Eyelike

Spektor charms despite missteps on new CDRegina Spektor “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats” (Sire/Warner)From the opening moment of “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats,” Regina Spektor enchants. On the first song, “Small Town Moon,” her beautiful vocal range is buoyed by rock-heavy interludes and coupled with uplifting lyrics that give the song a surprising amount of depth.But there are a couple of missteps that momentarily detract from the album, on which she mines emotional territory covering lov

June 1, 2012

There’s something special about Korean audience, Jason Mraz says

U.S. star to kick off world tour in Korea’s Busan, Nami IslandU.S. singer-songwriter Jason Mraz has chosen Korea to kick off his world tour this year, joining a growing number of world stars including Lady Gaga, who launch their concert tours or world premieres here. Indeed, Korea has long been considered a test-bed for foreign artists and companies making inroads into Asia. Yet, Mraz says he’s coming to Korea first because he found something very special about the audience.“Every time I played

May 31, 2012

HJ Lim reinterprets Beethoven as passionate, extreme revolutionary

25-year-old pianist explores the life of Beethoven by recording his 30 sonatas in a debut albumThe country’s classical music scene was surprised at first when EMI Classics, a major record label, signed an exclusive recording contract with young pianist Lim Hyun-jeong, a first for a Korean artist since pianist Lim Dong-hyek did so 10 years ago.Lim, now backed by the full-fledged support from the international recording company, demonstrated her idiosyncratic interpretation of classical music in S

May 30, 2012

Music and makgeolli festival to take visitors back to ’70s and ’80s

For those who reminisce on the good old ’70s and ’80s, a festival sure to conjure up old memories and exhibit the culture of the time is to be held next month. The music festival “Arirang Fest,” themed around the music of the ’70s and ’80s and makgeolli, one of Korea’s favorite alcoholic beverages, will be held for the first time from June 8-10 at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province.  Well-known singers and bands from the era, including rock singer Kim Jong-seo, band Love and Peace and six other

May 30, 2012

Star Korean dancers’ homecoming

Dancers from Royal Swedish, Tulsa, ABT to perform in Korea in June and JulyKorean dancers currently with acclaimed dance groups around the world are coming home over the summer to show off what they have learned from the international dance scene. A number of Korean dancers active on U.S. and European stages will come together to perform not only classics, but their latest creations at the Korea World Dance Stars Festival 2012. The four-day festival kicks off at Theater Yong of the National Muse

May 29, 2012

Bieber being investigated for battery

Justin Bieber carries Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s title belts into the ring, May 5, 2012, in Las Vegas. (AP)Pop singer Justin Bieber is being investigated for battery after allegedly hitting a paparazzo who tried to take pictures of him, California authorities said.The incident happened Sunday afternoon outside the Calabasas mall The Commons, TMZ.com reported.Police said Bieber and his girlfriend Selen

May 29, 2012

Havana sees U.S. invasion at key art festival

HAVANA (AP) ― Ruben Alpizar never met the American collector who fell in love with his painting of a plummeting Icarus against a starry background, hanging on the wall of a Spanish colonial-era fortress across the bay from Havana. Nor did he get a name or a hometown, or even learn whether the buyer was a man or a woman.It all happened quickly, starting with a phone call from a broker. “How much for the painting? Look, I think somebody wants it. I’ll call you right back.’’ Soon after, the phone r

May 28, 2012

Paik exhibition goes back to the future

Exhibition, symposium and performances to commemorate the artist’s life and worksAs this year marks the late pioneering video artist Paik Nam June’s 80th birthday, a series of events are planned to shed new light on the artist’s life and work.Starting on his birthday, July 20, the Nam June Paik Art Center in Gyeonggi Province plans to hold a special exhibition featuring a rare collection of his major works, followed by a symposium and musical performances attended by his wife Shigeko Kubota, his

May 28, 2012

Korean-German pianist breaks cultural barriers

Versatile classical music artist Caroline Fischer says she wishes to collaborate with K-pop starsFor Caroline Fischer, an acclaimed pianist born to a Korean mother and a German father, being biracial is something she feels proud of. The classical musician has been travelling around the world promoting the cultures of both countries and, more importantly, bridging them. “I am very proud of being Korean and German and I’m glad that I can represent both countries,” Fischer told The Korea Herald on

May 27, 2012

Big-name musicals to shake off the summer heat

Local scene gets busy, with major shows to hit SeoulThe long, hot and humid summer may not be favored by everyone in Seoul, but some are excited by the seasons’ arrival. Local musical fans would certainly be among them. Three of the most anticipated shows of the year are finally going onstage in Seoul this summer ― all for their first runs ― to the delight of the musical goers here. This Thursday will mark the opening of the popular Broadway musical “Wicked.” The show, which is based on Gregory

May 27, 2012

Calendar

Festivals“Korea International Boat Show”: Gyeonggi Province holds the annual boat show in the port city of Hwaseong and Ansan. The boat exhibition showcases the latest boats, yachts and water sports equipments and offers participants opportunities to experience water sports on the spot. A world yacht match cup will be held along with the exhibition. Participants are recommended to travel from Jeongok Port in Ansan, watch the exhibition and board a cruise yacht and take in the outdoor music conce

May 25, 2012

Eyelike

Garbage releases your kind of albumGarbage “Not Your Kind of People” (Stunvolume Records)For a band that’s been around for almost two decades, Garbage has released surprisingly few studio albums. Their fifth, “Not Your Kind of People,” comes on the heels of a seven-year hiatus, which makes it all the more anticipated.euro Fans who have missed Shirley Manson’s powerful vocals and scenic presence will revel in this blast-from-the-past album, released on their own label for the first time. This art

May 25, 2012

Simple furniture, humble life

National Folk Museum exhibition features wooden furniture from Joseon periodRenowned artist Kim Hwan-ki was known for his attachment to Korea’s traditional wooden furniture.An avid collector of the wooden pieces, he often used them as the subjects of his famous paintings. A 1956 piece features simple wooden shelves filled with white porcelain jars of different shapes. A special exhibition hosted by the National Folk Museum of Korea introduces the world of Joseon wooden furniture and its distinct

May 24, 2012