ABBA scores first UK top 10 single in nearly 40 years ABBA, from left, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Foltskog, Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus perform at United Nations General Assembly, in New York, in this January 1979 file photo,. AP-YonhapABBA on Friday scored their first top 10 single in the UK for almost 40 years after thrilling fans with the announcement of a new album and a virtual concert. One of two new songs released by the legendary Swedish pop band this month, "Don't Shut Me Down", reached No. 9 in the Official Singles Chart, which is based on sales and streaming.ABBA last appeared in the British singles charts with a song called "One Of Us" in January 1982, according to the chart company.Now in their 70s, the quartet have just released their first new music since 1982, ahead of an album release in November.The group's second single, "I Still Have Faith In You," entered the British charts at No. 14.The comeback also sparked a return to the album charts for their greatest hits compilation from 1992, "ABBA Gold,” which appeared at No. 5.The group has premiered new material while publicizing a virtual show called "ABBA VSep 11, 2021
INTERVIEW Belgian filmmaker explores why young Koreans are dominating classical music Pianist Cho Seong-jin, who won the Chopin competition in 2015, is seen in the film “K-Classics Generation” directed by Thierry Loreau. / Courtesy of K-Classics GenerationBy Park Ji-wonIt is no longer a rarity to hear about Koreans sweeping international classical music competitions. Just recently, pianists Park Jae-hong and Kim Do-hyun won the first and second prizes, respectively, at the 63rd Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in Italy, one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world.Some may simply consider the phenomenon to be a result of the “tiger parenting” practiced in many Asian societies, a style of education in which parents invest heavily and push their children to high levels of achievement, which has been credited with raising children as elite lawyers, doctors or athletes. However, Thierry Loreau, a Belgian filmmaker and TV director who has been making films on classical music and filming the final stages of the Queen Elisabeth Competition for more than two decades, sees the domination of young Koreans in classical musicSep 10, 2021By Park Ji-won
Pianist Cho Seong-jin releases Chopin album with intent, feels grateful to meet audiences amid pandemic Pianist Cho Seong-jin plays Chopin's “Piano Concerto No. 2” during a press conference held at Seoul Arts Center, Friday, to promote his latest album of Chopin works and his upcoming recitals in Korea. YonhapBy Park Ji-wonHad it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic, pianist Cho Seong-jin, the winner of the 2015 International Chopin Piano Competition, would have been one of the busiest pianists in Korea and the world holding solo recitals and concerts with renowned orchestras.However, after his last recital in New York in March 2020, all of his performances were canceled following the virus spread, and he barely had a chance to appear on stage except for online performances until he had a national tour in Korea starting from October, 2020. He started online concerts and resumed some offline recitals, but it didn't satisfy as performing on a stage in front of an audience did. Despite the pandemic, however, he came back to Korea to embark on a nationwide recital tour in seven different cities starting from Jeonju Sept. 4 with the new album of Chopin works released on Aug. 27. HSep 3, 2021By Park Ji-won
'Zorba the Greek' composer Theodorakis dies aged 96 In this 2004 June file photo, Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis attends a press conference in front of the landmark Acropolis hill in backround, in Athens, Greece. EPA-YonhapRenowned Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis, who scored the 1964 classic film "Zorba the Greek" and was an icon of resistance to the former military junta, died in Athens on Thursday aged 96.A prolific talent and political maverick, Theodorakis was adored in Greece for his inspirational music and defiance during the junta that ruled from 1967-74.Following the news of his death, the Greek flag was flown at half mast at the Acropolis on Thursday, while parliament observed a minute's silence. He was best-known around the world for his film title scores which also included "Z" in 1969 and "Serpico" in 1973.His work ranged from operas to choral music and popular songs, providing a soundtrack to the life of his country.In recent years, he suffered heart problems for which he had been hospitalized.Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said "today we lost a part of Greece's soul."Mikis Theodorakis, our Mikis, the teacher, theSep 3, 2021
ABBA back after 40 years with new album, virtual stage show In this 1974 February file photo, Swedish pop group Abba: Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus pose after winning the Swedish branch of the Eurovision Song Contest with their song "Waterloo." Reuters-YonhapABBA is releasing its first new music in four decades, along with a concert performance that will see the ``Dancing Queen'' quartet going entirely digital. The forthcoming album ``Voyage,`` to be released Nov. 5, is a follow-up to 1981's ``The Visitors,'' which until now had been the swan song of the Swedish supergroup. And a virtual version of the band will begin a series of concerts in London on May 27. ``We took a break in the spring of 1982 and now we've decided it's time to end it,`` ABBA said in a statement Thursday. ``They say it's foolhardy to wait more than 40 years between albums, so we've recorded a follow-up to 'The Visitors.''' The group has been creating the live show with George Lucas' special-effects company, Industrial Light Magic. They say the virtual versions of themselves are ``weird and wonderful,'' and go beyond holograms.``ISep 3, 2021
'Secret to my success? I keep working because I'm never satisfied with myself' Baritone Kim Gi-hoon / Courtesy of Art & ArtistsBBC Cardiff Singer of the World winner Kim Gi-hoon shares the story of his rise to the top in international competition By Park Ji-wonBaritone Kim Gi-hoon made it into the headlines in June after winning the main award for opera arias at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. This was the first time for a Korean to win the prize at the international singing competition, which started back in 1983. He said dissatisfaction with his performances helped him to aim high as an artist and pushed him to join the international competitions.“I think an artist who is satisfied with their artistic outcome has no future. I believe an artist can pull off a greater performance if they continue to improve. When I am satisfied with what I do, my life as an artist will be at its end,” Kim said in a recent press conference. He held the conference to share the behind-the-scenes story of his big win and to promote his upcoming recital at Seoul Arts Center, Saturday, where he will sing a list of songs which led to him winning the awSep 2, 2021By Park Ji-won
Winners of Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition to hold recitals in Korea Pianist Jonathan Fournel / Courtesy of the Queen Elisabeth Competition_Derek PragerBy Park Ji-wonThe pianists who won the Queen Elisabeth Competition this year will hold recitals in Korea in September. French pianist Jonathan Fournel won the first prize at the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition in May, while Japanese pianist Keigo Mukawa won the third prize in the competition.Fournel is an artist in residence at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, while Mukawa is attending the Paris Conservatory, continuing his studies in fortepiano and pursuing an artistic diploma in piano.The two will hold their recitals starting at the Peace & Life Zone Festival in Gangwon Province on Sept. 8. Mukawa will play various classical works on Sept. 9, including, “Piano Sonata No. 14,” a work known as “Moonlight,” Ravel's "Gaspard de la nuit” and Rachmaninoff's “Variations on a Theme of Corelli, Op.42,” at the Beautiful Thursday Concert Series in Kumho Art Hall. Fournel will also hold a solo recital at the same venue, featuring works including Bach's “OrgaAug 30, 2021By Park Ji-won
Incheon's annual rock festival to be held virtually in Oct. This file photo shows Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival in 2020 / Courtesy of Incheon Tourism OrganizationThe annual Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival will be held virtually for the second consecutive year on Oct. 9 and 10, its organizers said Sunday.The festival's 16th edition will feature '90s top artists such as Lee Seung-hwan and Yoon Sang, and other popular acts including 10cm, Daybreak and Leenalchi, according to the organizing committee.The names of participating artists from other countries will be revealed at a later date.As one of South Korea's biggest music events, the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival was previously held in October, also virtually, after being postponed for two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Organizers said some 780,000 people watched the show online.This year's edition will incorporate 360-degree virtual reality broadcasts and music critics' commentaries to help enhance viewers' experiences, the organizers said. (Yonhap)Aug 29, 2021
Chopin Competition winner to perform with Seoul Philharmonic in Nov. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) / Courtesy of the SPOBy Park Ji-wonThe poster for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO)'s third season, from September to December / Courtesy of the SPOThe winner of the upcoming 18th Chopin Piano Competition will play “Chopin, Piano Concerto No. 1 or 2” ― depending on who takes the grand prize ― with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) at the Seoul Arts Center on Nov. 27. The SPO has announced that the concert, titled, “And The Winner is ...,” conducted by Wilson Ng, associate conductor of the SPO, will be performed. During the concert, the SPO will be also playing, “Elgar, Symphony No. 1, Op. 55.” It will be the first time for the SPO to perform with the winner of the international piano competition. After pianist Cho Seong-jin won the competition in 2015, the competition, which has been held every five years since 1955, was set to pick a new winner in 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed it to 2021. From Oct. 2 to 23 in Warsaw, up to 96 pianists, including seven South Koreans ― Choi Hyoung-lok, Aug 20, 2021By Park Ji-won
INTERVIEW How conductor Chin Sol found her niche in game soundtrack concerts Conductor Chin Sol / Courtesy of FlasicPioneer of live game music concert shares her thoughts on music, businessBy Park Ji-wonPoster for “StarCraft Live Concert: Encore” / Courtesy of FlasicIn August 2019, a rare live classical concert was held at the Sejong Center for The Performing Arts. Titled “StarCraft Live Concert,” conducted by Chin Sol, an orchestra and a band specially formed for the concert played soundtracks works from StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment's highly popular real-time strategy game released in 1998. They played the theme songs of the game itself and those of its three combatant groups: Terran, Protoss and Zerg.Unlike many other concerts which have a predominantly female audience, the show's audiences were mostly men; Interpark, a ticket reservation market said more than 90 percent of the audience were men, proving the popularity of the game was predominantly among male gamers here. Concertgoers were excited about the familiar, but beautifully “classicized” game music, and have been calling for an encore concert ever since. TheAug 18, 2021By Park Ji-won
