London needs new concert hall: Simon Rattle

LONDON (AFP) - British conductor Simon Rattle on Tuesday called for a new concert hall in London to make the city more competitive on the international music scene, as he takes up his baton at the London Symphony Orchestra.He threw his weight behind a 280 million pound ($347 million) project aimed at creating a “Centre for Music” equipped for the digital era.The plans involve building a new hall on the site of the Museum of London, which is relocating nearby, which would become the new home of t

Jan. 18, 2017

Girl group TWICE to release special album

South Korean girl group TWICE will roll out a special album next month, seeking to carry on its winning streak of online music streaming and album sales in the competitive, rapidly changing market, the band's management agency said Wednesday. (JYP Entertainment)According to music industry sources, the special album is currently in production for release in late February. It will be a repackaged version of the group's hit third EP "TWICEcoaster:LANE1," which will include a newly produced track."I

Jan. 18, 2017

BoA in romantic relationship with actor Joo Won

The agencies of K-pop star BoA and actor Joo Won on Wednesday confirmed reports the two are in a romantic relationship. Earlier in the day, a local media outlet reported the two had been dating since late 2016. They reportedly met via a shared acquaintance. Confirming the reports, BoA’s agency S.M. Entertainment said in an official statement the two had “grown fond of each other through shared interests such as music and acting.”Joo Won’s agency Huayi Brothers also confirmed the reports, althoug

Jan. 18, 2017

I.O.I tops charts with last single

Project girl group I.O.I reached for the sky for the final time with the latest single “Downpour” topping local music charts after its release Wednesday.“Downpour,” the last single for the rookie sensation, stood firmly at No. 1 on Mnet and Genie chart. It slipped to No. 3 on Melon after debuting at the top spot upon its midnight release.The song’s lyrics depict the sadness of leaving someone, likening it to an abrupt downpour. The 11-member band reportedly decided on their last song through a p

Jan. 18, 2017

Suzy sweeps music charts with solo track, beats Seohyun

Suzy of MissA topped major Korean music charts with a new solo track Tuesday, emerging triumphant in a highly anticipated face-off with Seohyun of Girls’ Generation.Suzy’s “Pretend” was the No. 1 song as of 8 a.m. on eight streaming services, including Melon, Mnet, Genie, Olleh Music and Naver Music. Her full EP album will be released on Jan. 24.Seohyun’s “Don’t Say No,” which also came out Tuesday, stood in second place on Mnet and Olleh Music, third on Bugs Music and 19th on Melon. Both releas

Jan. 17, 2017

Rain to wed actress Kim Tae-hee

Singer Rain announced Tuesday he plans to marry Kim Tae-hee, an actress he has dated for over four years. “I am going to be a good husband and man as a head of one family,” he said in a handwritten letter posted on his Instagram account earlier in the day. “She has always kept her place beside me whenever I am in hard times or happy and showed affection in many ways,” he said. Singer Rain Actress Kim Tae-heeThe date of marriage was not given, with Rain only saying, “Regarding the time and the we

Jan. 17, 2017

Coming of age for Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun

Twenty-six is hardly an age fit to be called “a girl” but Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun has always been associated with youth, as the star was most widely-known for being the youngest member of the K-pop behemoth.“I’ve always shown myself (to the public) as the youngest among the Girls’ Generation. Now I wish to show what I can offer as a singer, and as a person,” she said in the showcase for “Don’t Say No,” her first album as a solo artist.The baby-faced singer has had more than her share of expe

Jan. 17, 2017

Singer Rain back with ‘Best Present’

Rain is back with the release of his single “Best Present” after a three-year break in his singing career.The single was released midnight Sunday. It garnered a solid response from the public, reaching No. 13 on Genie’s daily music chart, while marking No. 2 on Mnet’s. “Thank you for all the attention, even though it has been three years. I will be releasing a dance number, soon,” the singer said via Twitter. Co-written and produced by Psy and Yoo Gun-hyung, the R&B song has lyrics depicting a c

Jan. 16, 2017

Milan’s Brera protects artworks after humidity system fails

MILAN (AP) - Restorers at Milan’s famous Brera Art Gallery have taken measures to protect the collection after its humidity control system failed during a “once-in-a-decade” dry, cold spell that moved through Milan last weekend, officials said.　 Donato Bramante’s “Christ at the Column” and a Bastiani piece were removed from their exhibit spaces for immediate stabilization and 40 other artworks were patched with protective Japanese rice paper to ensure their paint surfaces didn’t crack under the

Jan. 16, 2017

Exo, Twice grab top honors at Golden Disc awards

K-pop sensations Exo and Twice scooped up the grand prizes for the best album and best song of the year at the 31st annual Golden Disc Awards.The annual award show has been decorating the most prominent artists in Korea since 1986. Since 2006, it has been holding separate ceremonies for best album and best song categories. Exo’s third studio album “Ex’Act” landed the boy band its fourth consecutive grand prize in the album category. The accolade wrapped up another impressive year for the K-pop j

Jan. 15, 2017

BTS, Twice most talked about K-pop groups

K-pop groups Bangtan Boys and Twice were respectively the most talked about boy band and girl group in Korea, according to a report by a local think tank. The Korea Corporate Reputation Research Center, using a big data system, looked at the positive evaluation of K-pop groups by the public and their popularity in the media. It examined factors such as the “(consumer) participation rate” and “(consumer) communication rate.”It found that BTS’ brand reputation was the highest among all boy bands,

Jan. 15, 2017

K-pop singer HyunA goes on global tour

K-pop singer HyunA will embark on a global tour of North America next month, her management agency said Friday.HyunA (Yonhap)Starting off in Vancouver on Feb. 22, she will hold a concert in 8 cities total: Toronto on the 24th, Montreal on the 26th, Chicago on March. 1, New York on the 3rd, Dallas on the 6th, San Francisco on the 9th and Los Angeles on the 10th, according to Cube Entertainment. A former member of the now-disbanded girl group 4minute, she held fan events titled "The Queen's Back"

Jan. 13, 2017

Dazzling German concert hall premieres to standing ovation

HAMBURG (AFP) -- Germany late Wednesday opened a spectacular concert house in Hamburg to the strains of Beethoven and Wagner that has been touted as a new global attraction, albeit after a cost explosion.Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Joachim Gauck joined 2,100 guests at the inaugural concert under tight security in the grand hall of the Elbphilharmonie, which has electrified critics with its audacious design and world-class acoustics.The three-hour-long program met with a long standing

Jan. 13, 2017

Sistar’s Hyolyn to perform at SXSW

Hyolyn of the Korean girl group Sistar will have a showcase at this year’s South by Southwest festival, according organizers Thursday.On its website, SXSW included Hyolyn among its newly announced artist lineup, describing her as the “Korean Beyonce.”Launched in 1987, SXSW is an annual collective showcase of film, music and interactive media held every March in Austin, Texas. This year’s festival will run from March 10-19.SXSW highlighted Hyolyn’s career outside of South Korea, citing her perfor

Jan. 13, 2017

[Video] ‘The King’ delves into mania of power and corruption: Herald Review

What is it like for a person of power to live in Korean society?Apparently, it’s like being royalty, according to director Han Jae-rim’s latest flick “The King.”From childhood, protagonist Park Tae-su yearned for power. He reigned over fellow students with his fist before he caught a glimpse of what he called “real power” -- the sight of his thug father being beaten up by a pencil-neck prosecutor. It was then that he decided to pursue a career in law.Park soon realizes that real power comes at a

Jan. 12, 2017

Jun Joon-hyuk joins Britain's Royal Ballet, its 1st Korean ballerino

Jun Joon-hyuk will join Britain's Royal Ballet in August, becoming the first Korean ballerino to become a member of the prestigious group of dancers, he said Wednesday."I officially got the offer from Kevin O'Hare, director of the ballet company on Tuesday afternoon (British local time)," the 19-year-old ballerino told Yonhap News Agency by telephone. "I'm still thrilled because it's something that I have dreamed of for a long time."He will join in late August, about a month after he graduates f

Jan. 11, 2017

France blocks sale of rare Da Vinci ‘Saint Sebastian’

PARIS (AFP) -- France has deemed a newfound Leonardo da Vinci sketch to be a national treasure and now has 30 months to raise 15 million euros ($15.8 million) to purchase it, an auction house said Tuesday.The Renaissance master’s dreamily sensual sketch of Saint Sebastian was classified as a French national treasure on Dec. 29, Tajan auctioneers in Paris said during an unveiling of the work to the press.The French government has a “right of pre-emption” under which it has 30 months to purchase i

Jan. 11, 2017

‘A designer’s designer’: NY exhibit showcases Chareau

NEW YORK (AP) -- More than a decade before Philip Johnson designed his iconic Glass House, French designer and architect Pierre Chareau designed the Maison de Verre in 1932 in Paris. It featured one of the world’s first glass-brick exterior walls -- three stories high. Chareau’s work straddles industrial aesthetics and traditional fine craftsmanship, clean spare lines and playful 1920s whimsy. He made futuristic gadgets like folding staircases, a pivoting bidet and sliding walls. His furniture,

Jan. 11, 2017