London’s Tate Modern museum expands horizons

LONDON (AFP) – London’s Tate Modern museum will this week unveil a vast pyramidal extension providing extra gallery space for the millions of guests who pour through its doors each year.The modern art museum has been a roaring success since it opened in 2000, with more than 5 million people now annually visiting the former power station, whose silhouette looms over the south bank of the River Thames.This is more than twice the number of visitors originally planned, leaving gallery-goers jostling

June 15, 2016

Big Bang’s 'Loser' MV records 100 million views

Big Bang, an award-winning K-pop boy band, hit 100 million YouTube views with “Loser,” the group’s agency YG Entertainment announced Tuesday.　By Tuesday morning, the music video recorded 100,002,839 views on YouTube. The group became the first K-pop outfit to have four music videos surpassing 100 million views on YouTube. “Fantastic Baby,” “Bang Bang Bang,” and “Good Boy” by its subgroup GD&Taeyang, are the three other music videos with over 100 million views. A still from Big Bang’s “Loser” mus

June 14, 2016

Ditto Festival to push the limits with homage to Beethoven

The annual Ditto Festival is returning for its 10th season backed by its founder and music director, violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, who says this year’s festivities are all about paying homage to one of the heroes of humanity with its theme “Beethoven: Beyond the Limits.”　The Ditto Festival officially opened its curtains on Sunday with a special performance by Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer and French pianist Lucas Debargue during the duo’s Asia Tour, marking the first recital program Kremer h

June 13, 2016

Street music, K-pop and programmed busking

While the tradition of busking -- performing music outdoors for passersby -- is appreciated as a spontaneous display of creativity unique to indie musicians, a growing number of K-pop groups are straying from the confines of their scrupulously set stages to roam the streets. 　Live outdoor performances allow management-led singers to show off their talents, display a more carefree side, stripped of K-pop’s notoriously choreographed stage sequences, and bond with the crowd. In addition, with live

June 13, 2016

Piano star Tharaud finds freedom in saying no

NEW YORK (AFP) - What makes a great musician? Passion and practice, most would agree. Acclaimed French pianist Alexandre Tharaud would add another vital trait -- knowing when to take a break.Tharaud took a rare step for a top-level classical musician of stepping away from concerts for nearly a year as he devoted himself to Bach’s famously challenging Goldberg Variations.“It is very important to be able to say no. In this profession you can easily perform constantly. But what would be the point?”

June 13, 2016

4Minute disbands after 7 years

K-pop girl group 4Minute may not stay together when the members’ contracts with agency Cube Entertainment end around mid-June, local media reported Monday, quoting industry insiders.Only Kim Hyun-a, better known by her stage name HyunA, has renewed her contract, as the other bandmates are still discussing whether to renew or leave the agency.“Each member has a different career goal in mind and it was considered difficult to remain a team,” said the industry insider.News of the group’s possible d

June 13, 2016

Summer exhibitions highlight 20th century masters

Seoul abounds each summer in exhibitions of work by Western art masters, which often become crowded with not only the usual art lovers but families with children visiting museums and galleries as part of school assignments. This year, key figures of 20th century are highlights of the city’s art calendar.　Starting with the ongoing show of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the Seoul Arts Center, big names that represent major 20th art movements such as Salvador Dali, Marc Chagall, Bernard Buffet and

June 12, 2016

JYJ's Junsu vows uncompromising album

Junsu of Korean pop trio JYJ said Saturday he is not afraid of going against the seasonal trends of the K-pop market, since making a unique album is the only way he can match his fans’ support.“Every time I release an album, I try to differentiate it from my previous albums, and stay away from putting up similar work with slightly different songs,” he said during a news conference for his fourth and latest full-length album “XIGNATURE.”“Showing different performances in different work is my way

June 12, 2016

iKON wraps up tour in China

 K-pop boy band iKON finished the Chinese leg of its Asia tour with a concert in Shanghai on Saturday.　The group kicked off its Asia tour with a concert in Taiwan on April 22, followed by concerts in Hong Kong on May 7, Cheongdu on May 14, Nanjing on May 21, and Shenzhen on June 3.　At “iKONCERT 2016 ‘Showtime Tour’ in Shanghai” held at the Grand Stage in Shanghai, the group presented their hit songs, including “Rhythm Ta” and “Dumb&Dumber,” as well as performing “My Type,” “Apology” and “Airplan

June 12, 2016

Producer Yoo lauds Lee Jin-ah’s ‘genius’

When Lee Jin-ah came on singing audition program “K-pop Star” two years ago, the panel, consisting of famed music producers Yang Hyun-seok, Park Jin-young and Yoo Hee-yeol, unanimously praised the squeaky-voiced, piano-playing contestant as a “genius” so far not seen in the K-pop world.　While many viewers agreed, others were baffled: What was so special about the then-23-year-old girl whose self-written tunes resembled children’s songs and whose vocals sounded infantile?　Producer Yoo, who heads

June 10, 2016

[Weekender] Festival fever

The summer has already begun, and the festival season is just around the corner.A host of summer-getaway activities await to help you soak in the sun and cool off from the heat. The festivities range from shooting water guns and throwing mud to enjoying a diverse selection of food or taking part in explosive sing-along music parties.Water festivals Water fights have recently become popular summer festivities in Korea, but those looking for more diverse activities can muddy the waters in Boryeong

June 10, 2016