‘Romeo and Juliet’ taken to new level in opera

Tragedy, absolute obsession with love and the feeling that love is worth dying for. This sums up the theme of the Korea National Opera’s upcoming production of Charles Gounod’s operatic adaptation of the Shakespearean love story, “Romeo and Juliet,” to be staged at Seoul Arts Center next month. Directing it is Briton Elijah Moshinsky, who says he “loves Shakespeare” and has worked on many of his plays. “Shakespeare is all about feelings and destiny,” said the director, who works with top opera h

Sept. 25, 2014

Maestro pursuing own music

After more than three illustrious decades as an orchestra conductor, maestro Chung Myung-whun is putting down his baton and making his way back to his musical roots ― the piano. Not for good, though. Chung, artistic director of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and arguably one of the country’s most respected classical music figures, will hold a nationwide solo piano recital tour for the first time in his career. “The responsibility of being a conductor, in charge of a 100-person orchestra, is far di

Sept. 25, 2014

Ailee’s new EP ‘Magazine’ released

The cover of Ailee’s “Magazine.” (YMC Entertainment)Singer Ailee released her third EP “Magazine” on Thursday on major Korean music portals. The new EP includes “Don’t Touch Me,” a Britpop rock song as the title track with a powerful piano loop line and drum beat. The album is the collaboration of Ailee and composer Kim Do-hoon, who also composed “I’ll Show You” on the singer’s first album, as well as Korean hip-hop group Dynamic Duo.The 25-year-old singer, born and raised in Colorado, U.S., mad

Sept. 25, 2014

9 Muses documentary to make Korean premiere

9 Muses. (Star Empire Entertainment)Prior to their debut in 2010, 9 Muses teamed up with famous Korean film director Lee Hark-joon for a year to film a behind-the-scenes documentary on the K-pop industry, while chronicling the group’s every move.The documentary, titled “9 Muses of Star Empire,” is finally slated to make its Korean premiere on Thursday, after being shown at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in 2012, as well as being invited to 12 other international film festi

Sept. 23, 2014

Modern take on lacquer and mother-of-pearl art

Artist Kim Young-jun, known for his modern interpretations of traditional lacquer and mother-of-pearl art, is holding a solo exhibition at Hankyung Gallery in Seoul until Oct. 3. The exhibition showcases 30 pieces, including lacquer paintings, inlaid mother-of-pearl wall hangings and craftworks. Kim has taken a fresh approach to traditional Korean lacquer and mother-of-pearl art. His lacquer paintings have vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and blues ― unusual colors for traditional black lacquerwar

Sept. 23, 2014

[Herald Interview] Making art available to anyone

The Internet has reshaped our daily life in almost every aspect. And it has been redefining the traditional art viewing experience, too. To view masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” the Louvre is not the place to be anymore. The painting can be viewed on a personal computer, without having to pay thousands of dollars on an overseas trip. The Google Art Project, launched in 2011, has enabled art lovers around the world to view masterpieces without visiting actual museums and art

Sept. 22, 2014

Doug E. Fresh highlights hip-hop awards

ATLANTA (AP) ― With a picture of his mother on a large screen behind him, Doug E Fresh struggled to complete his sentence. The rapper dubbed “The Human Beat Box” choked up and shed tears as he received the “I Am Hip-Hop Award” at the ninth BET Hip-Hop Awards on Saturday.Fresh eventually told the crowd that his mother, who had Alzheimer’s disease, died five months ago.“I have to acknowledge her,” Fresh said at the taped award show at the Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center. “I want to thank t

Sept. 22, 2014

Seoul gears up for MU:CON 2014

MU:CON Seoul on Monday announced this year’s lineup of 45 music acts, including 29 Korean teams, which will get the much-coveted chance to showcase their music during the three-day international music fair to be held here next month. Some 70 music industry gurus from the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere are to attend the conference which will take place in Seoul’s Itaewon area from Oct. 6-8. “It’s the third year for MU:CON. I hope that this year MU:CON takes it up a notch and firmly establishes itse

Sept. 22, 2014

Italian conductor Muti quits Rome Opera

ROME (AFP) ― Italian conductor Riccardo Muti has thrown in the towel as the primary conductor of the Rome Opera after six years, amid funding problems and strikes, Italy’s media reported Sunday.“The conditions are lacking to ensure the necessary serenity to my leading successful productions,” Muti said in a letter published by the media, which said he had pulled out of planned productions of Verdi’s “Aida” and Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro.”The 73-year-old said he made the decision to pull ou

Sept. 22, 2014

‘Nearly empty’ Picasso museum opens in Paris

PARIS (AP) ― Paris’ Picasso museum is reopening for two days this weekend after five years of closure over a renovation fraught with setbacks, accusations and sackings. But if the public expects art they’ll be disappointed: it’s practically empty. “I will first of all calm your ardor and your enthusiasm ... but you’re going to see nothing. It’s a great disappointment. It’s an empty museum,” Laurent Le Bon, the museum’s president, said during Friday’s preview reception. He has been in the job for

Sept. 21, 2014

Tenacious D to hold Seoul concert

Hollywood actor Jack Black, best known for his role as Dewey Finn in the blockbuster hit “School of Rock,” will be in Seoul this winter for a concert with his notoriously humorous band, Tenacious D. Tenacious D, with Black on lead vocals and guitar and his long-time friend Kyle Gass on guitar, is slated to perform two live shows at Seoul Olympic Park’s Olympic Hall on Dec. 5 and 6. It will be the American rock duo’s first performance in Korea. The two formed the band in Los Angeles in 1994, but

Sept. 21, 2014

Eyelike: BANKS‘ luxurious vocals propel debut

BANKS‘ luxurious vocals propel debutBANKS“Goddess”(Harvest)The debut album “Goddess” from Los Angeles-based singer BANKS spells trouble for a lot of people. Namely, anyone she opens for on tour and anyone who passed on signing her to their label.Jillian Banks sings that good and “Goddess” is easily and suddenly one of the best albums of the year.Her luster-tinged voice is mature beyond her 26 years and it’s soulful and heart-wrenching in all the right places. Her pitch-perfect highs and husky wh

Sept. 19, 2014

Art fair to highlight Southeast Asian artists

The Korea International Art Fair, the biggest in South Korea, will kick off Thursday, introducing works by leading contemporary artists, especially emerging artists from Southeast Asia. The art fair brings together 186 galleries from 22 countries, which will present some 3,500 pieces of art by 900 artists. Some leading galleries participating in the art fair include Kukje Gallery and Arario Gallery, Pyo Gallery and Hakgojae in Korea and Bicha Gallery in London, VT Art Salon in Taipei and DIE Gal

Sept. 19, 2014

[Herald Review] ‘Mupung’: Tradition lives on with all-female troupe

The sounds of culture, a dance of beauty and an exhibition of strength ― the National Theatre of Korea’s production of “Mupung” harnesses the tradition of “nongak” through a troupe of female performers. “Nongak” is referred to as traditional Korean farmer’s music, which nowadays is mainly done as performance art. In the 1950s and ’60s, before the television became the main source of entertainment, touring all-female nongak troupes enjoyed huge popularity in Korea. But their era ended in 1979, wi

Sept. 18, 2014

[Herald Review] Warriors battle in fantasy realm in ‘Tournament’

A battle of warriors hoping to reach the thrones of heaven and rise up against the guardians who stand in their way take the stage in the National Theater of Korea’s upcoming modern dance production of “Tournament.” The imaginative storyline of the dance piece is the lovechild of Yun Sung-joo, director of “The Scent of Ink,” and Ahn Sung-soo, choreographer of “Altar.” With Yun taking charge of the powerful, martial arts-inspired choreography of the male warriors, and Ahn taking the reins of the

Sept. 18, 2014

‘Dansaekhwa’ under global spotlight

In the 1960s and 1970s, some Korean artists took on different painting methods. Instead of applying paint to canvas, they pushed thick paint from the back of the canvas, applied paint with a finger, or sprayed water onto the canvas surface. Suppressed by the military-backed government, the artists sought to explore a deeper part of their mind through repetitive, performative painting. Criticized by their contemporary peers for turning away from reality, the artists continued to develop an abstra

Sept. 17, 2014

‘Conducting is sharing musical thoughts’

“Conducting is a ridiculous technique,” maestro Chung Myung-whun told a young man standing with a baton, looking tense and serious, in front of members of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Saturday morning. “Anyone in this room can learn how to do it after just a one-minute lesson.”Chung then started drawing the shape of a box in the air with one hand, counting from one to four. “This is how easy it is.” From this simple technique, conductors have to develop their own way to musically communic

Sept. 14, 2014