The Korea Herald

Joseon royal wedding comes alive in Paris

Exquisite pieces of Korean court hanbok and royal wedding rituals charmed Parisians on Tuesday night, during a special event held as a part of Korea-France Week 2011 in France.Organized by the Presidential Council on Nation Branding, the event, which consisted of a hanbok fashion show, a Korean gugak concert, and a re-enactment of the Joseon-era royal wedding ceremony, was presented in front of some 200 invited guests at the InterContinental Hotel Paris. French author Bernard Werber, whose books

Nov. 30, 2011

Joseon royal wedding comes alive in Paris

Jackson doctor called suicidal after verdict

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge's stern voice broke the silence of a Los Angeles courtroom: "Money for madness medicine," he said before sentencing Dr. Conrad Murray to the maximum four years behind bars for Michael Jackson's death."Absolutely no sense of fault, and is and remains dangerous" to the

Nov. 30, 2011

Shen Wei thinks big with new dance in New York

NEW YORK (AFP) ― Chinese-American choreographer Shen Wei is using one of New York’s most cavernous spaces to premiere his latest dance Tuesday ― but for the man behind the opening ceremony at the 2008 Beijing Olympics nothing is too big.The Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan, a one-time military drill hall, hosts “Undivided Divided” and by the sound of things anything less than that vast hangar-style roof mightn’t have been able to contain Wei’s creative flair.“It will be something nobody experienc

Nov. 29, 2011

Doris Day sings out for first time in 17 years

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― Doris Day, America’s pert, honey-voiced sweetheart of the 1950s and 1960s, beguiled audiences with her on-screen romances opposite top Hollywood leading men Cary Grant, Rock Hudson and Jack Lemmon.She adored and misses them all, says the 88-year-old Day. But her deepest yearning is reserved for her late son Terry Melcher, a record producer whose touch and voice are part of Day’s first album in nearly two decades.“Oh, I wish he could be here and be a part of it. I would just lo

Nov. 29, 2011

Doris Day sings out for first time in 17 years

Faces from Africa

He may be from a country not everyone has heard of, but his paintings contain emotions everyone should be able to connect with.The faces in Eritrean artist Fitsum’s 20 oil paintings at “African Soul” in Gallery Tongkeun in Gwanhun-dong, central Seoul, portray universal feelings such as suffering and agony, depicted with bold strokes of vivid color.Eritrea is a small African country of less than 6 million people, situated next to Sudan to the west, Ethiopia to the south and Djibouti to the southe

Nov. 28, 2011

Romanian star Inna starts campaign to curb domestic violence

BUCHAREST (AFP) ― Romanian dance music star Inna launched Friday a campaign against domestic violence with a website and a video clip of her newest song, encouraging women to speak out against abuse.“Unfortunately, domestic violence is an extremely serious problem, and not only in Romania. I hope that this campaign will help solve it,” Inna told AFP.“Women are ashamed to admit they have been physically or verbally abused. Our site (www.bringthesuninmylife.com) will address this issue in such a f

Nov. 28, 2011

Exhibit showcases black photographer

PITTSBURGH (AP) ― Charles “Teenie’’ Harris had a photographic mission: going beyond the obvious or sensational to capture the essence of daily African-American life in the 20th centuryFor more than 40 years, Harris ― as lead photographer of the influential Pittsburgh Courier newspaper ― took almost 80,000 pictures of people from all walks of life: presidents, housewives, sports stars, babies, civil rights leaders and even cross-dressing drag queens.Now, a new exhibit and online catalog is showin

Nov. 28, 2011

George Michael treated for pneumonia, cancels tour

LONDON (AP) ― George Michael has postponed all his remaining 2011 tour dates as he recovers from pneumonia, the singer’s publicist said Friday.Michael was hospitalized in Vienna, Austria earlier this week. A statement from publicist Connie Filippello said the 48-year-old former Wham! singer “is responding to treatment and slowly improving.”Michael “is ill with pneumonia and any other speculation regarding his illness is unfounded and untrue,” the statement said.Two Austrian doctors treating Mich

Nov. 27, 2011

Pictures of no place

Two German photographers showcase photos of life-size paper creations and renovated art museumGerman photographer Thomas Demand takes photos of places he has never been to, or things that no longer exist. The control room at Fukushima nuclear power plant and a parcel bomb sent to the U.S. from Yemen are clearly visible in his photos. But the photographer has never seen either with his own eyes. How is that possible? The secret reveals itself upon closer inspection: The photographer created life

Nov. 27, 2011

Calendar

Classical Music“Chung Kyung-wha: ‘She is Back’”: Violinist Chung will perform on Dec. 19, 21, 25 and 26 in Seoul and other Korean cities for her first solo recitals in the country in nine years. Suffering a finger injury five years ago, Chung has been unable to hold a solo performance for years, focusing on teaching at the Juilliard School in New York. Chung will be performing with American pianist Kevin Kenner, whom she calls “a great partner,” playing Mozart’s “Violin Sonata No. 21 in E Minor

Nov. 25, 2011

Not all pleased as Hallberg makes his Bolshoi debut

MOSCOW ― David Hallberg is off and running in Moscow. On Friday night he made history for the Bolshoi Ballet as the first American in a leading role on its historic stage in a new production of the fabled Russian ballet “The Sleeping Beauty.”And it’s not just any stage: Older than the United States and the jewel of Russian culture, the Bolshoi Theatre is newly restored for its 236th season.Hallberg, the American Ballet Theatre principal who is now also a premier dancer with the Bolshoi, and Russ

Nov. 24, 2011

Not all pleased as Hallberg makes his Bolshoi debut

Cuba decries ‘vulgarity’ in music

HAVANA (AFP) ― Cuba on Wednesday took aim at “vulgarity” in popular music, decrying the sexually graphic lyrics that are increasingly common in music played by young people on the communist island.“We note with great concern that in the past few years there has been a ... type of artistic expression, including in popular Cuban music, that leaves much to be desired,” read the opinion piece appearing in the daily Granma newspaper.Cuba sees itself as the birthplace of salsa, which is seen as a nati

Nov. 24, 2011

Taylor, Gomez join Swift onstage

NEW YORK (AP) ― Taylor Swift closed her “Speak Now World Tour” with her best friend and the man her parents named her after.The 21-year-old brought out James Taylor and Selena Gomez at her concert Tuesday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden.Swift said her parents named her after Taylor, and the two performed his hit “Fire and Rain.” Taylor also played the guitar while Swift performed her song “Fifteen.”Gomez joined the country singer earlier in the night, and the two sang a duet version of

Nov. 24, 2011

Miami Beach getting ready for Art Basel Dec. 1-4

MIAMI BEACH, Florida (AP) -- Live graffiti painting. A colossal rose bed soaring 6.1 meters high. Early photos of Andy Warhol, a Picasso up for auction and a naked woman living in a pig pen. They’re all part of the lineup for Art Basel Miami Beach, which runs Dec. 1-4, with a host of related events beginning Nov. 30.The pig pen installation will undoubtedly be the most jaw-dropping event at the art fair. Known for photographing herself nude in subway tunnels or in front of graffiti walls, perfor

Nov. 24, 2011

Dylan discs to benefit Amnesty International

NEW YORK (AP) ― A sprawling new collection of Bob Dylan cover songs is being released in January to benefit Amnesty International.The human rights organization said Wednesday that all of the songs on the 4-CD collection will be new or previously unreleased versions, with the exception of Dylan’s title cut, “Chimes of Freedom.”The disc, to be released in the U.S. on Jan. 24, is being produced by the same music executives who made a 2007 benefit album for Darfur featuring John Lennon songs.Partici

Nov. 24, 2011

‘Garden of peace’ at Chelsea Flower Show

Korean environmental artist Hwang to reproduce wildlife of DMZ in BritainThe Demilitarized Zone separating the South and North Korea may be the most scarred, but at the same time, the one of the most untouched places in the world.Hwang Ji-hae, the winner of the Artisan Garden section at the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show, this time wanted to show the place and tell “our story” badly because she knew the stage will be spotlighted by the media from all over the world and be visited by VIPs like the Quee

Nov. 24, 2011

‘Garden of peace’ at Chelsea Flower Show

Tripitaka Koreana gets last public display

National museum marks millennial anniversary of ancient Buddhist printing blocksFor those who have yet to see the wooden printing blocks of the Tripitaka Koreana, the world’s most comprehensive and oldest intact Buddhist canon, the time is now or never.The National Palace Museum of Korea is holding a special exhibition celebrating the millennial anniversary of the ancient Korean relic, showcasing the Haein Temple’s wooden printing blocks of the Buddhist scripture to the public for the last time.

Nov. 24, 2011

Tripitaka Koreana gets last public display

Grammy noms special to honor Ashford, Leiber

NEW YORK (AP) ― Three months after losing musical and life partner Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson acknowledges that she still has a hard time performing any of the classic songs they created together.“I get a big lump in my throat when I try to sing one of our songs right now,” she said.She will get a little help next week as Usher is set to sing from the Ashford & Simpson catalog for what promises to be a poignant moment in the usually upbeat Grammy nominations prime-time special. It will be par

Nov. 23, 2011

Jazz drummer-composer Paul Motian dies aged 80

NEW YORK (AFP) ― The influential U.S. jazz drummer and composer, Paul Motian, died Tuesday at the age of 80 in New York, a close friend said.“Paul did pass away early this morning,” Carole d’Inverno, a painter, told AFP. Jazz producer Hans Wendl said Motian had died from complications from Myelodisplastic Syndrome, a bone disorder.In the latter half of his career Motian became a band leader, playing with saxophonist Joe Lovano, guitarist Bill Frisell and pianist Masabumi Kikuchi among others, an

Nov. 23, 2011

Queen reigns 20 years after Mercury

LONDON (AFP) ― Freddie Mercury died 20 years ago on Thursday but his star has only burned brighter in the two decades since, with Queen and their larger-than-life frontman as popular as ever.The British rockers, marking their 40th anniversary this year, are among the world’s biggest-selling artists ever ― with most of their sales coming in the 20 years since Mercury died.Queen’s guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor are busier than ever and Mercury’s songs such as “Bohemian Rhapsody” and

Nov. 23, 2011