The Korea Herald

Legendary ballerina Makarova honored in N.Y.

TheaterMay 1, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― When people think of famous Soviet dancers who defected to the West, they recall Rudolf Nureyev, certainly, and Mikhail Baryshnikov. But there was also a formidable woman among them: Natalia Makarova, who defected in 1970 and went on to win glory for decades to come, in Europe and in the United States.Now 71, Makarova is retired of course, but she was the undisputed star over the weekend at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater as ballet greats gathered to pay her tribute. It wa
Kang’s ‘The Lady of the Camellias’ returns to Seoul

TheaterMay 1, 2012

For Kang Sue-jin, principal dancer in Germany’s Stuttgart Ballet, “The Lady of the Camellias” means a lot ― Kang’s dramatic portrayal and technical proficiency in the ballet drama earned her the dance world’s prestigious Benois Prize in 1999.Thirteen years later, the Korean ballerina now in her 40s will be performing Marguerite Gautier, a tragic courtesan in 19th century Paris, again in Seoul with the Stuttgart Ballet at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on June 16-17. And her portrayal
Behind the glamour: S.M. stars retrace their beginnings

FilmMay 1, 2012

S.M. idol-documentary ‘I AM’ opening in theaters in MayEver wondered what it takes to be BoA or a member of Girls’ Generation?Expect to spend at least seven to eight years training before making your debut. Forget hanging out with your friends ― you go straight to singing lessons right after school. And if you are not from Seoul, where the vocal and dance training take place, you may have to live away from your family, even if you are only a fifth grader. Korea’s major K-pop and talent agency S
New Orleans, U.N. concerts mark world jazz day

MusicMay 1, 2012

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ― As the morning sun spilled over the New Orleans’ skyline Monday, jazz musicians Herbie Hancock, Ellis Marsalis and others kicked off International Jazz Day with a sunrise concert that included ritual drumming and a string of performances, a day that culminated in the evening with a grand all-star concert at the United Nations.In the morning, trumpeters Terence Blanchard and Kermit Ruffins, singer Stephanie Jordan and others performed “On the Sunny Side of the Street’’ and “Afr
More ballroom, less fusion in ‘Dancing with the Stars’

TelevisionMay 1, 2012

Second season putting the spotlight on competitive dancingThe first season of MBC’s “Dancing with the Stars” put in a relatively strong showing when it aired last summer, nabbing viewer ratings that kept it at the top of its timeslot. Now into its second season, all eyes are trained on whether or not this ballroom dance reality program is a one-trick pony or here to stay. Viewer ratings for the prologue, which aired last Friday, did not bode well for the program. Clocking in it at around six to
Lady Gaga teacup hits $50,000 and rising in Japan

MusicMay 1, 2012

Fans bidding in a charity online auction to buy a teacup used once by pop diva Lady Gaga had offered more than four million yen ($50,000) by Tuesday, with five days left before the hammer falls.The china cup and saucer set was used by the star at a press conference inTokyo three months after the massive tsunami of March last year swamped a large stretch of coastline.Lady Gaga told reporters at the
Dempsey rescues teen from car crash

TelevisionMay 1, 2012

"Grey's Anatomy" star Patrick Dempsey came to the aid of a teenager who flipped his car into the actor's Malibu yard, TMZ reported.Patrick Dempsey (Bloomberg)The teen lost control of his Mustang Tuesday evening and the vehicle overturned multiple times before coming to rest in Dempsey's front yard, TMZ reported. The car was totaled.Dempsey rushed from his home, crowbar in hand, to pry the teen fro
Museum shows Joseon scholar’s teachings on wife’s hanbok

TheaterApr 30, 2012

The Museum of Silhak, or study of “practical learning” of the late Joseon period, is hosting the special exhibition “Dasan, his life and ideal at the Han River” on late Joseon scholar Jeong Yak-yong from April 27 to Sept. 9.“Hapicheob,” referring to Jeong’s writings on an old hanbok skirt sent by his wife while he was in exile in Gangjin, South Jeolla Province, is among the highlights of the 70 or so items exhibited. The scholar wrote words of virtue for his sons and daughters in 1810 and sent t
Ditto to perform Russian classics in Japan

MusicApr 30, 2012

All-male chamber ensemble Ditto has been invited to perform at La Folle Journee au Japon “Days of Enthusiasm” Music Festival currently being held in Tokyo, its agency said.The ensemble members, including violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, pianist Jiyong, cellist Michael Nicolas, and violinists Johnny Lee and Erik Schumann, will perform classical music composed by Russian musicians in the Marunouchi area of Tokyo during Japan’s annual spring holiday Golden Week. This is the ensemble’s third perform
A time to appreciate gugak

TheaterApr 30, 2012

Different types of Korean traditional music to be staged for families, touristsA variety of gugak performances will be staged this month, offering families and tourists a chance to appreciate different types of Korean traditional music, mostly in Seoul.To celebrate the 615th anniversary of King Sejong’s birth year, the National Gugak Center presents three large-scale performances from May 5-15 in Seoul and Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province.The state-run gugak center will stage its new signature piece “Se
Raul Esparza enjoys his ‘once in a lifetime’ role

TheaterApr 30, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) ― Raul Esparza was once invited to go backstage at “Les Miserables’’ on Broadway to learn how the effects were done. His response was the same as when he was invited in Las Vegas to check out the tricks backstage at Cirque du Soleil’s “O.’’No thanks, he said both times.“I don’t want to know how it works,’’ says the four-time Tony Award nominee who stars in “Leap of Faith’’ on Broadway. “If I don’t believe in the magic, what’s the point of going to work eight times a week?’’That Esp
‘James Bond’ returns to Istanbul on 50th anniversary

FilmApr 30, 2012

ISTANBUL (AFP) ― James Bond has once again returned to Istanbul for “Skyfall,” the latest film in the longest running series that this year celebrates half a century of the legendary spy in action, its director said Sunday.“We wanted to be here because it is the most magnificent place, it is an incredible city. ... I can’t get enough of it,” said director Sam Mendes, who spoke to the press in Istanbul after more than 100 days of shooting “Skyfall” in Turkey.The 23rd film in the Bond series was s
Park Ji-min named winner of ‘K-pop Star’

TelevisionApr 30, 2012

Youngest winner at 15 to choose agency among top three K-pop companiesFifteen-year-old Park Ji-min became the winner of SBS’ “K-pop Star,” beating out her rival Lee Ha-yi by one point in the neck-and-neck competition on Sunday evening. With Sunday’s win, Park also became the youngest and first female winner of a local TV singing audition program. “I’m happy because I feel like I’m being rewarded for all the hard work up until now. I would like to thank my parents and the three judges,” said Park
Conductor Kurt Masur hospitalized in Paris

MusicApr 29, 2012

PARIS (AP) ― Kurt Masur, the legendary former director of the New York Philharmonic, was recovering from injuries in a hospital on Friday after he fell off a podium during a concert in the French capital.The 84-year-old Masur, who was conducting the National Orchestra of France on Thursday night, lost balance during a movement of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6.The orchestra’s spokesperson, Camille Grabowski, told The Associated Press on Friday that Masur is expected to be released “very soon’’ fro
Hancock celebrates International Jazz Day

MusicApr 29, 2012

PARIS (AP) ― Herbie Hancock and scores of other big names in sound, rhythm and improvisation gathered in Paris on Friday to celebrate a new annual event: International Jazz Day.Hancock, a UNESCO goodwill ambassador, is the force behind the creation of a world day of jazz on April 30 starting Monday.The yearly event aims to encourage people around the world to break down barriers between them using music.“International Jazz Day is the great metaphor for international harmony,’’ Hancock told The A