Korea National Ballet’s ‘Carmen’ gets Chinese premiere

BEIJING ― Just a year after the National Ballet of China had the Korean premiere of its staple repertoire “Raise the Red Lantern,” its Korean counterpart ― the Korea National Ballet ― premiered its rendition of French choreographer Roland Petit’s (1924-2011) “Carmen” and “The Woman of Arles” in China on Tuesday. The performance took place as part of China’s on-going, inaugural International Ballet Season, hosted by the National Ballet of China in Beijing. The ballet bash features dances by 12 co

PerformanceNov. 13, 2013

Ticket sales start for Kissin’s 2014 concert

On April 8, 2006 at Seoul Arts Center, the classical music hall was alive with rapturous applause. More than 30 curtain calls were made, with the audience roaring as if they were cheering a rock star. It was the first Seoul recital by child prodigy-turned-mega pianist Evgeny Kissin. The then 34-year-old Russian responded by turning up for each curtain call and giving more than 10 encore performances, extending the concert’s finishing time to near midnight. The fervor was repeated in 2009, when 2

PerformanceNov. 13, 2013

Francis Bacon painting sets new $142.4 million art record

NEW YORK (AFP) ― A work by British painter Francis Bacon was sold for $142.4 million in New York on Tuesday, smashing the world record for the most expensive piece of art ever auctioned.“Three Studies of Lucian Freud” by the 20th-century figurative artist, who lived from 1909 to 1992, was sold by Christie’s after being offered at auction for the first time.“The work was sold for $142,405,000, after six minutes of fierce bidding in the room and on the phone,” Christie’s announced.Hammered to an o

PerformanceNov. 13, 2013

XIA Junsu to open Jeju hotel in March

Hallyu star Kim Junsu, also referred to as XIA Junsu, has reportedly invested approximately 12.9 billion won ($12 million) in his soon-to-be-opened, 80,000-square-foot family hotel on Jejudo Island. Kim’s Jeju Toscana Family Hotel, which will be operated and managed by his father, is a large-scale resort-style hotel located in the Gangjeong-dong, Seogwipo area of the island and will include 65 guest rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant, caf, spa, seminar room and other facilities. Kim sta

PerformanceNov. 13, 2013

‘Phantom’ to capture ears and hearts in Daegu

“The Phantom of the Opera,” the musical that has enchanted 130 million people around the world, will be staged in Daegu in February next year in a rare opporunity for regional audiences to witness the original cast. The original cast members of the full-scale production will visit Daegu Gemyung Art Center on Feb. 27 as part of their world tour commemorating the show’s successful 25-year run. The cast includes Broadway stars such as Brad Little playing the role of the Phantom, Claire Lyon as Chri

PerformanceNov. 13, 2013

Foie gras remains a staple despite criticism of force-feeding method

SARLAT, France ― It’s a Saturday morning in this medieval city in the heart of the Dordogne region ― market day ― and merchants have stacked tables in Sarlat’s cobblestoned square with pricey delicacies.Pungent dark truffles. Wicker baskets filled with freshly picked mushrooms. Black walnuts suspended in jars of honey like insects in amber. Wheels of aromatic cheeses as big and thick as automobile tires.But it’s the shiny cans arranged in pyramids that draw many of the grocery buyers and gastron

FoodNov. 13, 2013

White truffles fetch three times the price of gold at auction

GRINZANE CAVOUR, Italy (AFP) ― Eleven white truffles have gone under the hammer in Italy for 274,200 euros ($367,620), including a pair bought by an anonymous buyer in China who paid out 90,000 euros, auctioneers said Monday.A “famous Chinese writer” bidding by satellite telephone from Hong Kong fiercely outbid competitors for a 950-gram pair of truffles, organizers said, paying three times the price of gold for the white delicacy.The auction, which took place Sunday in the Grinzane Cavour castl

FoodNov. 13, 2013

Wool Modern exhibition to open in Seoul

A touring exhibition that promotes the use of wool opens in Seoul next week with a showcase of creative wool clothing and products by Korean designers. The 2013 Wool Modern exhibition, part of The Campaign for Wool of the Woolmark Company and supported by the Prince of Wales, seeks to raise awareness of the versatility of wool, its aesthetic qualities and environmental benefits. The exhibition started in England in 2011 and has been held in Germany, Australia and China. The use of wool peaked wi

Arts & DesignNov. 13, 2013

Suh Do Ho wins Red Dot design award

Installation artist Suh Do Ho won the prestigious Red Dot design award for his video installation “Who Am We,” according to his studio on Wednesday. Suh won the Best of the Best Award in the category of TV, film, cinema and animation at the Red Dot Awards in July, as well as the IDEA bronze award and the gold award at the Busan International Advertising Festival this year for the same work. The interactive video installation features hundreds of portraits of employees at Hyundai Motor Group, who

PeopleNov. 13, 2013

Lydia Ko on Time list of influential teenagers

Lydia Ko, a New Zealand golfer born in South Korea, made Time magazine’s list of the world’s 16 most influential teenagers of 2013.The online edition of Time mentioned her second after fellow New Zealander, 17-year-old singer-songwriter Lorde. However, the magazine did not say whether it listed the teens in order of influence.The 16-year-old Ko has multiple LPGA wins, turning pro this year after the LPGA waived the age requirement for her.She is already fifth in the women’s world rankings after

PeopleNov. 13, 2013

Ban Ki-moon to be first U.N. chief to visit Auschwitz

UNITED NATIONS (AP) ― A spokesman says Ban Ki-moon plans to make the first-ever visit by a United Nations secretary-general to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland. The camp remains the most vivid symbol of the cruelty of Nazi Germany’s genocide of World War II. U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky announced Tuesday that Ban will visit the camp on Monday “to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and to stress the importance of the U.N.’s work for genocide prevention, tolerance and peace.”More than

PeopleNov. 13, 2013

Kim Jae-joong to meet Japanese fans at solo concert

Kim Jae-joong, a member of boy group JYJ, will kick off his solo concert in Yokohama, Japan, on Friday. The concert is part of the “2013 Kim Jae Joong 1st Album Asia Tour,” which started in Seoul on Nov. 2 after he released his first full-length album “WWW: Who, When, Why” on Oct. 29. As soon as the album was unveiled, it ranked first on Japanese music charts including Japan Tower Records’ daily chart and iTunes charts in Japan.  “The album is gaining more popularity than we expected as it cons

PerformanceNov. 13, 2013

Financial firms contribute to society abroad

A number of financial firms in Korea are establishing various support and resource centers overseas as part of their efforts to participate in volunteer work and raise global brand awareness, sources said. Shinhan Financial Group recently opened a vocational training center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for the youth of low-income families, the company announced last week.Shinhan Financial will support the training center with 800 million won ($746,600) over the span of three years and hopes to

Expat LivingNov. 12, 2013

‘The Foursome’ brings friendship to the fore

Growing up and losing touch with people you were once close to is par for the course for many, but one group of expats is seeking to explore the value of old friendships with a performance of Norm Foster’s “The Foursome” in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province.The play follows four old friends around an 18-hole golf course, with a scene at each tee and one at the clubhouse. Having not seen each other for a long time, the four each come with their own problems ―- from alcoholism to ennui ―- and by

Expat LivingNov. 12, 2013

Time to Date for Daegu expats

Lonely expats in Daegu will get a chance to meet someone special and help kids at the same time at a special dating event this weekend.Daegu’s Time to Give, a nonprofit organization that helps disadvantaged children in the city, is running a speed dating night on Nov. 16.Daegu’s Time to Date is part of events to raise money to fund its activities, giving three minutes each with potential matches. The group works with local government offices and other city contacts to provide volunteer services,

Expat LivingNov. 12, 2013