Life Ball takes flight with swarms of angels, horses

VIENNA (AFP) ― Swarms of angels, flying horses and fantastic birds of paradise converged on Vienna’s neo-Gothic City Hall on Saturday for this year’s Life Ball.In line with this year’s motto ― “Spread the Wings of Tolerance” ― many of the guests to the 19th edition of one of the world’s biggest AIDS charity events let their imaginations take flight with their spectacularly colorful fancy dress.Amo

May 23, 2011

Yim might quit the “Singer” program: report

 Yim Jae-beom might pull out of the popular TV program “I Am a Singer” due to health reasons, a local entertainment news source reported Monday. Yim is expected to express his intention to quit at the pre-recording session of the program scheduled for later Monday and say goodbye to the TV audiences and his fans, according to the report. He may take part in the TV recording, but would not sing on

May 23, 2011

Artist Chun tells story with 100,000 triangles, large and small

One of Korea’s best-selling artists showcases new works at Gallery Hyundai in SeoulA 3.5-meter-tall installation work that looks like the tip of a giant baseball bat looks down on visitors near the entrance of Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. Sure, there are too many giant installation works nowadays to be impressed by size alone. What is awe-inspiring about this one, h

May 22, 2011

Wrestler known as 'Macho Man' dies in Fla. wreck

 Randy "Macho Man" Savage, a larger-than-life personality from professional wrestling's 1980s flying-elbow heyday known for his raspy voice, brash style and the young woman named Miss Elizabeth who often accompanied him, died in a car crash Friday in Florida. He was 58.A Florida Highway Patrol crash report said the former wrestler — whose legal name was Randy Mario Poffo — was driving a Jeep Wrang

May 22, 2011

Highlights

Dance“2011 International Modern Dance Festival”: Organized by the Contemporary Dance Association of Korea, the 30th International Modern Dance Festival is held under the theme “Beauty Beyond Body.” 24 dance teams from seven different countries will showcase their works, including some which minors are not allowed to see. The dance festival runs through May 29 at Korea Performing Arts Center, Noel

May 20, 2011

[Eye-like] Albums

Herbert von Karajan“Karajan 60”Universal MusicUniversal Music‘s Deutsche Grammophon label has released legendary Austrian conductor Herbert von Karajan’s collection of all symphonies performed in the 1960s and recorded in LPs when the conductor was at his pinnacle. The 82-CD collection comes with 319-page booklet explaining von Karajan’s major repertoires in Korean, English and Japanese. Only 3,00

May 20, 2011

Michael Govan dreams big for L.A. County Museum of Art

LOS ANGELES ― Michael Govan, the director of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, crouched in the pit of a stone quarry in Riverside, California Wearing black jeans and a brown sports coat, he dragged a finger through the sandy floor to draw the northern edge of the LACMA campus.On a key spot in his ad-hoc map, he placed a granite stone the size of an orange, meant to represent a rugged 340-ton b

May 19, 2011

Moon Hee-jun meets his lady luck

Former K-pop group leader’s first musical ‘Audition’ brings out his witMoon Hee-jun is one of the latest to join the line of idol stars-turned-musical actors. An official from EDA entertainment, producer of musical “Audition” which Moon is currently starring in, however, hinted that the singer does not like being questioned on the matter. Meeting at Art-one Theater in Daehangro, central Seoul, two

May 19, 2011

‘Be prepared for non-stop rocking experience!’

Maroon 5 says members have yoga session just before going on stageU.S. rock band Maroon 5 is coming to Korea again, three years after being blown away by more than 10,000 Korean fans singing along at their first concert in Seoul in 2008.Led by Adam Levine on lead vocal and rhythm guitar, the five-member group will hold two concerts in Korea ― on May 25 at the Olympic Park Gymnastics Stadium in Seo

May 18, 2011

‘What is important is to make it believable’

Walt Disney’s first Korean character designer talks about realizing his dreamsWearing his hair wavy with hints of gray and silver, Walt Disney Animation Studio’s Character Designer Kim Sang-jin bears a similarity to Flynn Rider, the hero in the popular 3-D animation movie “Tangled.” “I have always liked this hairstyle, so I guess it naturally came across my mind as one of the options when I design

May 17, 2011

Singer Yim Jae-beom hospitalized for appendectomy

Singer Yim Jae-beom hospitalized for appendectomySinger Yim Jae-beom was hospitalized Monday afternoon with appendicitis, according to his agent. Yim Jae-beom (MBC)He is also reported to be wearing a cast on his right hand as an examination at the hospital found his right hand had been fractured for years. Yim has had an appendectomy around 5 p.m. Monday at Seoul Severance Hospital and is recoveri

May 17, 2011

Lady Gaga first to reach 10 million followers on Twitter

Lady Gaga, center, performs on the Main Stage at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, held at Carlisle Airport, Britain Sunday, May 15, 2011. (AP-Yonhap News)WASHINGTON (AFP) - Pop diva Lady Gaga has become the first person with more than 10 million followers on Twitter."@ladygaga just reached 10 million. Wow!" the San Francisco-based micro-blogging service said in a "tweet" on Monday.Lady Gaga had 10.06 mi

May 17, 2011

Charismatic cellist Chung stages Haydn

On Saturday evening at 7 p.m., the Goyang Aram Nuri’s Concert Hall was filled with music lovers anticipating the KBS Symphony Orchestra and veteran cellist Chung Myung-wha’s performance of Haydn.The program was part of the arts center’s seven-year concert series offering diverse symphonic programs from Haydn of the late 18th century to Shostakovich of the 20th century, through 2017.Conductor Chung

May 15, 2011

‘Sanbul’ to relight fire in Koreans’ hearts

South Korean realist play to cherish memory of late scriptwriter Cha Beom-seokIn memory of renowned scriptwriter Cha Beom-seok who passed away five years ago, musical and play producer Seensee Company is staging his signature play, “Sanbul” (Forest Fire) next month. Born in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, in 1924, Cha was one of the first generation post-war scriptwriters and wrote original screenpl

May 15, 2011

Rain talks music and movies, but not military duty

South Korea pop singer and movie star Jung Ji-Hoon, also known as Rain, smiles during a news conference in Macau Saturday, May 14, 2011 as Rain will hold his concert in Macau May 14. (AP-Yonhap News)MACAU (AP) -– In nine years, Rain has gone from an unknown backup dancer to one of Asia‘s hottest stars. The South Korean actor-singer also has two Hollywood movies to his credit.But his thriving enter

May 15, 2011

Highlights

POP MUSIC“Jang Ki-ha and the Faces 2nd Album Concert”: Korean rock band Jang Ki-ha and the Faces will hold a concert on June 17-19 at Ewha Womans University’s Samsung Hall to celebrate the release of their second studio album. The group ― consisting of Jang Ki-ha on vocal, Jeong Jung-yeop on bass, Lee Min-ki on guitar, Kim Hyeon-ho on drums and Lee Jong-min on keyboards ―, released “Cheap Coffee”

May 13, 2011

[Eyelike] New Albums

Suede“The Best of Suede”Warner Music KoreaAlmost everyone in Korea must have hummed the addictive melody “na na na na na na” of “Beautiful Ones” by Brit rock band Suede in the late-’90s. The group’s two-CD best-of album “The Best of Suede,” released May 3, features 35 songs, including “Beautiful Ones,” “Trash,” So Young,” Everything Will Flow” and “Animal Natrate.” Lead singer Brett Anderson selec

May 13, 2011

Art community rallies to Ai Weiwei’s defense

LONDON (AP) ― Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has vanished. But look around, and he seems to be everywhere.More than a month after one of China’s best-known contemporary artist was arrested while trying to board a flight to Hong Kong, his name, his face and his art have popped up across the globe. China’s communist rulers have steadfastly refused to say where Ai is or who’s holding him, but his colleague

May 12, 2011

Can Kim Jun-su draw K-pop crowds again?

All eyes on Kim during rehearsal for ‘Mozart!’ musical starting its second roundNamsan Creative Center in Yejang-dong, central Seoul, was jammed with about 200 people on Wednesday when musical “Mozart!” opened its practice room to press and fans. Though there were no ardent fans screaming or waving placards, it was obvious by the direction the cameras were flashing in that most were there to see o

May 12, 2011