HONG KONG -- Art Basel Hong Kong returned in full form last year to the excitement of the art community. This year, the fair is showing a steep recovery curve, with the number of participating galleries reaching 242, up from last year's 177. The 37 percent increase indicates a return to the show’s pre-pandemic scale, matching the 242 galleries that participated in 2019. Art Basel’s 2024 Hong Kong edition opened at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center on Tuesday with in

Culture March 27, 2024

Breakdancer Lee Jae-bum came across the musical “Notre-Dame de Paris” by accident 17 years ago, but now Lee says the French musical feels like home. Lee had been participating in a breakdance competition when someone approached him to join "this musical called 'Notre-Dame de Paris.'" That someone turned out to be Wayne Fowke, the artistic director who brought the French musical to the Korean stage. At first, Lee wasn’t interested because he had little unders

Culture March 26, 2024

HONG KONG -- ComplexCon, an event that showcases urban culture, music and art, made its Asian debut in Hong Kong this weekend, showcasing an array of Asian pop personalities, including K-pop group BlackPink, singer Jay Park and Korean gamer Faker. In a collaboration between Blackpink and TM/KK, referring to Takashi Murakami, a Japanese contemporary artist, and Kaikai Kiki, Murakami's art production and management company, Blackpink-TM/KK-branded items such as light sticks were featured at

Culture March 24, 2024

Pianist Lim Yunchan's concerts scheduled over the next two weeks in Europe have been canceled due to a strain in the piano star's hand. The announcement came from Lim's social networking service account as well as his overseas agency, IMG Artists, on Saturday, Korean time. IMG said that Lim is experiencing a strain in his hand and currently undergoing treatment with his doctor and physical therapist. Lim apologized for the cancellations, saying, “Performing and sharing music

Culture March 23, 2024

Pianist Cho Seong-jin and Kim Sun-wook are set to take the stage together at the 10th Gyechon Classic Music Festival, slated to take place from May 31 to June 2. Both Cho and Kim are celebrated pianists but this time Kim, the artistic director of the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, will take the stage as a conductor, marking the first time the two will perform on stage together as a pianist and conductor. The duo’s collaboration, a performance of Shostakovich's Piano Concerto No. 1

Culture March 21, 2024

After nearly two decades, the internationally acclaimed Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra is set to return to South Korea. The much-anticipated event will feature performances by some of South Korea’s most sought-after musicians, maestro Chung Myung-whun and pianist Cho Seong-jin and more. The tour will be a chance to see the synergy of the TPO and Chung, who holds a longstanding relationship with the orchestra. Chung has been collaborating with the orchestra since 2000 and was appointed its ho

Culture March 20, 2024

Following a tour last year showcasing all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas in South Korea, Austrian pianist Rudolf Buchbinder, renowned for his interpretations of Beethoven's works, will present all five of the composer’s piano concertos in June. Since 2012, the pianist, now 77, has been a regular guest in Seoul, captivating audiences with his renditions of Beethoven's piano sonatas and piano concertos. However, this year’s concerts mark not only the pianist's ninth visit to

Culture March 20, 2024

The Korean National Symphony Orchestra will bring the music of a living legend, John Williams, to the stage this weekend. The concert, under the baton of conductor Anthony Gabriele, will showcase the American composer’s iconic scores for the “Indiana Jones" series,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," "Jurassic Park," "Schindler's List," the "Star Wars" series and “Harry Potter,” demonstrating the evolution of his music f

Culture March 19, 2024

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday pledged a total of 10 trillion won ($7.46 billion) to carry out housing redevelopment in older urban centers of Seoul. Single-family freestanding homes or "dandok jutaek," and low-rise apartment buildings called "villa" will be turned into brand-new buildings, and half of the cost for their development will be through low-interest loans given to land developers by the state-run Korea Housing and Urban Guarantee Corp. In Korea, land developer

Politics March 19, 2024

In April and May, South Korea's classical music scene will once again come alive with two of its most prestigious annual festivals: the Korean Orchestra Festival and the Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music. The Korean Orchestra Festival, hosted at the Seoul Arts Center from April 3 to 28, will feature 23 orchestras from across the nation under the theme "The Wave," promising harmonious and captivating performances by top-notch conductors and musicians. Meanwhile, the Seoul Sp

Culture March 19, 2024

Celebrating 20 years, the Seoul Foundation for Arts and Culture, a key organization under the Seoul city government responsible for carrying out its cultural policies, on Friday unveiled a new vision, “A City for Artistic Souls, Seoul.” With the vision, the foundation said it is expanding programs so that the capital city is never short of cultural and artistic activities in all four seasons. To achieve this goal, the foundation said Seoul will be armed with global cultural content

Culture March 15, 2024

The upcoming performances of renowned Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova in Seoul have been canceled, according to organizer InArts Production on Friday. "We have been planning and preparing for a long time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, considering various situations. However, recently, we have decided to cancel the event due to concerns about the safety of both artists and audiences, as well as at the request of the Seoul Arts Center," the organizer said in an announcement. Th

Culture March 15, 2024

Two musicals based on works by French author Victor Hugo are attracting audiences in Korea: “Les Miserables” and “Notre-Dame de Paris.” Both musicals are inspired by stories written by the prominent French writer, poet, and playwright and utilize a sing-through format, where the majority, if not all, of the dialogue is sung rather than spoken. The musicals include melodies that are iconic numbers worth enjoying on a live stage. “Belle (Beautiful),” sung by Q

Culture March 13, 2024

Jung Sung-hwa, a comedian-turned-musical actor, has been synonymous with the character of Korean independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun in the hit musical “Hero,” which was also adapted into a film in 2022. He is also remembered by many for memorable roles like Jean Valjean in the musical “Les Miserable” or Daniel Hillard in “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Taking the role of Quasimodo in “Notre-Dame de Paris,” the 20-year veteran of musicals hopes people can forget

Culture March 13, 2024

“Mecenat is about strengthening the roots of businesses,” according to Yoon Young-dal, the new chairperson of Korea Mecenat Association, on Tuesday. Mecenat, derived from the name of Gaius Maecenas, a politician of ancient Rome who promoted the creative activities of artists and contributed to the revival of Roman art, refers to patronage or sponsorship of the arts, culture or education by individuals, businesses or organizations. The 30-year-old organization with 215 member companie

Culture March 12, 2024