11th Seoul Int'l Music Festival evokes interest in environment Artistic Director of Seoul International Music Festival (SIMF) Ryu Jea-joon speaks during a press conference in southern Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of SIMFBy Anna J. ParkThis year's Seoul International Music Festival (SIMF), one of the major annual classical music festivals held every autumn in Korea, has begun its 11th installment. Under the theme of “Humans and Environment,” the autumn festival provides 11 a variety of love music events, ranging from orchestra concerts and recitals to chamber music concerts, until Nov. 8. “Every concert's title is related to the theme of the festival, such as Fallen Leaves, and On the Threshold of Winter, aiming to evoke consciousness about pervasive environmental issues and crises,” the festival's Artistic Director Ryu Jea-joon said during a press conference held at Pung Wol Dang in southern Seoul, Thursday. “Environment is a huge concept; the reason we put humans in the theme as Humans and Environment is because we actually need to protect humans more than the Earth itself. Compared to the Earth's origin that dates baOct 27, 2019By Anna J. Park
Coldplay warms up with music video for 'Orphans' Coldplay. Courtesy of Hyundai CardColdplay on Friday released a music video for its song "Orphans," which will appear on its album “Everyday Life” on Nov. 22.The clip features frontman Chris Martin playing his guitar and singing while sitting in public spaces.The video also features the other band members working on the track together, nature scenes and Coldplay walking on the ceiling of a small room."I want to know when I can go/ Back and get drunk with my friends/ I want to know when I can go/ Back and be young again," Martin sings.Coldplay also released on YouTube Thursday a lyric video for "Arabesque," which will also appear on “Everyday Life.”Coldplay's last album, “A Head Full of Dreams,” was released in 2015. (UPI)Oct 27, 2019
Paul Kim's concert tickets sell out Korean singer Paul Kim. Korea Times fileBy Cho Hae-minTickets for Korean singer Paul Kim's two year-end concerts in Seoul sold out Wednesday. “Heart” will kick off in Seoul on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 and go to six cities: Busan, Daegu, Cheonan, Daejeon, Jeonju and Gwangju. The singer debuted in 2014. His 2018 song “Every Day, Every Moment” won Golden Disc Awards and Melon Music Awards, among others.He regularly appears on JTBC's reality show “Begin Again,” in which he and other musicians travel to foreign cities and busk. Oct 24, 2019
INTERVIEW Award-winning UK pianist Osborne to present Beethoven's last sonata in Seoul British pianist Steven Osborne holds his first recital in Korea on Thursday evening, presenting Beethoven's late Sonatas No. 30, 31, 32 at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seoul. Courtesy of Benjamin EalovegaBy Anna J. Park Steven Osborne, 48, is one of the most celebrated pianists in the U.K. The winner of the prestigious Clara Haskil International Piano Competition in 1991 and the Naumburg International Competition in 1997 has continued his musical journey of some three decades with sincerity and passion, earning many other international honors for his outstanding achievements, including the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist of the Year in 2013.He arrived in Seoul in advance of his concert Thursday evening at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in Seoul ― his first performance in Korea. Being invited to perform under the banner of the “International Masters' Series,” Osborne will perform three of Beethoven's late sonatas, including the last one, No. 32, as well as giving master classes for students. During an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday, Osborne talked about the concerOct 23, 2019By Anna J. Park
INTERVIEW Singer drops single in memory of late brother Kim Sung-jae, star of 1990s Kim Sung-wook, right, released his single “Rainshower,” commemorating the memory of his late brother, singer Kim Sung-jae. The photo, one of official covers for the digital single, was taken in 1995 with their mother, a few months before the sudden death of his brother that year. Courtesy of Kim Sung-wookBy Anna J. ParkMusic producer and singer Kim Sung-wook, 45, released his latest single, “Rainshower” earlier this month. It is his first new song in 17 years, since his second album release back in 2002. This acoustic song with a plaintive melody evokes a calm yet sorrowful ambience: the song is dedicated to the memory of his late brother, singer Kim Sung-jae, a member of duo group DEUX, who suddenly died at the young age of 23 back in 1995 at the apex of his popularity. The girlfriend of the late singer was sentenced to life imprisonment on a charge of murder, which was overturned later with a not guilty verdict due to lack of evidence. In the 24 years that have passed, Kim Sung-wook and his mother suffered deep pain from the sudden loss of a brother and a soOct 22, 2019By Anna J. Park
INTERVIEW 'Music is my profession and my passion' Cellist Mischa Maisky will hold concerts in three cities in Korea this week, presenting Schumann's “Cello Concerto in A Minor, Op. 129” and Bruch's “Kol Nidrei, Op. 47.” Courtesy of Maisky and Deutsche Grammophon (DG)By Anna J. ParkWorld-renowned cellist Mischa Maisky, 71, will return to Korea for a series of concerts in three cities this week with one of the oldest orchestras in Europe, the Swiss-based Orchester Musikkollegium Winterthur, currently led by conductor and violinist Zehetmair.Maisky and the orchestra's concert tour will start at the Gangneung Arts Center in the nation's eastern Gangwon Province, Thursday, followed by a performance at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, Friday, and in the Daegu Concert House, Saturday. The program consists of Schumann's Cello Concerto in A Minor Op.129, Bruch's “Kol Nidrei,” Op. 47, as well as Beethoven's stupendous fifth symphony, or so-called “Fate.” During a recent e-mail interview with The Korea Times, Maisky talked about the repertoire for this tour, his special connection with KoOct 22, 2019By Anna J. Park
Soprano Kim Jee-Hyun leads globalization of Korean 'gagok' Soprano Kim Jee-Hyun and nine of her Chinese students, all in the doctor of musical arts course at Sangmyung University, perform during a “gagok” concert at Jangcheon Hall in the Gwanglim Arts Center in Seoul on October 18.By Kang Seok-jaeKorean soprano Kim Jee-Hyun, one of the best-known Asian vocalists, is going all out to help globalize Korean "gagok." Gagok refers to a genre of vocal music using lyrics from a poem.As part of her efforts to further globalize gagok and to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her debut in Korea as a vocalist, Kim, 50, a professor of vocal arts at Sangmyung University in Seoul, presented a gagok concert on October 18 with nine of her Chinese students, all in the doctor of musical arts (DMA) course.It marked the first time that such a concert featuring a Korean teacher and Chinese vocalist students had been held in Korea.The concert, titled “Soprano Kim Jee-Hyun & Golden Muses,” was at the Jangcheon Hall of the Gwanglim Arts Center in downtown Seoul. It was organized by Wang Zhi Guo, Kim's No. 1 student, and conducted by the SOct 22, 2019
Multitalented US boy band to perform in Seoul in November From left, Jonah Marais, Corbyn Besson, Zach Herron, Daniel Seavey and Jack Avery./ Courtesy of Live Nation KoreaBy Jung Hae-myoungThe U.S. boy band Why Don't We will visit Korea in November as part of its Asia tour, “Why Don't We ― 8 Letters Tour.”Why Don't We has been referred to as a next-generation band that will storm the global music scene, following in the footsteps of U.K. boy band One Direction and U.S. pop group NSYNC. In an email interview with The Korea Times, member Jonah Marais explained what makes the group stand out and what Korean fans can expect at the Seoul concert.He said he was very happy to hear his band being compared to One Direction “It's amazing. One Direction guys are very talented and I have a ton of respect for them. I'd love to be the next One Direction,” Marais said. Compared to One Direction, he said Why Don't We has strengths that few other boy bands have. “The best part about us is we can do everything. We formed the band together ourselves, play instruments. We write the majority of our music and more,” he said, dOct 21, 2019
Late great masters' legacies in traditional Korean music honored Official poster image for the performance "I Want to Go," slated to be held during Oct. 17 and 18 at the National Gugak Center. Courtesy of National Gugak CenterBy Anna J. ParkAnyone who's interested in the legacies of great masters of traditional Korean music genres should not miss this week's special two-day performances by the National Gugak Center's Folk Music Group on the evenings of this Thursday and Friday. Marking the 40th anniversary of the birth of the Folk Music Group, an affiliated music company under the National Gugak Center, the performances will commemorate six great late masters of traditional Korean music, including haegeum master Ji Yeong-hui, pansori master Kim So-hui, Seodo folk song master O Bok-nyeo and Gyeonggi folksong master An Bi-chwi. Various pieces ranging from traditional Korean singing pansori, regional representative folk songs to instrumental playing styles of traditional Korean string instruments like haegeum and gayageum will be performed by members of the Folk Music Group, some of them still vividly remember the spirit and teachings of their masterOct 13, 2019By Anna J. Park
Korean-American violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill joins world-renowned Takacs Quartet Korea's beloved violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill, left, will join the Takacs Quartet next June. The famous quartet as established in Budapest in 1975. Courtesy of CREDIABy Anna ParkKorean American violist Richard Yongjae O'Neill will join the Takacs Quartet, one of the world's most celebrated quartets ― next June. Established in 1975 at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Hungary, the Takacs Quartet garnered numerous honors and awards, including Grammys Awards, Gramophone Awards and the Classic Brit Awards.The quartet has four members ― cellist and the only remaining founding member Andras Fejer, first violinist Edward Dusinberre, second violinist Harumi Rhodes, and violist Geraldine Walther. Walther will be retiring in May 2020, and O'Neill will be the replacement.O'Neill said in a press statement that he was thrilled to follow in Walther's footsteps.“Joining the Takacs Quartet is the greatest honor of my life,” he said. “I am thrilled to follow in the footsteps of one of my heroes, the great Geraldine Walther, whom I have listened to and adored since I was a child.Oct 13, 2019By Anna J. Park
