Soprano debuts in two Met Opera roles in 24 hours

NEW YORK (AP) ― Soprano Kristine Opolais has made Metropolitan Opera history, becoming the first singer in its 131 years to debut in two major company roles within 24 hours.The 34-year-old Latvian soprano sang Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” on Friday night, went to dinner and got to bed at 5 a.m. Met General Manager Peter Gelb called 2 hours later, asking if she could replace ailing Anita Hartig as Mimi in a performance of Puccini’s “La Boheme” that was broadcast live to movie theat

CultureApril 6, 2014

[Band Uprising] Lucite Tokki: classmates-turned-bandmates

As the Korean music market gains more international recognition, the local band scene is looking to rise up and represent the next generation of Korean music. This is the sixth installment of a series of interviews with Korean rock, acoustic and alternative bands. ― Ed. Cho Ye-jin and Kim Sun-young of the acoustic duo Lucite Tokki first met during a college music-writing course. Cho majored in singing while Kim was a guitar major, and as part of a class assignment, the students were asked to spl

April 6, 2014

How Drew Barrymore’s life changed as a new mom

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― As a new mom, Drew Barrymore felt she might sacrifice her famous free-spirited nature for the safety of her 15-month-old daughter. “I try to have a sense of humor about how ... (much) you need to learn and tackle,” she said, “and how to remain fun-loving and not, like, uptight because there’s so much to care about and to learn about.”Though becoming a parent is “the greatest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Barrymore says it’s brought a new level of anxiety. “I’ve never been

FilmApril 6, 2014

Chris Gelken, former Korea Herald editor, dies

Chris Gelken, a former senior associate editor of The Korea Herald, died of cancer on Friday. He was 58.“Today (Friday) at 1:45 p.m. Chris Gelken quietly passed away,” read a message on his Facebook account posted from Limoges, France. “The last few months were very difficult, but he fought every step of the way.”Gelken had been battling adenocarcinoma after a stage-four diagnosis last August, according to his friends. He is survived by wife Shirley Han Ying.  A veteran journalist whose works sp

PeopleApril 6, 2014

[Photo News] Design Market

CultureApril 6, 2014

[Weekender] Seoul Forest: A grassy woodland with waterfront views

Looking to get a break from the metropolitan pandemonium of gridlocked streets, deafening noise and the never-ending labyrinth of mile-high concrete buildings? Now that spring is finally here and the foliage is starting to return, it is the perfect time for you to venture outside and see the cherry blossoms and remind yourself of what you have been missing all winter. From peaceful strolls down dirt paths surrounded by sprawling trees to biking or rollerblading, Seoul Forest offers visitors oppo

TravelApril 4, 2014

[Weekender] Trees: Food source, medicine cabinet and climate saver

Trees, or at least large plants similar to modern-day trees, have been around for hundreds of millions of years. As primary producers ― organisms that produce organic matter from inorganic compounds ― trees and plants in general have always been the primary food source in the food chain. With the rise of mankind trees came to have much more diverse uses. For man, trees became sources of construction materials and fuel, and of medicines, some of which are still in use today. One of the best-known

Expat LivingApril 4, 2014

[Weekender] Green Ranger leads push for conservation

For Kim Myung-jeon, the chairman of Green Ranger, a nonprofit organization that helps young people take part in environmental campaigns, planting trees goes beyond wanting to provide people with fresher air.He considers it an educational practice that can help promote well-rounded citizens who will contribute to society in ways that truly matter.“It is ultimately the people who change the world,” Kim told The Korea Herald in an interview. “And guiding the youth so that they may grow up to become

PeopleApril 4, 2014

Sexy variety show for women, by a woman

The 70-minute show billed as a “sexy variety show” exclusively for women left many in the audience reeling from giddiness even after the curtain had gone down.The sight of eight good-looking young men with ripped bodies ― six-packs, pecs, deltoids and biceps ― tearing off their shirts with abandon, pulling down their pants in the blink of an eye, and lap-dancing for women pulled on to the stage from the audience had the women, ranging in age from 20s to 60s, clapping wildly, squealing with delig

PerformanceApril 4, 2014

Calendar

Dance“Vortex”: The National Dance Company of Korea, which has been solely focusing on Korean traditional dance, is collaborating with a foreign choreographer for the first time since its inception in 1962. Their upcoming performance, “Vortex,” is choreographed by Finnish artist Tero Saarinen. Participating dancers include Kim Mi-ae, the troupe’s principal dancer, and Park Hye-ji, an apprentice who was surprisingly selected by Saarinen to play one of the leading characters in the piece. “Vortex”

CultureApril 4, 2014

Eyelike: NS Yoon-G brings back sexy on ‘Yasisi’

NS Yoon-G brings back sexy on ‘Yasisi’NS Yoon-G“Yasisi”(LOEN Entertainment)Solo female K-pop singer NS Yoon-G has returned to the local music scene with the new EP “Yasisi” and a lead single with the same title that is shamelessly sexy.“Yasisi,” which roughly translates to “sexually alluring,” speaks for itself. The music video features NS Yoon-G dancing seductively while dressed in revealing clothes. She teases and smiles at the men, who are startled by her presence.The lyrics are also quite fl

PerformanceApril 4, 2014

Box Office: Son of God, August: Osage County, Han Gong-ju

Son of God (the U.S.) Opening April 10 Drama. Directed by Christopher Spencer.This epic biblical drama film features the life of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. It follows the life of Jesus from his miraculous birth, his visit to Galilee, as well as his first encounter with well-known followers, including Peter, James, John and Matthew. The film also highlights most of the miracles Jesus performed, including multiplying the loaves and fishes, walking on water, and raising Lazar

FilmApril 4, 2014

‘Divergent’ is ‘Hunger Games’ without the arrows

“Divergent,” the latest outcast-teen-battles-The System thriller, is similar enough to “The Hunger Games” that hardcore Katniss fans may dismiss it.But it’s a more streamlined film, with a love story with genuine heat and deaths with genuine pathos.And director Neil Burger (“The Illusionist,” “Limitless”) inserts us into this world with a lack of fuss that the stiff, exposition-stuffed “Games” films have never managed.So let’s skip past any suggestions of novelist Veronica Roth knocking off the

FilmApril 4, 2014

Rock climbers and herb gatherers

Clouds drift past and reveal a stone wall that juts forward then curls back and forth, like an eel until it reaches the minor summit of Wonhyobong. Beyond the peak a new section of the wall is revealed, then another, until it begins to seem that the Mount Geumjeongsan fortress in north Busan has an inexhaustible supply of striking views. Eventually, though, one comes full circle. At 18 kilometers in length, it is the longest such wall in Korea, and like Namhansanseong Fortress south of Seoul, it

TravelApril 4, 2014

Spring bibimbap with tuna

Bibimbap is a versatile dish. We make bibimbap with just about anything ― leftover side dishes, kimchi, wild mountain vegetables, etc. This recipe is a simple version made with fresh spring vegetables and canned tuna. You can substitute any of the vegetables with your favorites. For other variations, try salmon or tofu instead of tuna. A gochujang (red chili pepper paste) sauce is usually used in traditional bibimbap, but a soy sauce-based sauce works wonderfully with this dish. Enjoy this quick

FoodApril 4, 2014

Around the Hotels

Seasonal Korean caviar at Millennium Seoul HiltonMillennium Seoul Hilton’s French restaurant Seasons is offering a special promotional menu that features seasonal Korean caviar for the month of April. Caviar refers to salted roe of sturgeon or other varieties of fish usually found in the Caspian and Black Seas. South Korea is one of the top producers of quality caviar, made with imported sturgeon from Russia. The restaurant’s special menu will celebrate this gourmet dish. The caviar tasting menu

TravelApril 4, 2014

‘Britain’s Got Talent’ child star Connie Talbot returning to Korea

Connie Talbot, who first came into the public eye after competing in the popular TV talent competition program “Britain’s Got Talent” when she was only 6 years old, will be holding her first performance in Korea since nearly six years ago. The now 13-year-old Talbot will be performing live at the Osan Culture & Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province on April 23 and at the Blue Square theater in Hannam-dong, Seoul, on April 27. In her first “Britain’s Got Talent” audition in 2007, the youngster sang an

PerformanceApril 4, 2014