IU returns with a touch of the blues IU posing with her newly dyed blue hair. Captured from IU's InstagramBy Cho Hae-minIU Friday posted a teaser photo of herself ahead of the release of her album, titled “Love Poems,” on her Instagram account. The photo shows the K-pop star with her hair dyed blue, leaving fans guessing what her album is about. The release date has not been revealed. During a Sept. 21 fan meeting, IU hinted about her fifth mini-album.Her “Love Poem” album comes one year after the release of her digital single “BBIBBI,” in October 2018. IU will begin a concert tour in Gwangju on Nov. 2-3. Oct 11, 2019
When classical music meets circus Circus troupe “Cirque de la Symphonie” will perform at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, Oct. 12 and 13, in their first performance in Korea. / Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for ArtsBy Anna J. ParkCircuses and classical music are two very different art forms which seem have no common elements; yet if they collaborate, they have potential to astonish audiences. Over the past decade, touring circus troupe “Cirque de la Symphonie” has been presenting jaw-dropping aerial performances along with acrobatics, juggling and balancing that are perfectly synchronized to live classical music masterpieces played by an orchestra on stage. Since it was created in 2005, the Georgia-based troupe has been travelling around the world to showcase the dynamic beauty of circus performances to rather static audience members at classical music concert halls. This fresh excitement of the combination of circus acts and classical music will be presented in Seoul for the first time this weekend. “Cirque de la Symphonie” will bring the magic of the circus to classical music concOct 7, 2019By Anna J. Park
Marcello Giordani, tenor of beauty and heft, dies at 56 In this Monday, March 31, 2008, file photo, singer Marcello Giordani attends a reception in New York. Tenor Marcello Giordani, renowned for a voice of beauty and heft that made him a star at the world's top opera houses, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. He was 56. APTenor Marcello Giordani, renowned for a voice of beauty and heft that made him a star at the world's top opera houses, died Saturday. He was 56. Giordani had a heart attack following lunch at his home in Monte Tauro, a suburb of Augusta in Sicily, and could not be revived, his vocal coach, Bill Schuman, told The Associated Press. ``I talked to his wife, Wilma,''' Schuman said. ``He said he was thirsty, got up from his chair for some water and collapsed. They had a helicopter-ambulance come in, but he was already gone.'' In an era when the Three Tenors waned in the 1990s and 2000s, Giordani was sought after in lyric and later spinto roles. ``It's a tragic loss,'' soprano Renee Fleming, a frequent singing partner, wrote in a text to the AP, recalling him as ``a remarkably lovely man.'' ``He possessed the easiest, most clarion hOct 6, 2019
TWICE's new album to set new record for 1st week sales TWICE's new mini-album cover. Korea Times fileBy Cho Hae-minK-pop girl group TWICE has renewed the record for first-week sales of a new album Sept. 23 with its latest mini-album “Feel Special.” The previous record also belonged to the nine-member band. A total of 154,028 copies of the group's eighth mini-album have been sold, according to the chart from Hanteo, a site that shows K-pop sales, records and rankings.The previous titleholder was its seventh mini-album “FANCY YOU,” released April 22. A total of 151,051 copies were sold in a seven-day span. BLACKPINK's “KILL THIS LOVE” was runner-up with 146,094.TWICE will hold a fan meeting “ONCE HALLOWEEN 2” at Korea University Tiger Dome, Oct. 20.Oct 1, 2019
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra to kick off 2019 Russia tour next month Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) will hold special tour concerts in Russia, on Oct. 4, 7 and 8 in the cities of St. Petersburg, Ekaterinburg and Moscow. Courtesy of Lee Won-hee, SPOBy Anna J. ParkThe Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) will hold special concerts in three Russian cities early October. This will be the orchestra's first time in Russia in nine years since they performed there in June 2010. The performances are to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Korea and Russia that falls on the year 2020. The SPO's Conductor-in-Residence Markus Stenz will lead the three performances, with pianist Lim Dong-hyek and traditional Korean janggu drummer Kim Woong-sik. Pianist Lim, one of the most-sought-after Korean pianists on the global stage, studied at the Moscow Central Music School and the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory, winning prizes at various prestigious competitions, including the International Chopin Piano Competition and International Tchaikovsky Competition. Pianist Lim Dong-hyek will present Tchaikovsky's “PiaSep 29, 2019By Anna J. Park
REVIEW Canadian artist Shawn Mendes set off Asian tour with Korea Canadian artist Shawn Mendes held his first concert in Korea as part of the Asian tour for his latest self-titled album, Wednesday, at KSPO dome located in Olympic Park, Seoul. Courtesy of AIMBy Lee Gyu-leeCanadian singer-songwriter Shawn Mendes set off on his Asian tour for his latest self-titled album in Korea, Wednesday. His first show was at KSPO dome with 15,000 capacity, located in Olympic Park, Seoul.Thousands of fans filled the site and screamed in excitement as Mendes appeared in a ripped jean jacket and black jeans with his signature acoustic guitar. He began the show with three of the songs from his latest album starting with “Lost in Japan,” for which he changed Japan to Seoul, before greeting and expressing appreciation to fans for coming to his first concert in Korea.The 21-year-old hitmaker showed off his energy on stage as he sang his biggest hits like "Stitches" and "Treat You Better," jumping and running around the stage drawing hearts and blowing kisses to his fans.Thousands of fans hold up LED light wrist bands as Mendes plays the piano. Courtesy of AISep 29, 2019By Lee Gyu-lee
INTERVIEW Singer-songwriter Ku One-chan seeks new direction in honest music Ku One-chan is a 26-year-old singer-songwriter who released the album “Log” on Sept. 20. Courtesy of Magic Strawberry Sound.By Jung Hae-myoung Singer-songwriter Ku One-chan is currently seeking his identity in the middle of the road. With R&B music, sweet melodies and a hint of indie-like lyrics, critics acknowledge his music is unique in the Korean music scene. The way he appeared for a Korea Times interview on Wednesday at the cafe in Magic Strawberry Music Company resembled his music. He was there with a simple white T-shirt, a pure and simple image that he wanted to present through his music. For his new mini-album “Log,” he said he tried to show his daily life and feelings that people can relate to. Many musical experiments also stood out in terms of melody and skits. “To be simple, it's like a diary,” Ku said. “Rather than putting my personal emotions in there, I tried to make my own songs that can appeal to listeners, although people are in different situations,” Ku said. His songs “We Need” and “Dear RegretSep 27, 2019
Chopin Competition prize winner Lim Dong-min releases album in 8 years, prepares for concert tour Pianist Lim Dong-min performs Chopin's "Scherzos No. 4 in E Major, Op.54" during a press conference held at Stradium in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of BOM Arts ProjectBy Anna J. ParkBack in October 2005, Korean pianist brothers Lim Dong-min, 25 at that time, and Lim Dong-hyek, 21, surprisingly shared the third prize together during the prestigious 15th International Chopin Piano Competition. No second prize was awarded then, and the Korean brothers studying in Russia tied for the third honor as the first Koreans to ever win a prize at the Chopin competition. Ten years later, another Korean pianist Cho Seong-jin received the top prize, breaking their record. Yet brothers Lim Dong-min and Dong-hyek have since remained in Korean music fans' hearts for their impressive performances and brilliant talents. While younger brother Dong-hyek has continued his globe-trotting career with several albums released, older brother Dong-min has focused more on teaching as a professor at Keimyung University since 2008, and seems to stay out of the public eye. That's why Lim's new album release and a natioSep 26, 2019By Anna J. Park
INTERVIEW Indie band Bosudong Cooler seeks breakthrough in reality, society Bosudong Cooler is an indie band based in Buasn. Four members include Jung Juri, Lee Sang-won, Goo Seul-han and Choi Woon-gyu, clockwise from the center. / Courtesy of Judge LightBy Jung Hae-myoung At the DMZ Peace Train Music Festival this year, a music critic noted how K-pop is seen by many to include many different genres of music in Korea, not just idol music. Even to many overseas fans, Korean indie music is considered K-pop. To those who are tired of the familiar K-pop of idol groups, they should explore other varieties of music being made in Korea, which deserve more attention and payment. Indie rock band Bosudong Cooler tries to leap through boundaries between genres as well as restrictions in reality. Their genre influence transits from the 1960s to 1980s reflecting the members' experimenting in music genres including rock, Japanese music, folk and dance. In reality, they say performing in the indie scene itself is an experiment for them, as written in their lyrics that “life is a continuity of experiments and addictions for all people.” Based in Busan, the band'Sep 26, 2019
Actor's $3.7 million villa buy in rich Seoul town raises eyebrows Jung Hae-in, right, and Kim Ko-eun in a scene from "Tune in for Love." Photo from NaverBy Ko Dong-hwanSangji Ritzville is one of the luxurious villa apartment blocks in Seoul's Chungdam area in Gangnam District. Korea Times fileCelebrities' real estate has always been a hot topic in Korea, giving a glimpse of how financially successful they are.Actor Jung Hae-in has produced the latest update on the topic. Reports said Thursday that he has bought a villa apartment in Seoul's rich town of Chungdam worth 4.4 billion won ($3.7 million) ― way out of the reach of average Koreans.The apartment in the southern Gangnam district was built 35 years ago. The star reportedly bought the villa in September 2018 and registered it as his. This led realtors in Chungdam to believe the actor, 31, bought the house for an investment. The 236-square-meter duplex is one of 10 units in the low-rise building. If Jung renovates it, its value will jump to over 7 billion won, according to realtors.Reports said Jung has not notified the Gangnam District Office of his new address, supporting the belief he bought Sep 26, 2019By Ko Dong-hwan
