Cho, LSO, Pappano, Barbican review - finely-focused stormy weather

★★★★ CHO, LSO, PAPPANO, BARBICAN Finely-focused stormy weather

Chameleonic Seong-Jin Cho is a match for the fine-tuning of the LSO’s Chief Conductor

It was a hefty evening, as it needn't necessarily have been throughout, since Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony can conceal more darkness between the lines in a lighter take. In his second full concert of his second season as the wildly successful and popular Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, Antonio Pappano spared us none of the hard-hitting.

The Trunk, Netflix review - stylish, noir-ish Korean drama wrapped around a beguiling love story

★★★★ THE TRUNK, NETFLIX Stylish, noir-ish Korean drama wrapped around a beguiling love story

Unusual psychological study of a stranger paid to save a toxic marriage

The trunk in the title is a luxury item, worth 50 million won – just north of £27,000 – shown sinking in deep water in the opening credits. It weaves through one of the classiest recent collaborations between Netflix and Korean TV, a haunting psychological drama that’s balm to the soul after the mob-handed violence on offer here at home. 

Do Ho Suh: Walk the House, Tate Modern review - memories are made of this

★★★★ DO HO SUH: WALK THE HOUSE, TATE MODERN Memories are made of this

Home sweet home preserved as exquisite replicas

A traditional Korean house has appeared at Tate Modern. And with its neat brickwork, beautifully carved roof beams and lattice work screens, this charming dwelling looks decidedly out of place, and somewhat ghostly. Go closer and you realise that, improbably, the full-sized building is made of paper. It’s the work of South Korean artist Do Ho Suh (main picture).

The Potato Lab, Netflix review - a K-drama with heart and wit

★★★★ THE POTATO LAB, NETFLIX A K-drama with heart and wit

Love among Korean potato-researchers is surprisingly funny and ideal for Janeites

When the world’s darkness is too much, there is a Netflix rabbit-hole you can disappear down to a kinder place: the Korean romcoms section. This is a recommendation for romcom fans, a warm indulgent bubble bath of a watch. It's like turning the clock back to more innocent times, while full of contemporary pizzazz. 

By the Stream review - enigmatic Korean drama

Hong Sang-soo's 32nd feature: Seoul campus life and love with plenty of booze

“I lead a peaceful, idle life, running a bookstore in Gangneung. Honestly, no customers.” Chu Si-eon (Kwon Hae-hyo) is genial and self-deprecating but he was previously a well-known actor and director before he criticised the authorities and was forced to lay low.

Album: Tomorrow X Together - The Star Chapter: Sanctuary

From heavenly pop to reggaeton heat, TXT's musical universe knows no bounds

South Korean quintet TXT's latest mini-album delivers six meticulously crafted tracks that showcase the group's evolving artistry through everything from dreamy pop to reggaeton to classic R&B.

With its stripped back arrangement – some ethereal guitar chords here, an unforgettably chirpy three-note descending synth riff there, plus vocal lines that flow and blend mellifluously – album opener “Heaven” delivers the mini-album's first and perhaps most memorable earworm.

Han, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Inkinen / Dunedin Consort, Butt, Edinburgh International Festival 2023 review - a tale of two very different orchestras

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL ★★★★ Han, KBS Symphony Orchestra, Inkinen / ★★★★ Dunedin Consort - Confident Koreans followed by supreme Bach interpreters

Confident Koreans followed by supreme Bach interpreters

There’s a Korean strain to the Edinburgh International Festival’s programme this year, more in the drama programme than in the music one, but it came to the Usher Hall in Friday night’s concert from the KBS Symphony Orchestra (★★★★). They play a similar role in Korea to what the BBC Orchestras do in the UK (KBS stands for Korean Broadcasting System) and if this concert is anything to go by then they’re a jolly impressive bunch of musicians.

Moon Is the Oldest TV review - a fitting tribute to a visionary modern artist

★★★★★ MOON IS THE OLDEST TV A fitting tribute to a visionary modern artist

Authoritative documentary that defines the genius of Nam June Paik

Who created the term “electronic superhighway”? First described a system of linked communication that would become the internet? Envisioned a multichannel TV system where viewers chose for themselves what to tune into? Watch Amanda Kim’s excellent documentary Moon Is the Oldest TV and you find that the correct answer to all those questions is Nam June Paik.