Serengeti’s session power shines with 3rd album

Trio of session musicians wishes to leave band’s musical trace in people’s memory; eyes EuropeWhile idol-centered K-pop has been heavily covered by the media, the Korean indie scene has received relatively little attention. This is the fourth installment of a series of interviews shedding light on the scene. ― Ed.Although trio indie band Serengeti is not a household name, each member’s versatility

July 11, 2011

Folk singer Cabral killed in Guatemala

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) ― One of Latin America’s most admired folk singers, Facundo Cabral, was killed Saturday when three carloads of gunmen ambushed the vehicle in which he was riding, prompting expressions of anguish from across the region. Authorities said the performer’s concert promoter was apparently the target.Interior Minister Carlos Menocal said the Argentine singer and novelist was on his w

July 10, 2011

Classical Music

Poster of “Miracle of Music” concert. (Yangho Foundation/Miracle of Music)“Miracle of Music”: The Aloysius Orchestra and pianist Chung Myung-whun will hold a charity concert at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on July 23 at 8 p.m. The 60-member orchestra consists of Aloysius Middle School and Aloysius Technical High School, which are affiliated with Busan Boystown, a children’s shelter where 7

July 8, 2011

Dance

“Baribari Chochom Didimsae 2011”: National Dance Company of Korea has been offering this performance series since 2001 to help the public better understand and appreciate Korean dance which is often considered difficult. It presents both traditional dances and new choreography inspired from the traditional dances. It runs through July 24 at The National Theater of Korea in Jangchung-dong, central

July 8, 2011

Exhibitions

“Self Portrait 8” by Suh Yong-sun (Hakgojae Gallery)“A Brushstroke”: Hakgojae Gallery presents 38 paintings and drawings that feature a single or only a few brush strokes. Exhibits include works by established Korean artists like Kim Hodeuk, Suh Yong-sun, Lee U-fan, Chung Hyun and international artists like Sam Francis, Giuseppe Penone and Anish Kapoor. The exhibition runs through Aug. 21 at Hakg

July 8, 2011

Festivals

  Poster of the 16th Busan Sea Festival(Busan Culture and Tourism FestivalOrganizing Committee)“Busan Sea Festival”: The Busan Sea Festival will be held from Aug. 1-9 at locations including Haeundae Beach, Gwangalli Beach, Song-do Beach and Songjeong Beach, as well as at various places in the city of Busan. It is Korea’s largest sea festival, and is a liaison of Busan International Rock Festival,

July 8, 2011

Pop Music

Australian soft rock duo Air Supply (Southernstar Entertainment)“Air Supply Live in Seoul”: Australian soft rock duo Air Supply is to perform in Seoul on Aug. 16 at the Olympic Park Olympic Hall at 8 p.m. Guitarist and singer-songwriter Graham Russell and lead vocalist Russell Hitchcock had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s. Thei

July 8, 2011

Theater

A scene from “Jack the Ripper.” (mmusical company)“Jack the Ripper”: With a story based on the unsolved murder case in London in 1888, this popular musical is on its third run in Seoul. The star-studded cast includes Ahn Jae-wook, Lee Ji-hoon, Eom Gi-jun and Super Junior’s Seong-min in the role of Daniel, Shin Seong-woo and Lee Geon-myeong for the role of Jack and Yu Jun-sang for the role of Ander

July 8, 2011

Buddy Holly tribute a real ‘Rave’

Various Artists“Rave On”FantasyPaul McCartney may be getting a little long in the tooth, but he steals the show from younger artists on “Rave On,” a new Buddy Holly tribute record.Using a distorted vocal effect that makes him sound like a mixture between Steven Tyler and Howlin’ Wolf, McCartney and his band tear through “It’s So Easy” with a fervor that singers half his age would have a hard time

July 8, 2011

Beyonce still impressive

Beyonce“4” Columbia“Run the World (Girls),” the first single from Beyonce’s fourth solo album, “4,” has all the hallmarks of a signature No. 1 Beyonce smash ― a bombastic, larger-than-life sound, a call-and-response hook, a heavy dose of girl power and a fierce drumbeat.Surprisingly, though, it landed with a thud on radio, and the buzz around “4” hasn’t been encouraging ― there’s even talk that th

July 8, 2011

Selena Gomez generic on 3rd album

Selena Gomez & the Scene“When the Sun Goes Down”Hollywood RecordsThere comes a point when a Disney or Nickelodeon star tries to make the transition to official recording artist. This is Selena Gomez’s moment.Musically speaking, Gomez is no Miley Cyrus or Vanessa Hudgens ― that’s because she’s better. She’s got a decent voice, and showcased that on last year’s “A Year Without Rain,” a pop ballad th

July 8, 2011

From baseball field to musical stage

Yoon Hyun-min (Park Hae-mook/The Korea Herald)Baseball player-turned-actor takes main role in musical ‘Spring Awakening’For someone who used to swing a bat for 11 years, Yoon Hyun-min seemed surprisingly soft and delicate. The image of Melchior, the character he plays in the musical “Spring Awakening” which started its second round here in June, came out as he talked. “If the first Melchior was ra

July 7, 2011

Chang Kiha & the Faces let listeners find own answers

Rock band aims to keep making indie music, plans Japan tour in fallWhile idol-centered K-pop has been heavily covered by the media, the Korean indie scene has received relatively little attention. Seeking diversity of Korean music, The Korea Herald is running a series of interviews shedding light on the Korean scene. This is the third installment of the series. ― Ed.Chang Kiha & the Faces, a five-

July 6, 2011

Kolleen Park returns to the theater

Music director-TV celeb to show her acting talent for first time in 20 years with musical ‘Next to Normal’It was difficult to recall charismatic conductor Kolleen Park seeing her on a musical stage ― looking somewhat frail and vulnerable, her voice even trembled slightly as she led the song “You don’t know” in front of the press on Monday at Doosan Art Center in Yeonji-dong, central Seoul. Park, a

July 5, 2011

Lady Gaga in another quirky outfit

Pop star Lady Gaga appeared on Japanese talk show “Room of Tetsuko” wearing yet another unique outfit called “costume onion,” according a report from Oricon.co.jp. The singer shocked the Japanese interviewer Tetsuko with a round black dress resembling an onion and a “reverse vortex” hairstyle measuring 50 centimeters high. She also sported her iconic 40 centimeter high-heeled shoes. Gaga offered h

July 5, 2011

Yoon promises continued support for Korean traditional music

Yoon Young-dal, CEO of Crown-Haitai Confectionary, received the 20th Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award on Monday at the Shilla Hotel’s Dynasty Hall in central Seoul. The foundation recognized Yoon’s contributions to developing and promoting the Korean traditional music “gugak” worldwide and his efforts to discover and foster young gugak musicians. “Since sometime ago, we have tended to

July 4, 2011

Museum shows royal books returned from France

  Five significant copies among 297 returned Uigwe shown to mediaThe National Museum of Korea on Monday revealed five significant copies of the total of 297 retrieved ancient royal books, known as “Uigwe,” to the media for the first time since their return from France earlier this year.Korea retrieved the royal documents ― which contain both text and hand-drawn illustrations of significant royal r

July 4, 2011

Barenboim to lead peace concert at Imjingak

Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim will lead his youth orchestra, consisting of artists from the Middle East including Israelis and Palestinians, to perform at Imjingak near the demilitarized zone to promote peace on the Korean peninsula.The concert will be held on Aug. 15, Liberation Day in Korea, the organizer said.Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which the conductor formed in 199

July 3, 2011