The Korea Herald

Let the light shine

Dec 23, 2014

Art exhibits reflect spirit of Christmas through the portrayal of Christ’s life against Joseon era and light-inspired backgrounds
[Herald Review] A ballet to bring out the ‘rage’ within

Dec 21, 2014

Twenty-five dancers, 70 minutes, 11 frantically energetic scenes and no intermission: “Rage” truly turns classic ballet on its head and gives the poetic dance form a modern, fury-provoking twist. Seoul Ballet Theater’s latest production is not what the general public might expect from a night at the ballet. Unlike a traditional performance, “Rage” is action-packed, nonstop adrenaline with dancers running across and around the stage in a constant state of unrest. The choreography was the brainchi
Embroidery elevated to an art form

Dec 19, 2014

With thread and needle, ‘silgeurim’ artist Son In-sook ‘paints’ her inner world
‘School of Rock’ musical heads to Broadway

Dec 19, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) ― Rockers, rejoice: The Broadway musical “Rock of Ages” may be going, but get ready for “The School of Rock.”Producers said Thursday that a musical version of the 2003 film starring Jack Black will start in fall 2015, with an opening set for Dec. 6. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater will write new music to be added to some songs featured in the movie.The story ― about a rocker who poses as a substitute teacher at a tony prep school ― will be adapted by Julian F
Sculptures born out of respect for nature

Dec 18, 2014

David Nash showcases wooden sculptures that show ‘time stories’ of trees they are made from
African art show explores class, race, migration

Dec 17, 2014

Seoul Museum of Art is showcasing contemporary African art as part of a project to introduce nonmainstream art
New York’s Apollo channels Duke Ellington for holidays

Dec 17, 2014

NEW YORK (AFP) ― A half century after Duke Ellington transformed “The Nutcracker” into a jazz suite, New York’s Apollo Theater has channeled him in a production that reaches into opera and tap-dancing.The Apollo, the legendary Harlem venue where a who’s who of musical greats including Ellington have played, put on performances Saturday and Sunday that offered a jazz flavor to holiday celebrations.Ellington, amid a revival of his career in 1960, recorded “The Nutcracker Suite” in a new interpreta
[Herald Interview] Behind magic moments of ‘Once’

Dec 16, 2014

Music supervisors share the Broadway show’s true charm
Atari’s ‘E.T.’ game joins Smithsonian collection

Dec 16, 2014

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) ― One of the “E.T.” Atari game cartridges unearthed this year from a heap of garbage buried deep in the New Mexico desert has been added to the video game history collection at the Smithsonian. Museum specialist Drew Robarge made the announcement Monday in a blog post. He included a photograph of the crinkled cartridge along with the official serial number assigned to the game by the city of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The game was one of hundreds recovered at the city’s
Comic works sell for 1.89m euros

Dec 15, 2014

BRUSSELS (AFP) ― A rare 1939 comic drawing from the adventures of boy hero Tintin sold for 539,880 euros ($673,500) during auctions staged simultaneously in Brussels and Paris on Sunday.The sketch by Herge was among scores of French and Belgian comic works that fetched a total of 1.89 million euros, organizers said, higher than initial estimates had predicted.The 1939 India ink and crayon sketch for the cover of the Belgian weekly “Le Petit Vingtieme” topped an initial estimate of between 350,00
[Herald Review] ‘Kinky Boots,’ if your spirit needs lifting

Dec 10, 2014

Seoul’s performing arts scene in December is chock-full of timeless classics and feel-good shows to lure theater goers as well as novices who want to celebrate the end of the year with some cultural experiences. “Kinky Boots,” the six-time Tony Award-winning musical currently on its first non-English-speaking run in Korea, seems to be at the top of the pack. Opened Dec. 3 at Chungmu Art Hall, the show is a delightful mix of Broadway glitz and glam, uplifting songs and a heartfelt message about d
Artist in a turbulent time

Dec 9, 2014

Po Kim, a New York-based Korean artist who isolated himself from the tumult of modern Korea, is remembered in a memorial exhibition in Seoul
Is Mona Lisa Chinese? Italian’s theory raises eyebrows

Dec 9, 2014

BEIJING (AFP) ― An Italian historian’s theory that Mona Lisa might be a Chinese slave and Leonardo da Vinci’s mother ― making the 15th-century polymath half-Chinese ― sent online commentators into a frenzy Wednesday.Angelo Paratico, a Hong Kong-based historian and novelist from Italy, told the South China Morning Post: “On the back of Mona Lisa, there is a Chinese landscape and even her face looks Chinese.”Chinese Web users expressed astonishment and disbelief Wednesday, posting dozens of parodi
Barenboim bids La Scala farewell with ‘Fidelio’

Dec 8, 2014

MILAN (AP) ― Daniel Barenboim emerged triumphant from his last gala season opener as music director of La Scala on Sunday, bringing the entire orchestra onstage to bask in a standing ovation. “I am deeply happy for this evening and for all of these years. An evening like this doesn’t come out of nowhere,” Barenboim said backstage. “I feel that all we have done since 2005 had a guiding line and arrived at the point where we are today. Everyone ― the singers, the soloists, the chorus, the orchestr
Paving the way for artists

Dec 5, 2014

Kukje Gallery founder speaks about bridging the gap between the world and Korea in art