The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will be celebrating the upcoming 71st anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan with a free public performance. This year’s performance will be held at Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, where guests can enjoy the music in an open field.Conducted by Choi Soo-yeoul, the orchestra will open the concert with the Korean national anthem, followed by popular works by well-known composers and musicians, including Bruch, Mozart and Brahms. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will be ac

Aug. 10, 2016

Buying art isn’t as easy as buying books or movie tickets. Even if you fall in love with a piece of art at an exhibition, taking it home could turn out to be the priciest decision you ever make. Fearing shrinking art sales and the domination of the art market by super-rich collectors, the art world is coming up with ways to make art more accessible to a wider audience and to attract art lovers to experience buying artworks. The Affordable Art Fair Seoul, the Korean edition of the London-based gl

Aug. 10, 2016

Actor and singer Jang Keun-suk released a single in Japan on Wednesday, according to his public relations agency Y Tree Company. Titled “Darling Darling,” this is Jang’s first release in Japan in five years since hit song “Let Me Cry.” Jang plans to unveil two additional singles in the next two months. “My new song captures how I feel when I meet my fans,” said the 28-year-old in a statement.   An established solo artist in Japan, Jang has released one single and three full-length studio albums

Aug. 10, 2016

YG Entertainment has finally launched a new K-pop group, following its debut of 2NE1 seven years ago.  The four-member group BlackPink made its official debut Monday with the electronic dance music songs “Whistle” and “Boombaya,” which are part of its single album “Square One.”In less than a day, the two debut tracks not only dominated local music charts, but also topped those in Hong Kong, Finland and Indonesia, among other countries. Within two hours of their release, music videos for the song

Aug. 9, 2016

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) -- Dozens of paintings and other works of art from the estate of comedian Garry Shandling will be offered for sale at a show in New Mexico this week.Organizers of the annual Objects of Art Santa Fe say this will be the first public viewing of Shandling’s collection, which includes Navajo rugs, Southwest furniture and pieces by Mexican artists Francisco Zuniga and Alfredo Ramos Martinez.More than 40 of Shandling’s personal pieces from his California home will be offer

Aug. 9, 2016

Crowned the “King of Opera,” the legendary Placido Domingo will make his way to Korea this October in what is being billed as the 75-year-old’s last performance here.The 12-time Grammy-Award winner was one of the original Three Tenors and is inarguably among the greatest operatic artists of modern times. Domingo is scheduled to perform at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Concertgoers are going to have to break the bank a little for possibly the last chance to see the legendary

Aug. 9, 2016

Spectrum Dance Music Festival, one of the most-anticipated music events this fall, has announced its performance lineup.Organized by S.M. Entertainment and DreamMaker Entertainment, the festival brings together 64 teams across the genres of K-pop, electronic dance music and hip-hop for a two-day concert. Its lineup includes performance artists from all over the world including K-pop group SHINee, American DJ Kaskade, rapper Zico, Asian-American hip-hop group Far East Movement and Dutch DJ Brenna

Aug. 9, 2016

British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae will hold a solo concert in Seoul in October.Best known for her award-winning song “Put Your Records On,” Rae is returning to Korea less than six months after her performance at the Seoul Jazz Festival in May. She will perform tracks from her third studio album “The Heart Speaks in Whispers” -- her first full-length production in six years after “The Sea.” Released in May, the new album, which has influences from funk and soul, chronicles her journey

Aug. 9, 2016

Rhythm and blues singer J-Yo is debuting as a solo artist under a new stage name: Jero.Jero plans to perform throughout Asia, the U.S., Europe and other places, according to his management agency Echo Global Group on Monday. 　Entertainers including American actor-model Daniel Henney and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” actress Kim Soo-hyun are also signed with Echo Global Group. The global management company additionally partners with music publishing and production company Iconic Sounds, which has wor

Aug. 8, 2016

Rookie K-pop group Cosmic Girls and its management agency Starship Entertainment are under fire after reports that the group trespassed into a natural monument to film an upcoming music video.　Channel A reported on Aug. 6 that an unnamed girl group and its production staff illegally entered the Sinduri Coastal Sand Dune, despite the many warnings from the property manager over a loudspeaker. According to the broadcast report, the group eventually left after police arrived at the scene. 　 It was

Aug. 7, 2016

Just in time for peak summer heat, a new digital art installation at Lotte World in Songpa-gu, Seoul aims to provide visitors a cooling place of refuge. 　Co-organized by teamLab and PCA Kids Korea, the exhibition titled “teamLab World: Dance! Art Museum, Learn & Play Future Park” offers interactive activities designed for people of all ages. 　Set in a spacious 1,700-sqare-meter underground venue, the exhibition is the brainchild of teamLab, a five-year-old Japanese art collective run by graphic

Aug. 7, 2016

PARIS (AFP) -- Researchers used super-X-ray vision to peer beneath the surface of a portrait by impressionist Edgar Degas and gaze upon the model whose likeness he painted over nearly 140 years ago, they reported Thursday.The woman, whose image Degas turned upside down before using it as a base for a new painting, was probably Emma Dobigny -- a favorite model of 19th century French artists, the team announced.“This has been a very exciting discovery,” said David Thurrowgood, conservator at the N

Aug. 7, 2016

According to K-pop group Big Bang, the past decade has been a whirlwind of training, recording, performing and creating. Now, the band members say, they’re able to see the bigger picture. “How to develop our style in the future is one of the biggest things on my mind right now,” said G-Dragon at a press conference celebrating the group’s 10-year anniversary in northeastern Seoul Thursday. “It’s not just about music anymore. I want to do something that can support all the people in Korea and the

Aug. 4, 2016