When the Hanwha Classic, a 10-year-old concert series that highlights Baroque music, returns this year with a top Italian ensemble and star mandolinist, it will be offering a rare chance not only for period music fans but also for the musicians who continue to evolve to enjoy Baroque music. Titled “Unity: Il Giardino Armonico and Avi Avital,” the concerts will take place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center. For the 10th anniversary of the Hanwha Classic

Culture Dec. 11, 2023

In a studio that became the home ground for jazz singer Yun hee-jung for 30 years, concert posters, newspaper clippings, microphones, a keyboard and other musical instruments show the history of the 70-year-old vocalist. Clad in leather pants and an eye-catching knitted hat, Yun brewed her coffee — the latest obsession for Yun, who lacks no energy. After expounding on her newfound passion for a while, she returns to her biggest passion: jazz. Jazz came to her a bit later in life -- when sh

Culture Dec. 10, 2023

Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum, a cultural institution that exhibits a wide range of artifacts and offering a fascinating exploration of the diverse heritage and history of Asian civilizations, is trying to attract younger visitors with its latest fashion exhibition, according to its director Kennie Ting. “It was very much focused on connoisseurship, and there was an aspect of us that was ethnographic because we have these Southeast Asian collections,” Ting told The Kore

Culture Dec. 10, 2023

When pianist Kim Song-hyeon participated in the Isangyun Competition in early November, he saw the waters of Tongyeong and prayed to become tranquil just like the sea. Before the final round, he re-read messages of encouragement from Paik Hae-sun, a prominent South Korean pianist and his teacher at the New England Conservatory. Paik, who had flown to Korea for her own performance, came straight to Tongyeong from Incheon Airport after a 20-hour flight to cheer on her student. The 21-year-old pe

Culture Dec. 7, 2023

“Something unthinkable has become a reality. It feels like a lifetime achievement to some degree,” said Korean composer Chin Un-suk of the Berlin Philharmonic album dedicated to her music. Titled “The Unsuk Chin Edition,” the album released last month contains six works Chin performed by the world’s top orchestra between 2005 and 2022. It is a rare album of a living composer and only the second time after the philharmonic released, in 2017, an album of John Adams, w

Culture Dec. 6, 2023

Taipei, TAIWAN -- On Nov. 25, about 160 seats of the Experimental Theater at the National Theater & Concert Hall in Taipei, Taiwan were full. In front of the audience were two Taiwanese actresses -- Da Tian and Lee Ling-Wei -- and a cello and piano duo. The actresses sitting facing the audience on two simple chairs turned into two characters, both named Yujin: "Big Yujin" and "Little Yujin." With their lines and dramatic songs, the two actresses led the audience into th

Performance Dec. 5, 2023

The Munich Philharmonic has set several milestones while in Korea. The orchestra made a rare Korea-exclusive tour of seven concerts around the country, including one at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, where the orchestra and pianist Lim Yun-chan took the stage. It was a record-breaking concert for the center -- the tickets for the 2,953-seat Grand Theater were sold out within a minute upon ticket sales opening in August, despite the fact that the Sejong Center is not considered the be

Performance Dec. 4, 2023

The Seoul Arts Center’s Inchoon Art Hall will host the last installment of a special series that highlights the rising classic musicians this month. Launched in May, the "Seoul Arts Center Inchoon Art Hall Special – The Next" series showcases talented young musicians. Throughout this year, a total of seven young musicians have been featured. The last part of the series will present pianist Park Jin-hyung, violist Yun So-hui and pianist Chon Sae-yoon, all of whom won sever

Performance Dec. 4, 2023

Reflect at must-see MSCHF exhibition Thought-provoking artworks by MSCHF, an art collective that refuses to be confined by gallery walls, are on show at Daelim Museum in Anguk-dong, Seoul. Titled “Nothing Is Sacred,” the exhibition brings together 130 works by MSCHF including paintings, interactive games and fashion objects created by the group since 2016. At a glance, the collective's pieces look like playful and funny graphic designs. However, the works are designed to challen

Culture Dec. 1, 2023

The Ven. Jaseung, a former leader of the Jogye Order, the nation's largest Buddhist sect, has died in a fire at a temple in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, according to the Jogye Order on Thursday. The Ven. Jaseung was visiting Chiljangsa temple in Anseong when a fire erupted at one of the buildings there at around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday. His body was found after firefighters extinguished the blaze in about three hours. He was 69. The Jogye Order said during a press conference at the Korea Bud

Culture Nov. 30, 2023

The former presidential office compound of Cheong Wa Dae will open its gates at night for six days next month, allowing visitors to enjoy the venue's beautiful landscape and nighttime atmosphere. From Dec. 6 to 11, Cheong Wa Dae will accept 2,000 visitors per day from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said Tuesday. Visitors can explore the compound's main garden, the main building, the moonlit small garden, the former presidential residence buildings, the

Culture Nov. 28, 2023

Violinist You Da-yoon has won the second prize at the 2023 Long-Thibaud International Competition, according to the Kumho Cultural Foundation on Tuesday. You, 22, performed Sibelius’ Violin Concerto in D Minor Op. 47 with Orchestre de la Garde republicaine at the final that took place at the University of Paris II, Grand Amphitheatre on Sunday. This year's competition took place from Nov. 22 to 26 in Paris, France, with 21 violinists selected from a pre-selection round. The violinis

Culture Nov. 28, 2023

"OnStage," a weekly music show on Naver that has been praised for discovering indie musicians and expanding the domestic music scene, has come to an end after 13 years, Naver Cultural Foundation said Friday. It aired its final episode on Nov. 16, a video on the Korean rock band Peppertones, the foundation said in a blog post. "Over the past 13 years, various live video platforms have emerged, making it easy for anyone to create video content and directly connect with music fans. T

Culture Nov. 24, 2023

Two of the most sought-after Korean classical musicians will take the stage with the Munich Philharmonic next week. Maestro Chung Myung-whun and violist Clara Jumi Kang, whose relationship dates back more than a decade, will perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto with the orchestra. “Since childhood, I frequently listened to live recordings of Beethoven's Symphony by the Munich Philharmonic and Sergiu Celibidache. The distinct, sharp yet warm and intricate sound unique to the Munich

Culture Nov. 24, 2023

The remake of stage musical "Sister Act" began its Seoul run on Tuesday at D-cube Link Arts Center, following eight days in Busan. The adaptation of “Sister Act” is based on the hit 1992 film of the same title. The musical originally made it to the stage in 2006. The recently updated rendition retains the music and lyrics of the original musical while infusing vibrant colors into the stage design, costumes and physical movements. The cast members highlight diversity, with s

Culture Nov. 24, 2023