Soundtrack for music documentary 'Pavarotti' released ahead of film in Korea The original soundtrack album for Ron Howard's music documentary film “Pavarotti” was released Friday in Korea, prior to the film's release next month in Korea. / Courtesy of Universal Music KoreaBy Anna J. Park Ahead of next month's release of the film “Pavarotti” at theaters nationwide in Korea ― a music documentary film released in June in the U.S. ― the 114-minute film's soundtrack album was released by Universal Music Korea last Friday. The album includes 22 tracks, with two special tracks previously unreleased: “Miserere” sung live with Zucchero and Andrea Bocelli and Schubert's “Ave Maria” sung live with U2's Bono at Paravotti & Friends for SOS Iraq concert held in 2003. Luciano Pavarotti was undoubtedly one of the world's most celebrated tenors in history. The Italian operatic singer not only thrived in the classical music arena, but also in other genres of the arts, such as pop music and films. Often dubbed the “King of the High Cs,” Pavarotti sold over 100 million records during his decades-long professional muDec 9, 2019By Anna J. Park
INTERVIEW Violinist Cho Jin-joo shares her love of music Violinist Cho Jin-joo poses for a photo during a roundtable interview in central Seoul, Thursday. She will perform her own recital on the evening of Dec. 11 at the IBM Chamber Hall in Seoul Arts Center. Courtesy of Bom Arts ProjectViolinist, artistic director and professor Cho Jin-joo talks about her upcoming concerts, passion for teaching young musicians and love of music By Anna J. ParkCharismatic and vibrant violinist Cho Jin-joo will present her recital on Dec. 11 at the IBK Hall in Seoul Arts Center, her first recital in Korea in five years since 2014. The 31-year-old violinist, currently teaching at Canada's prestigious McGill University, has recently seen many invitations back to stages in Korea to perform with many of Korea's representative orchestras, including the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. However, her own recital will be her first in Korea in many years. Ahead of her performance this Wednesday, The Korea Times met Cho during a roundtable interview in central Seoul, last Thursday. Cho passionately shared her thoughts and ideas about this recital, teaching philosophy andDec 8, 2019By Anna J. Park
BTS' 'Boy with Luv' most-viewed YouTube music video in Korea in 2019 Members of the boy band BTS receive the award for best music video for their song ' Boy With Luv' upon arrival at the Asian Music Awards in Nagoya, Japan, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019. APThe music video of K-pop boy band BTS' latest single "Boy With Luv" was the most viewed music video on YouTube in South Korea this year, the company said Friday.The music video has topped the milestone of 600 million YouTube views, according to YouTube. "Boy With Luv" is a track off the latest BTS album, "Map of the Soul: Persona," released April 12 and featuring American diva Halsey.Its music video set a Guinness World Record for the most views on YouTube in 24 hours: collecting 74.6 million views on the first day of its release.The music video of "Dalla Dalla" by K-pop girl group ITZY came in second place, with its "ICY" video also coming in seventh place, YouTube said.The music video of "FANCY" by K-pop girl band TWICE came in third place, with "Kill This Love," released in April by BLACKPINK, in fourth place. (Yonhap)Dec 6, 2019
IU teams with Sung Si-kyung for winter ballad K-pop singer IU and Sung Si-kyung's new digital single. Courtesy of SKJaewonBy Cho Hae-minK-pop singer IU is collaborating with Korean ballad singer Sung Si-kyung for his new digital single.Sung will release the single on Dec. 9, according to his agency SKJaewon, Thursday.This is their second collaboration after the release of their first duet “It's You” in 2010.Sung debuted with the album “Like the First Time” in 2001. He gained popularity after releasing several songs including “Even Now,” “Heejae” and “You are My Spring.” He will hold his winter concerts at Jamsil Arena on Dec. 20 and 21.Dec 5, 2019
'Organ Odyssey' to explore inside, outside of musical instrument Organist Park Joon-ho explains how an organ make sounds during an 'Organ Odyssey' performance held earlier this year at Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for ArtsBy Anna J. ParkFor those who ever wondered how pipe organs work, the perfect opportunity for an answer will come later this month. Lotte Concert Hall is set to host “Organ Odyssey,” featuring one of the world's oldest and most magnificent instruments. This is part of its flagship concert series started shortly after the hall's grand opening in 2016, aimed at enhancing the general public's understanding of the instruments' mechanisms, sounds and music. Held regularly about three times a year, the special Christmas edition of the concert will be on Dec. 18 at 11:30 a.m. at Lotte Concert Hall in eastern Seoul. The Rainbow Chorus, made up of children from multicultural families in Korea, will join the concert, presenting representative Christmas carols, including “Feliz Navidad,” “Silent Night,” “Look Out the Window” and “Noel.” Audiences can enjDec 2, 2019By Anna J. Park
Irving Burgie, songwriter of calypso hit 'Day-O,' dies at 95 Irving Burgie. wesa.orgComposer Irving Burgie, who helped popularize Caribbean music and co-wrote the enduring Harry Belafonte hit “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song),'' has died at the age of 95.At the Barbados Independence Day Parade on Saturday, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley announced Burgie died Friday.“Day-O,'' written in 1952, has been ubiquitous, appearing in everything from the film and Broadway musical “Beetlejuice'' to an E-Trade commercial. “Day-O” was also the wake-up call for the astronauts on two Space Shuttle missions in the 1990s. When a superstar list of music royalty gathered to film the “We Are the World'' video in 1985, most burst into a playful version of “Day-O'' in between takes. Lil' Wayne used a sample of “Day-O'' in his “6 Foot 7 Foot.''According to the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Burgie's songs have sold over 100 million records throughout the world. Many were recorded by Belafonte, including eight of the 11 songs on Belafonte's 1956 album, “Calypso,'' the first album to sell over 1 million copies in theDec 1, 2019
Seoul's past, present, future expressed through gugak This year's “Hanyang and Seoul” performance will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Sejong M Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing ArtsBy Anna J. ParkAs the year-end is nearing, people begin spending more time reflecting upon the past year and anticipating the coming year. At this contemplative time of the year, the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Orchestra ― the very first traditional Korean music orchestra founded in 1965 ― has been presenting an annual performance titled “Hanyang and Seoul” since 2014 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. For nearly 630 years since the late 14th century, Seoul has been the capital city of Korea; it was called Hanyang during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom. Though its name has changed over time, what hasn't changed is that Seoul is still in the heart of the Korean people's livelihoods, economy and culture, and the city has been the backdrop of everyday lives of citizens for centuries. Under the central theme of “Hanyang and Seoul,” the annualNov 28, 2019By Anna J. Park
Gugudan's Kim Se-jeong prepares to launch new solo album Kim Se-jeong's new solo album. Captured from her group Gugudan's official Twitter accountBy Cho Hae-minK-pop girl group Gugudan member Kim Se-jeong is set to release her new solo album “Tunnel” at 6 p.m. Dec. 2.Her agency Jellyfish Entertainment said Kim is collaborating with Dingo, the music platform, for the digital music project.She released the single “Flower Way,” produced by Zico, on Nov. 23, 2016, and it topped several major music charts.Kim is best known for participating in Mnet's audition program “Produce 101” in January 2016, becoming a member of the group I.O.I. After the project group disbanded, she joined Gugudan on June 28, 2016.Nov 27, 2019
Artists threaten legal action over Block B member's chart-rigging allegations Block B member Park Kyung has been threatened with legal action. Korea Times fileBy Cho Hae-minK-pop boy group Block B member Park Kyung has been threatened with legal action after accusing some artists of concocting sales numbers to manipulate music charts.Park Kyung wrote on his Twitter account on Nov. 24: “I want to do bulk buying like Vibe, like Song Ha-ye, like Lim Jae-hyun, like Jeon Sang-keun, like Jang Deok-cheol and like Hwang In-wook.” His agency KQ Entertainment later released an apology, saying Park did not intend to defame or accuse certain artists but wanted to criticize the music charts system. However, the six artists Park mentioned have released a statement saying they will take a legal action against him. Nov 26, 2019
Fans, celebrities reeling from Goo Ha-ra's death Singer Goo Ha-ra was found dead, Sunday, at her residence in Cheongdam-dong, southern Seoul.By Lee Gyu-leeAnother sudden death of a K-pop singer has shocked the nation just a month after Sulli saddened Korean and overseas fans by committing suicide. Fellow celebrities left tributes to Goo Ha-ra, who was found dead at her home in southern Seoul on Sunday, on social media. Police are investigating the cause of her death but said they have found no signs of foul play. Officers held a press conference at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency headquarters in downtown Seoul, Monday, to give a briefing on the ongoing investigation. “Based on the scene and testimony from her family, there are no signs of a crime involved in her death, at least as of now,” they said, adding a handwritten note had been found left on a living room table. One of Goo's close friends, rapper DinDin, expressed his grief in a social media post. “When I started becoming famous, you worried about me and told me to call you whenever I had a hard time. You were always beautiful and shiny. But I'm really sorNov 25, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
