One of the common notions among the public, including classical music lovers, is that contemporary classical music is inaccessible. Every year hundreds of composers release new pieces but hardly a dozen get a chance to be performed on stage. Chin Un-suk, composer-in-residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, said this was because universities and institutions had been “rolling out” composers while the public was yet to even understand the concept of contemporary classical music. “Only a smal

April 10, 2013

The “space of otherness” is what iconoclastic choreographer William Forsythe is bringing to Korea this week with the Korean stage debut of his 2006 work “Heterotopia.”A site-specific dance which requires the audience to move between two rooms on stage, “Heterotopia” explores the theme of language and its interpretation, as well as the meaning of theater as a space. The title of Forsythe’s work is derived from French philosopher Michel Foucalt’s essay “Des Espaces Autres,” which uses the term “He

April 10, 2013

Although Psy’s local agency YG Entertainment had previously announced that the rapper’s upcoming single would be released exclusively in Korea on April 12 ― a day before it was to be unveiled globally during a concert ― it has now been confirmed that “Gentleman” will be available worldwide on Friday. The “Gangnam Style” follow-up single will be released at midnight in 119 countries via local Korean music sites as well as iTunes. The global star completed the music video shoot for “Gentleman” on

April 10, 2013

The annual summer K-pop concert event series known as the “Dream Concert” is back once again with this year’s show slated to feature some of the biggest names in the K-pop industry. This year’s 19th annual Dream Concert lineup will showcase 21 acts: Girls’ Generation, SHINee, Infinite, Kara, B2st, T-ara, Sistar, 2AM, 4minute, Secret, U-Kiss, ZE:A, EXO, B1A4, Rainbow, Huh Gak, Girls Day, Speed, BTOB, EvoL and VIXX. The Dream Concert series is one of the largest K-pop music festivals events of the

April 10, 2013

BRUSSELS (AP) ― The Antwerp Royal Museum of Fine Arts has put those big, bold Baroque works of its famous son Peter Paul Rubens into hiding ― if only for a renovation.Just as the famous Amsterdam Rijksmuseum in neighboring Netherlands has returned “The Night Watch’’ of its most famous painter, Rembrandt van Rijn, back in the main building after a ten-year renovation, Antwerp is hiding five oversized Rubens paintings in a special depot to protect them against the rough and tumble of four more yea

April 9, 2013

Singer, fashion icon and animal rights activist Lee Hyori will be releasing her fifth studio album after a three-year hiatus from the music scene. The yet-to-be-titled album is scheduled to be unveiled sometime in mid-May and the lead track of the upcoming release has been reported to be a dance track. Lee’s fifth album will be her first since “H-Logic,” which was riddled with controversy due to plagiarism accusations that prevented her from fully promoting the release. The album was released in

April 9, 2013

Ga-in, a member of K-pop girl group Brown Eyed Girls, and Jo Hyung-woo, who made his name through MBC’s “Birth of a Star,” have released a collaboration album titled “Spring Romantic” on Monday.In the mini album, they offer four songs set in the atmosphere of spring, featuring their perfectly matched voices.The mini album marks a new beginning for Jo, who gained the media spotlight when he competed in popular audition program “Birth of a Star 1” two years ago. The singers, both aged 27, played

April 9, 2013

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia (AP) ― A federal judge will seek to unravel an art mystery and determine the rightful owner of a napkin-sized painting by French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir that a Virginia woman says she bought at a flea market for $7.The ownership is in dispute after documents were uncovered showing a Baltimore museum reported the painting stolen more than 60 years ago.The painting has been seized by the FBI, and the federal government filed an action last month in U.S. District Co

April 8, 2013

Seoul’s Gangdong Arts Center, one of the major venues for dance, is holding its annual festival featuring a total of 19 works of diverse genres ― including ballet, modern, and traditional Korean dance.The festival celebrates its second edition this year, featuring the works of more than 45 local dance companies. The participating troupes include the Universal Ballet Company, Kook Soo-ho’s Didim Dance Company and the Seoul Ballet Theatre.Three performances open this year’s edition. One of the thr

April 8, 2013

What do some of the best-known modern abstract artists such as Willem de Kooning, Hans Hartung and Cy Twombly have in common? The contemporaries who left a significant impact on abstract art found their artistic motivation in Eastern calligraphy. Calligraphic expressions inspired American artist Twombly, whose works feature freely scribbled, calligraphic-style drawings; Hans Hartung works are largely defined with bold brushstrokes; and de Kooning works were an extension of lines. The paintings o

April 8, 2013

The brother-sister duo Akdong Musician’s Lee Soo-hyun and Lee Chan-hyuk have battled their way to victory by beating out all the competition and winning the second season of the singing survival audition program “K-pop Star 2.” The final showdown of the competition came down to the wire with the duo battling out again the gifted 10-year-old performer Bang Ye-dam. The contestants’ final challenges were to perform a song that had previously been performed by the opposing contestant as well as a so

April 8, 2013

Kim Jae-joong from JYJ had a successful solo concert in Nanjing, China, on Saturday. Nanjing was the fifth stop in Kim’s Asia tour marking the release of his first solo album. He has already performed in Seoul, Bangkok, Shanghai and Hong Kong.At Nanjing Olympic Sports Center, Kim performed “One Kiss” from his first solo album and some classic K-pop numbers including “For You” by Yim Jae-beom. Kim’s 4,000 fans sang the chorus during his performance of “I Will Protect You.”In addition to his solo

April 8, 2013

G-Dragon from Big Bang continued his successful solo world tour “One of a Kind” on Saturday, attracting 50,000 fans to Fukuoka Dome in Japan. The concert kicked off with his latest single, “Michi Go,” followed by “Heartbreaker” and “One of a Kind.”Another member of Big Bang, Tae Yang, performed as a guest star presenting his solo piece “Break Down.” Tae Yang also featured G-Dragon during the performance of “Bad Boy” as an encore piece. “It was raining and the wind was blowing hard outside, yet h

April 8, 2013

Artist Chang Hwa-jin finds inspiration in modern buildings and the memories they hold.Watching the Japanese General Government Building being demolished in 1996, he began to pay attention to the historical modern buildings that were once center of key events in Korea’s tumultuous modern history.What remained in the memories of people came alive through Chang’s recreations of modern historical buildings in installations and paintings at his first solo exhibition held in nine years at Kumho Art Mu

April 7, 2013

The annual Seoul Theater Festival unveiled its line-up for this year’s edition, featuring a number of works delving into socially-conscious subject matters including bullying, poverty, and the experiences of migrant women. First established in 1979, the performing arts bash celebrates its 34th anniversary this year. A total of eight works have been included in its official line-up this year, while 36 works have been featured in four different unofficial sections.Among the eight works in the offi

April 7, 2013

Pop diva Insooni will open an alternative school for children from multicultural families in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province on Thursday. “Insooni and Good People,” a foundation represented by the 56-year-old singer, will hold an opening ceremony for the boarding school named “Hae Mil School,” meaning “clear sky after the rain” in Korean, according to Gangwon Provincial Office of Education on Sunday. “There are many multicultural children losing their way. I hope the school will play a role in settl

April 7, 2013