitter with the message "Oiii Oiiiiiiiiiiiii", sharing the July 1 and 2 concert dates and the pre-sale link on her website.The shows, part of the BST Hyde Park concerts, are Adele's first since 2017.However, several British media outlets reported the site had crashed, quoting fans as saying they were unable to register for the pre-sale."I tried to subscribe for more than 2 hours but still couldn't do it," one wrote on Twitter."Trying to sign up for pre-sale for @Adele at Hyde Park but even signing up ain't working haha! I think winning the lottery is easier than getting tickets for these concerts," another wrote.When clicked, tOct 26, 2021
Pianist Evgeny Kissin to hold solo recital in Seoul for just one day A poster for pianist Evgeny Kissin's piano recital / Courtesy of Lotte Concert HallBy Park Ji-wonPianist Evgeny Kissin will be playing the famous piano works of legendary composers, such as Chopin, Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, for Korean audiences for the first time in three years. During a solo recital scheduled to be held at Lotte Concert Hall on Nov. 22, the renowned musician and composer will be playing Bach's “Toccata and Fugue in D minor;” Mozart's “Adagio in B minor;” Beethoven's ”Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major” and Chopin's “Mazurkas” and “Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Billante Op. 22.”This will be the virtuoso's fifth recital in Korea since 2006. In the past, Kissin always went on a national tour in Korea that lasted several days. But this time, due to his tight recital schedule in other parts of the world, he was able to have only a one-day concert here.He is famous for an hour-long encore performance at a previous recital in Korea. Responding to audience members' enthusiastic applause during his 2018 concertOct 21, 2021By Park Ji-won
