[Weekender] Summer music fests to stomp out the heat

　Despite grueling temperatures that make going outside seem like an unwanted tax on the body, this summer still has all the makings of an unforgettable season of music festival fun. 　　Following last month’s two-day EDM blowout Ultra Music Festival, which drew more than 100,000 partygoers, the remaining summer months promise an eclectic array of big-time international acts and fan-favorite local names.　　Ansan M Valley Rock Festival　　Forced to cancel its festivities last year in light of the tragi

July 17, 2015

Gracias Choir holds summer night concert

Over 5,000 Seoulites enjoyed an evening of free music Saturday, as the award-winning Gracias Choir held a public concert for citizens at Seoul Plaza in the heart of Seoul. The stage featured internationally esteemed musicians such as conductor Boris Abalayan, who is a professor at Russia’s Saint Petersburg Conservatory, pianist Igor Lebedev and British flutist Paul Edmund-Davies, who participated in the soundtracks of the “Harry Potter” and “Mission: Impossible” film series.A male quartet sings

July 13, 2015

Eyelike: 9Muses, Minx, Miguel

9Muses targets club scene with new EP9Muses “9Muses S/S Edition” (KT Music)9Muses are a group known mostly for their stunning looks. Nicknamed the “model idol” group, the eight members boast an average height of 172 centimeters and are known for their sexy choreography in songs like “Dolls” and “Wild.”On their new EP “9Muses S/S Edition,” the group continues to do what they are best known for, choosing consistency over variety. Thumping club-style beats underline both the lead track “Hurt Locker

July 10, 2015

Classic operas to usher in the summer, fall seasons

From crowd favorites Mozart and Verdi, to one of the world’s earliest known opera productions, the remainder of the 2015 season promises moving and memorable arias.Seoul Metropolitan Opera is gearing up for its staging of one of the world’s oldest known operas -- Claudio Monteverdi’s early baroque piece “L’Orfeo.” Based on the mythical musician, poet and Greek prophet Orpheus, the opera tells the tale of his journey to the underworld and his challenge to Hades to retrieve his deceased wife, Eury

July 9, 2015

Eyelike: Joy Williams, Neil Young + Promise of the Real, Pete Rock

Joy Williams goes solo and bares soulJoy Williams “Venus” (Sensibility/Columbia)Nearly 20 minutes into “Venus,” an acoustic guitar emerges from the computer clamor that fills most of the album. The refreshing sound of an actual musical instrument nudges Joy Williams into the set’s best song, the soul-baring ballad “What a Good Woman Does.”“I can’t carry the weight of this war,” she sings.Williams’ acrimonious split with Civil Wars partner John Paul White is at the core of “Venus,” her first solo

July 3, 2015

Nine Muses jumps into heated summer girl group scene with heavy club beats

The leggy, statuesque eight-member group Nine Muses has made a comeback with a special summer album, “9 Muses S/S Edition,” jumping into the heated summer K-pop scene a mere few days after fellow girl groups Sistar and AOA.  The title track “Hurt Locker” is a throbbing Euro-electronic dance beat, written by Swedish songwriter Erik Lidbom -- who also composed “Genie,” the massive 2009 hit by Girls’ Generation -- British producer Herbie Crichlow and Norwegian songwriter Anne Judith Wik.  　The lyri

July 3, 2015

Hanwha Classic 2016 to headline French baroque

Following its recent staging of the distinguished Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century for the annual Hanwha Classic 2015, representatives have revealed that next year’s concert series will feature French conductor Marc Minkowski and the Musicians of the Louvre orchestra. The Musicians of the Louvre orchestra is an internationally renowned French baroque music ensemble, which originally formed in 1982 in Paris by Minkowski. Since 1996 the orchestra has been based in Grenoble, southeastern France

July 2, 2015

Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ opera reborn, aiming for family fun

Soprano Lee Yoon-geong (left to right), bass Attila Jun and tenor Kim Woo-kyung to take part in the upcoming production of Mozart‘s “The Magic Flute” opera. (Seoul Arts Center)The Seoul Arts Center is getting set to unveil its upcoming production of Mozart’s enchanting opera “The Magic Flute.”The upcoming show will be the center’s first opera production in six years, following another Mozart’s classic -- “The Marriage of Figaro.” From 2001 to 2009, “The Magic Flute” was staged at the SAC every y

July 2, 2015

EXO’s ‘Call Me Baby’ most watched K-pop video in the first half

EXO. (SM Entertainment)South Korean mega-idol group EXO’s “Call Me Baby” was the most watched K-pop music video in the first half of 2015 on YouTube. “Call Me Baby,” the title song of EXO’s second regular EP “EXODUS,” released March 31, recorded a smashing 52.4 million combined views on YouTube with its Korean and Chinese versions as of July 2. The Korean version raked in 40,621,247 views, already enough to give it the most views of any K-pop music video released in the first half of 2015, while

July 2, 2015

[Herald Review] Peering through mask of ‘Phantom’

In Andrew Lloyd Webber’s mega-hit musical “Phantom of the Opera,” the protagonist ― a disfigured man living in dark cellars of a Paris opera house ― has no name. Known as the Phantom, he lurks in the shadows and manipulates, desires and finally kidnaps the object of his obsessive affection, Christine Daae. In another musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s 1910 horror romance, currently playing in Seoul, he is Erik ― a man who has to live underground and hidden because he was born with the face of

July 1, 2015

Modigliani, Kahlo and Botero on show

As the summer begins, Seoul welcomes exhibitions of great art masters such as Amedeo Modigliani, Frida Kahlo and Fernando Botero. These exciting shows offer a cool cultural getaway from the city’s hustle and bustle. Meet some of the early modern iconic artists at Seoul’s major museums. Modigliani: Legend of Montparnasse  "Reclining Nude with Loose Hair" by Amedeo Modigliani (Osaka City Museum of Modern Art)The rare exhibition of Italian artist Amedeo Modigliani (1884-1920) just kicked off last w

June 30, 2015

Seoul Philharmonic gets new chief amid lingering bitterness

A former top banking executive was appointed chief executive of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Tuesday, amid lingering troubles at the country’s finest ensemble after the scandalous departure last year of its former CEO. Choe Heung-sik, the former head of Hana Financial Group, the country’s fourth-largest financial group, will take office on July 1 as the orchestra’s CEO, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said in a press announcement. The orchestra is partly funded by the municipal governme

June 30, 2015

Daegu musical fest rolls out hard-to-find works

DAEGU -- From an out-of-this-world space musical set on a forbidden planet to the skin-crawling murder mystery of a serial killer, the ongoing Daegu International Musical Festival features a wide range of international productions, catering to all artistic tastes.The 9th annual DIMF kicked off its 18 days of festivities Friday in the southern city of Daegu, inviting cast members from all corners of the world, with shows that one would be hard-pressed to see in Korea or elsewhere in Asia. 　A scen

June 30, 2015

BTOB returns with first full album, musical maturity

Seven-member boy group BTOB dropped their first full-length Korean album, “Complete,” on Monday. The title track, “It’s Okay,” is a heartfelt R&B ballad that seeks to comfort weary hearts, and topped musical charts upon its midnight release. “It’s a song meant to heal us of the everyday trials that we face. The lyrics are sincere and uplifting,” said leader of the group and vocalist Eun-kwang at a showcase for the album’s release Monday.“It might not have the showy performances of dance songs, b

June 30, 2015

2PM's strength in unity shines at 'House Party' concert

Boy band 2PM celebrated eight years together with their fans at two “House Party” concerts at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Arena on Saturday and Sunday in Seoul. Kicking off the performance with a rendition of “Go Crazy” packed with special effects, 2PM sped forward with their past hit “I Hate You,” two songs from their new album, “Jump” and “Magic,” and their party song “Hands Up.”2PM performs at the 'House Party' concert (JYP Entertainment)The stage was set to sprawl across the arena‘s floor, w

June 29, 2015

Classical meets childhood lullabies on pianist’s new album

[Herald Interview] Inspired by his childhood memories, pianist Park Jong-hwa plays nostalgic and unforgettable traditional children’s lullabies on his new album and tour project “Nunaya.”Unveiled last month, the 11-track digital album features classical variations of some of the most widely-recognized folk melodies in Korea, such as “Mother, Sister (Ummaya Nunaya),” “Jackrabbit” and “Hometown Spring.” 　“You will be hard-pressed to find a Korean who does not recognize these titles,” said Park dur

June 29, 2015

Eyelike: Hudson Mohawke, Richard Thompson, Kacey Musgraves

Hudson Mohawke’s ‘Lantern’ illuminates nicely　　Hudson Mohawke, “Lantern.”(Warp)　 Scottish electronic music producer Hudson Mohawke is out with his sophomore album, “Lantern,” a lush blend of edgy vocals and smartly managed mixes that are ripe for hip lounge listening.　Ross Birchard, who goes by the stage name Hudson Mohawke, began his mix career on traditional turntables before migrating to more intricate remix environments. “Lantern” builds well on his discography, coming off experimental and u

June 26, 2015

From jazz to gugak

Until recently, traditional Korean music, or gugak, had never been something close to the heart of Seoul-born, Paris-honed jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun.Born to a conductor father and a musical actress mother, she was exposed to various genres of western music from early on, and later found her own musical idiom in jazz.  Jazz vocalist Nah Youn-sun poses after an interview with The Korea Herald at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul. (Hub Music)With her crystal-clear voice, flawless intonation a

June 26, 2015