[Herald Interview] ‘Art is a safe investment’

Despite the economic slump in China and its effects on the rest of the world, wealthy art collectors from emerging markets will still splurge on masterpieces, according to Gilles Dyan, chairman of the Opera Gallery Group. 　“The most expensive painting sold at auction in New York last year was the $170 million Modigliani painting purchased by a Chinese collector who owns private museums in Shanghai,” he said, in an interview at Seoul Opera Gallery on Monday.  Gilles Dyan, chairman of the Opera Ga

Jan. 20, 2016

Big Bang, Psy break 100m views

Big Bang and Psy both broke 100 million views on their latest YouTube music videos on Tuesday, according to their agency YG Entertainment.　Psy’s music video for “Daddy” was first to hit the mark, breaking 100 million at approximately 10:50 a.m. The video is energetic and outrageous, as per Psy’s trademark style, showing Psy appearing as three generations of a family. Still from Psy’s music video for “Daddy” (YouTube)　“Daddy” makes Psy the first Korean artist to have four consecutive music videos

Jan. 20, 2016

Artday to hold January auction

Herald Artday, a subsidiary of Herald Corp., is holding the first online auction of the new year from Jan. 22-26, presenting artwork and luxury fashion accessories. 　The art auction features 200 artworks of modern and contemporary Korean artists. Highlights of the auction include a charcoal drawing by Lee Bae, known for his abstract charcoal works that feature elements of traditional ink-and-wash paintings, an abstract painting by Nam Kwan, one of the first-generation abstract artists in Korea a

Jan. 19, 2016

[Hallyu Power] Psy is a power beyond ‘Gangnam Style’

This is the first article in a series that explores the powers leading hallyu and the powers behind the global rise of Korean pop culture. -- Ed.The global success of Psy‘s “Gangnam Style” music video was both boon and bane to the 42-year-old singer, born Park Jae-sang. With the strong support of K-pop stronghold YG Entertainment, Psy was able to reach an unprecedented audience for Korean music. The video rapidly went viral, going on to reach over 2.5 billion views on YouTube. With an additional

Jan. 19, 2016

Lotte to open classical concert hall

The nation’s first concert hall in nearly three decades to be built exclusively for classical music performances is scheduled to open in August.　The two-tier Lotte Concert Hall, seating 2,036, is housed in the eighth to 10th floors of the Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul. Designed by Yasuhisa Toyota of Nagata Acoustics, responsible for the acoustic design at the Suntory Hall in Japan, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in the U.S. and the Philharmonie de Paris in France, Lotte Concert Ha

Jan. 19, 2016

Tech at the symphony: Boston orchestra loaning patrons iPads

BOSTON (AP) -- A night at the symphony usually means silencing cellphones and mobile devices before the music starts.　But as part of an effort to draw in a younger audience, the Boston Symphony Orchestra is loaning select patrons iPads loaded with content specific to each performance.　 　They‘ll be able to view sheet music for the pieces being played, video interviews with musicians, podcasts about the composers and analysis on the works themselves. They’ll also get a close-up view of the conduct

Jan. 19, 2016

Zico releases ‘It Was Love’ teaser

Zico, the leader of hip-hop idol group Block B, released a teaser music video for his new song “It was Love” on YouTube at midnight, Monday.　“It was love,” the second track on Zico’s new special single to be released Jan. 25, is a ballad with a sensitive melody, which will display the new possibility of Zico as a true musician, according to Seven Seasons, the group’s agency.  Stills from a teaser for Block B member Zico‘s new song “It Was Love,” released Tuesday (Seven Seasons)　The music video s

Jan. 19, 2016

[Newsmaker] JYP in tight spot over Tzuyu furor

JYP Entertainment, the smallest of Korea’s three main entertainment agencies, is under fire for its handling of the controversy surrounding Taiwanese K-pop star Tzuyu, in which the company made a politically charged statement.The agency’s official homepage was down yesterday and its shares fell nearly to 4,000 won ($3.30) when the stock market opened Monday, down from a 52-week high of over 6,300 won. It closed at 4,300 won. Tzuyu is part of JYP’s multinational nine-member girl group Twice, whic

Jan. 18, 2016

‘Red Point’ filled with Teen Top touch

Sextet boy group Teen Top’s latest EP “Red Point” is packed with music and lyrics from the members themselves, showing that they are slowly making the evolution from an idol group to a crew of self-producing musicians.　“The members all began writing music and lyrics last year,” leader C.A.P told reporters at a media showcase at Ilchi Art Hall in Seoul on Monday. “The whole team is moving in that direction.”　“I think we all began writing so that we could perform the music that each of us wanted,”

Jan. 18, 2016

Original cast of French musical ‘Mozart, L’Opera Rock’ to come to Korea

The French musical “Mozart, L’Opera Rock (Mozart, The Rock Opera)” will make its way to Korea, bringing its original cast for the first time in March. 　The show with the original cast will also be making its Asian premiere at Daegu Keimyung Art Center in Daegu from March 3-6 and at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul from March 12-April 24. Its Korean-language production was previously staged in both cities in 2012.  A scene from “Mozart, L’Opera Rock” (Mast Entertainment)　The origina

Jan. 18, 2016

Indecent exposure: artist arrested for nude pose in Paris museum

PARIS (AFP) -- A woman has been arrested for indecent exposure after lying down naked in Paris’ Musee d’Orsay in front of Edouard Manet’s similarly nude painting of the prostitute Olympia, her lawyer said Sunday.　Museum-goers were enjoying an exhibition entitled “Splendour and Misery: Images of Prostitution 1850-1910” when Luxembourg artist Deborah de Robertis got undressed and took on the pose of the famed Olympia. “Olympia” by Edouard Manet. Luxembourt artist Deborah de Robertis was arrested S

Jan. 18, 2016

The Beach Boys to hold first Korea concert at Conrad Seoul

Iconic 1960s American rock band the Beach Boys will hold a concert at Conrad Seoul Grand Ballroom on March 21.　Titled “An intimate evening at Conrad Seoul; featuring America’s iconic band, The Beach Boys,” the band’s first ever performance in Korea will offer a special opportunity to experience the Beach Boys’ performance from right in front of the stage, Conrad Seoul said in a press release. American rock band “The Beach Boys” (Conrad Seoul)　A legendary rock band known for surf music, including

Jan. 18, 2016

Park Yong-maan appointed CEO of Korea National Opera

Doosan Group chairman Park Yong-maan has been appointed CEO of the Korea National Opera, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Friday. Doosan Group chairman Park Yong-maan (Yonhap)　Park, a long-time supporter of the arts, has served as a director of the Seoul Arts Center and as president of KNO supporters since 2013. He also led the Jeongdong Theater as CEO from 2012-2015. 　As head of one of Korea’s top conglomerates, Park has been actively supporting cultural activities at his busine

Jan. 15, 2016