Singer-songwriter Lee Juck returns with ‘The Meaning of Solitude’

Nearly three years after the release of his last album, popular ballad singer-songwriter Lee Juck has returned to the music scene with the release of his fifth studio album, “The Meaning of Solitude.” The entire 10-track album was written and composed by the artist and features the sweet and soulful melodies that fans have come to expect from the singer; however, this time around, Lee has also decided to delve into new waters by taking on a number of hip-hop and even club-style tracks in keeping

Nov. 14, 2013

‘Infinite Challenge’ stops sales of song over plagiarism claims

MBC has stopped sales of “I Got C,” a song featured on the entertainment show “Infinite Challenge” that is in hot water over plagiarism claims.The broadcaster said it reached the decision to stop all sales of the song with Amoeba Culture Entertainment, which represents the hip-hop producer Primary, until the issue is settled. It said it would stop selling the CDs, which feature other songs made for the show, after Nov. 15 in a banner message on its website. The decision was made as the controver

Nov. 14, 2013

Korea National Ballet’s ‘Carmen’ gets Chinese premiere

BEIJING ― Just a year after the National Ballet of China had the Korean premiere of its staple repertoire “Raise the Red Lantern,” its Korean counterpart ― the Korea National Ballet ― premiered its rendition of French choreographer Roland Petit’s (1924-2011) “Carmen” and “The Woman of Arles” in China on Tuesday. The performance took place as part of China’s on-going, inaugural International Ballet Season, hosted by the National Ballet of China in Beijing. The ballet bash features dances by 12 co

Nov. 13, 2013

Ticket sales start for Kissin’s 2014 concert

On April 8, 2006 at Seoul Arts Center, the classical music hall was alive with rapturous applause. More than 30 curtain calls were made, with the audience roaring as if they were cheering a rock star. It was the first Seoul recital by child prodigy-turned-mega pianist Evgeny Kissin. The then 34-year-old Russian responded by turning up for each curtain call and giving more than 10 encore performances, extending the concert’s finishing time to near midnight. The fervor was repeated in 2009, when 2

Nov. 13, 2013

Francis Bacon painting sets new $142.4 million art record

NEW YORK (AFP) ― A work by British painter Francis Bacon was sold for $142.4 million in New York on Tuesday, smashing the world record for the most expensive piece of art ever auctioned.“Three Studies of Lucian Freud” by the 20th-century figurative artist, who lived from 1909 to 1992, was sold by Christie’s after being offered at auction for the first time.“The work was sold for $142,405,000, after six minutes of fierce bidding in the room and on the phone,” Christie’s announced.Hammered to an o

Nov. 13, 2013

XIA Junsu to open Jeju hotel in March

Hallyu star Kim Junsu, also referred to as XIA Junsu, has reportedly invested approximately 12.9 billion won ($12 million) in his soon-to-be-opened, 80,000-square-foot family hotel on Jejudo Island. Kim’s Jeju Toscana Family Hotel, which will be operated and managed by his father, is a large-scale resort-style hotel located in the Gangjeong-dong, Seogwipo area of the island and will include 65 guest rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, caf, spa, seminar room and other facilities. Kim sta

Nov. 13, 2013

‘Phantom’ to capture ears and hearts in Daegu

“The Phantom of the Opera,” the musical that has enchanted 130 million people around the world, will be staged in Daegu in February next year in a rare opporunity for regional audiences to witness the original cast. The original cast members of the full-scale production will visit Daegu Gemyung Art Center on Feb. 27 as part of their world tour commemorating the show’s successful 25-year run. The cast includes Broadway stars such as Brad Little playing the role of the Phantom, Claire Lyon as Chri

Nov. 13, 2013

Kim Jae-joong to meet Japanese fans at solo concert

Kim Jae-joong, a member of boy group JYJ, will kick off his solo concert in Yokohama, Japan, on Friday. The concert is part of the “2013 Kim Jae Joong 1st Album Asia Tour,” which started in Seoul on Nov. 2 after he released his first full-length album “WWW: Who, When, Why” on Oct. 29. As soon as the album was unveiled, it ranked first on Japanese music charts including Japan Tower Records’ daily chart and iTunes charts in Japan.  “The album is gaining more popularity than we expected as it cons

Nov. 13, 2013

Portrait master takes on new styles

Artist Kang Hyung-koo is best known for hyper realistic portraits of iconic figures such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Van Gogh and Andy Warhol. The celebrity images have grown so popular overseas that Kang has set several auction records: his “Vincent Van Gogh in Blue” sold for $587,240, eight times the lowest estimated sales price, at Christie’s Hong Kong sale in 2007. His “Monroe in Green” was auctioned for three times the lowest estimate in May this year. In the upcoming Christie’s Hong

Nov. 12, 2013

American pianist Ronn Branton talks Seoul jazz scene

When American jazz musician Ronn Branton was a young boy, he heard his neighbor’s father playing Chopin and Liszt on the piano. At that moment he said to himself, “I want to write music like that.” After instantly falling in love with the sound of the piano, he desperately tried to learn how to write music, practicing six hours a day to the point where even his own mother would ask him to quit playing. However, the young artist’s love of music never died and Branton ended up studying music throu

Nov. 12, 2013

Inaugural exhibitions of MMCA Seoul present latest in contemporary art

The latest trends and forms of contemporary art will go on display starting Wednesday at the newly opened Seoul branch of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. The museum, located in the heart of Seoul next to Gyeongbokgung Palace, is marking its opening in a big way, presenting five exhibitions that encompass diverse forms of contemporary art in exhibition spaces that measure a total of 10,450 square meters. “The new museum has set its role as a comprehensive museum integra

Nov. 11, 2013

Simon Rattle on contemporary music and future

There is no doubt that Sir Simon Rattle is the Midas of the classical music circle. He invigorated the British regional City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and raised its name to an international level. Most recently, he has expanded the musical realm of the Berliner Philharmoniker since becoming its chief conductor and artistic director in 2002. From Bach to the contemporary Bruckner and Pierre Boulez, the maestro, who is said to “know what and why of the orchestra,” has brought a breath of f

Nov. 11, 2013

Lady Gaga takes flight with ‘Artpop’ global release

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Multi-platinum selling diva Lady Gaga took off in a custom-made flying dress to proclaim a new cultural revolution for Monday’s global launch of her third album, greeted by mixed reviews.Fighting to retain her “Queen of Pop” crown, Gaga strapped herself into the fly suit, clamped on a helmet and wearing little else but a cut-out black leotard and knee-high sparkly white stiletto boots, took off and propelled through the air at a press conference in a Brooklyn warehouse.“Artpop”

Nov. 11, 2013

Netizens cracking down on plagiarism scandals plaguing K-pop world

The recent charges of plagiarism involving local hip-hop artist Primary has brought the Korean music industry’s notorious past and ongoing allegations of plagiarism to the fore.Many are now questioning how these accusations will impact the future of the industry. Thanks to the infinite capabilities of the Internet, netizens have been exposing supposed plagiarism.“As bad as an accusation of plagiarism can be, the resolution of plagiarism in Korea might actually be far worse,” said one industry in

Nov. 11, 2013

Primary plagiarism scandal escalates

The controversy surrounding alleged plagiarism by celebrated hip-hop artist Primary is escalating as listeners find more similarities between Primary’s songs and the creations of David Schreurs, a producer for Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald. Accusations of plagiarism surfaced earlier this month with the release of “I Got C,” which Primary produced with comedian Park Myung-soo for the popular MBC entertainment program “Infinite Challenge.” The song topped most of the major music charts in Korea.

Nov. 10, 2013

Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra to honor Galileo with authentic period music

There may be many ways to honor Galileo Galilei’s (1564-1642) contributions to the study of the heavens, and listening to classical music under the stars seems to be a very romantic and fitting one.In fact, Galileo was a true music lover, with his father being a respected lute player-composer and his brother and nephew both famous musicians of their times. Since 2009, the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s improvement of telescopes, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra from Canada has been creating a sensat

Nov. 10, 2013

Noise Mob proves hip-hop is not just about Seoul

This is the 14th in a series on producers, MCs, DJs and artists working in the Korean underground hip-hop scene. Ary Kim contributed to this article. ― Ed.While hip-hop culture in Korea might have hit its stride in the capital city of Seoul, Minos of rap duo Noise Mob said that only when people start supporting the local scenes all over the country will hip-hop have set its foundation.“You have to perform in Seoul to actually say that you’ve made it, but then, people in the local scenes ― in the

Nov. 10, 2013