Dazzling German concert hall premieres to standing ovation

HAMBURG (AFP) -- Germany late Wednesday opened a spectacular concert house in Hamburg to the strains of Beethoven and Wagner that has been touted as a new global attraction, albeit after a cost explosion.Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck joined 2,100 guests at the inaugural concert under tight security in the grand hall of the Elbphilharmonie, which has electrified critics with its audacious design and world-class acoustics.The three-hour-long program met with a long standing

Jan. 13, 2017

Sistar’s Hyolyn to perform at SXSW

Hyolyn of the Korean girl group Sistar will have a showcase at this year’s South by Southwest festival, according organizers Thursday.On its website, SXSW included Hyolyn among its newly announced artist lineup, describing her as the “Korean Beyonce.”Launched in 1987, SXSW is an annual collective showcase of film, music and interactive media held every March in Austin, Texas. This year’s festival will run from March 10-19.SXSW highlighted Hyolyn’s career outside of South Korea, citing her perfor

Jan. 13, 2017

[Video] ‘The King’ delves into mania of power and corruption: Herald Review

What is it like for a person of power to live in Korean society?Apparently, it’s like being royalty, according to director Han Jae-rim’s latest flick “The King.”From childhood, protagonist Park Tae-su yearned for power. He reigned over fellow students with his fist before he caught a glimpse of what he called “real power” -- the sight of his thug father being beaten up by a pencil-neck prosecutor. It was then that he decided to pursue a career in law.Park soon realizes that real power comes at a

Jan. 12, 2017

Jun Joon-hyuk joins Britain's Royal Ballet, its 1st Korean ballerino

Jun Joon-hyuk will join Britain's Royal Ballet in August, becoming the first Korean ballerino to become a member of the prestigious group of dancers, he said Wednesday."I officially got the offer from Kevin O'Hare, director of the ballet company on Tuesday afternoon (British local time)," the 19-year-old ballerino told Yonhap News Agency by telephone. "I'm still thrilled because it's something that I have dreamed of for a long time."He will join in late August, about a month after he graduates f

Jan. 11, 2017

France blocks sale of rare Da Vinci ‘Saint Sebastian’

PARIS (AFP) -- France has deemed a newfound Leonardo da Vinci sketch to be a national treasure and now has 30 months to raise 15 million euros ($15.8 million) to purchase it, an auction house said Tuesday.The Renaissance master’s dreamily sensual sketch of Saint Sebastian was classified as a French national treasure on Dec. 29, Tajan auctioneers in Paris said during an unveiling of the work to the press.The French government has a “right of pre-emption” under which it has 30 months to purchase i

Jan. 11, 2017

‘A designer’s designer’: NY exhibit showcases Chareau

NEW YORK (AP) -- More than a decade before Philip Johnson designed his iconic Glass House, French designer and architect Pierre Chareau designed the Maison de Verre in 1932 in Paris. It featured one of the world’s first glass-brick exterior walls -- three stories high. Chareau’s work straddles industrial aesthetics and traditional fine craftsmanship, clean spare lines and playful 1920s whimsy. He made futuristic gadgets like folding staircases, a pivoting bidet and sliding walls. His furniture,

Jan. 11, 2017

Miss A's Suzy unveils track list for solo debut

Move over Big Bang, Suzy is about to drop a bomb.The singer unveiled Wednesday the list of tracks for her upcoming album “Yes? No?” which will be the first solo album for MissA’s youngest member. The album, to be released on Jan. 24, will feature six songs, including the main track “Yes No Maybe.”  Suzy’s official Facebook pageAccording to Suzy’s agency JYP Entertainment, the song was inspired by a personal conversation between the 23-year-old and Park Jin-young, the singer-producer CEO of JYP E

Jan. 11, 2017

K-pop stars return from military service, top actors enlist

This year will see the return of K-pop idols as they complete their compulsory military service. Kim Hyun-joong of SS501 will be discharged on Feb. 11, while his bandmate Park Jung-min will leave the Army on July 1. Both members of TVXQ will return to civilian life this year -- Yunho on April 20 and Changmin on Aug. 18. Yoochun of JYJ is also scheduled to be discharged from the military on Aug. 26.Eunhyuk, Donghae, and Siwon of Super Junior will be discharged on July 12, July 14 and Aug. 18, res

Jan. 10, 2017

Twice to hold first individual concert next month

South Korean girl group Twice will hold its first individual concert ever in February, its management agency said Tuesday.The "Twice Land - The Opening" concert will take place at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park from Feb. 17-19, JYP Entertainment said. (JYP Entertainment)After the concert, the girls will embark on an overseas tour whose schedule has yet to be announced.Debuting in October 2015 with "Like OOH-AHH," Twice has swept local music charts with "Cheer Up" and "TT."

Jan. 10, 2017

g.o.d. celebrates 18 years with concert

Boy band g.o.d., which debuted in 1999, held the Seoul leg of its “2017 g.o.d. to Men” concert tour at the Jamsil Sports Complex’s Jamsil Arena on Jan. 6-8.The boy group, marking its 18th anniversary this year, performed a wide selection of the group’s past hits, including “Friday Night,” “Lies,” “One Candle,” “Road” and “Dear Mother” alongside a live session band.Some 20,000 people attended the concerts held over three days, according to reports, who sang along with the veteran band.g.o.d. will

Jan. 9, 2017

Big Bang goes out with bang

Determined to bid what the group has called a temporary farewell in typical Big Bang fashion, the iconic K-pop boy band went all out in every aspect -- fashion, sound, performance, camera work and stage design -- at its final concerts in Seoul this past weekend.Some 64,000 flocked to the “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concerts, held at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul on Saturday and Sunday, according to YG Entertainment -- many from overseas. The shows marked the last installation in Big Bang’s 10-year-

Jan. 9, 2017

Over 60,000 gather at Big Bang’s farewell concerts

K-pop group Big Bang held what could be its last concert for several years to come on Saturday and Sunday.A total of 64,000 fans flocked to the Gocheock Sky Dome in Seoul over two days, according to YG Entertainment, many from overseas, to witness the “0 To 10 Final in Seoul” concert. The show is the last installment of the 10-year-anniversary project Big Bang has been showcasing since last year.A gigantic pyramid lift has been installed onstage to offer dynamic stage settings.   Big Bang perfor

Jan. 8, 2017

January sees flood of new K-pop artists

The K-pop scene is set for a competitive year with numerous newcomers debuting this month and more planning to follow suit throughout the year. INA, a KBS “Gag Concert” comedian, released her first digital single “Rainbow” on Tuesday. This was followed by TopSecret, a seven-member group, which released its mini album “Time‘s Up” on Wednesday. Multinational 12-member group Varsity became the first group to debut this year, releasing its single album “ROUND ONE” on Thursday. (PLEDIS Ent./WM Ent./H

Jan. 8, 2017

Renee Fleming focusing future on new work

NEW YORK (AP) -- Renee Fleming’s new recording out Friday, “Distant Light,” features a work by Samuel Barber along with pieces by Swedish composer Anders Hillborg and -- surprisingly -- Bjork. With her 58th birthday approaching on Feb. 14, Fleming’s performances in Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” this month at London’s Royal Opera and at the Met this spring could be her last in the standard repertoire.  Soprano Renee Fleming (Timothy White/ Decca)“I haven’t found too many things that are ap

Jan. 8, 2017

Ailee makes US debut with new stage name

Singer Ailee made her US debut Saturday under the new stage name A.Leean. (Official Page of Ailee Japan)The artist’s first American debut single, titled “Fall Back,” was released through www.nimbit.com on Saturday.“A.Leean already has a large fan base and has performed at concerts all around the world, including South Korea,” said WestSide Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based music label and management company, a day ahead of the debut, without identifying Ailee. The company also released a teaser

Jan. 8, 2017

Lim Chang-jung ties knot for second time

Singer Lim Chang-jung on Friday tied the knot with a woman 18 years his junior and pregnant with his child.Their wide age gap inevitably drew criticism, in a country where May-December relationships are still largely uncommon.Now declared husband and wife, Lim’s bride is five months pregnant and due in May.  Lim Chang-jung (NH Entertainment Media Group)Their wedding was a quiet one, held privately at The Raum wedding hall in Gangnam in the presence of only the couple’s close friends and family.

Jan. 6, 2017

Mortified Mariah Carey discusses ‘horrible New Year’s Eve’

Mariah Carey says she was “mortified” in “real time” during her disastrous live performance moments before the ball dropped on ABC’s “Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve.”Carey spoke to Entertainment Weekly in her first interview since the show in which she stumbled through her songs. At many points she stopped singing, even while a prerecorded vocal track played in the background.Carey’s publicist blamed show producer Dick Clark Productions earlier this week for not addressing technical difficu

Jan. 6, 2017