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Alfred Brendel: the 'Thinking Pianist's Man'
Self-taught pianist Alfred Brendel, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, was himself baffled by his success on the world stage.
Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel dies at 94: spokesman
Austrian pianist Alfred Brendel, widely regarded as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, died in London on Tuesday, his spokesman said. He was 94.
'Second time I've died': Nobel laureate Jelinek denies death reports
Austrian Nobel Prize winner Elfriede Jelinek told AFP on Tuesday that she was alive and well, after German-speaking media reported a fake announcement that the writer had died.
Queer astronaut documentary takes on new meaning in Trump's US
When director Cristina Costantini started making a documentary about the first US woman in space, she thought it would be looking back on the "sexism and homophobia of yesteryear".
Amsterdam honours its own Golden Age sculpture master
Imposing but delicate marble sculptures of Graeco-Roman-style figures grace the vaulted corridors of a huge palace. But this isn't Florence or Rome. This is Amsterdam.
Soft power: BTS fans rally behind Korean international adoptees
K-pop megaband BTS is back from military service, and their international fandom -- long known for its progressive activism -- is celebrating by rallying behind a cause: adoptees from South Korea.
Despite law, US TikTok ban likely to remain on hold
US President Donald Trump is widely expected to extend the Thursday deadline for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a ban in the United States.
Mexican band accused of glorifying cartels changes its tune
A popular Mexican band under investigation for glorifying a wanted drug lord has released an anti-narco song in a bid to clear its name.
Kneecap 'unfazed' by legal problems, says friend and director
Irish rappers Kneecap are "unfazed" by their legal problems and controversies kicked up by their anti-Israel pro-Palestinian statements, friend and film director Rich Peppiatt told AFP.
'How to Train Your Dragon' soars to top of N.America box office
"How to Train Your Dragon," a live-action reboot of a popular 2010 animated film, roared to the top of the North American box office with $83.7 million in weekend ticket sales, industry estimates showed Sunday.
Sober clubbing brews fresh beat for Singapore Gen Z
Swaying to dance music and TikTok-fuelled pop under a disco ball, young punters are packed shoulder to shoulder while sipping on coffee, their energy powered by pour-overs rather than pints.
Survival and loss in Air India plane disaster
Grieving families are mourning at least 279 killed when a London-bound passenger jet crashed in India, with the victims in Ahmedabad ranging from a top politician to a teenage tea seller.
No political jokes in Springfield, says Simpsons creator Groening
Like many American families struggling for unity in the polarised United States, The Simpsons have decided to avoid political jokes, the creator of the series Matt Groening told AFP.
Picasso on a plate: unseen ceramics up for auction
A clutch of one-off and hitherto unseen ceramic plates and dishes by Pablo Picasso are going under the hammer in Geneva on June 19.
BTS fans gather for K-pop supergroup's annual celebration
Thousands of fans of BTS will Friday mark the K-pop supergroup's anniversary, with all but one member now finished with their mandatory military service and a return to performance likely imminent.
Chinese woman detained over BTS Jungkook attempted break-in
A Chinese woman was briefly detained in Seoul for allegedly attempting to enter the home of BTS idol Jungkook, who was released from his military service a day before, police said Thursday.
London museum opens vast 'on-demand' storehouse to public
Imagine being able to visit a museum and examine up close thousand-year-old pottery, revel alone in jewellery from centuries past, or peer inside a Versace bag.
Trump cheered, jeered at 'Les Miserables' debut in Washington
Cheers but also boos met US President Donald Trump as he attended a performance Wednesday of "Les Miserables" at Washington's premier cultural institution, which he has effectively seized control of since returning to power in January.
Majority on Brazil court in favor of tougher social media rules
Brazil's Supreme Court reached a majority Wednesday in favor of toughening social media regulation, in a groundbreaking case for Latin America on the spread of fake news and hate speech.
Brian Wilson's top five Beach Boys songs
From the the carefree sound of California surf music to the sophistication of later darker works, here are five of the top hits penned by influential Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson.
France school stabbing suspect said wanted to kill any campus monitor
A 14-year-old French school pupil detained for stabbing to death a teaching assistant had wanted to attack "any" adult monitor after being reprimanded for kissing his girlfriend, a prosecutor said Wednesday.
Beach Boy Brian Wilson, surf rock poet, dies at 82
Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys co-founder who masterminded the group's wild popularity and soundtracked the California dream, has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 82.
German artist who 'painted with nails', Guenther Uecker, dead at 95
German sculptor and installation artist Guenther Uecker, best known for his mesmerising artworks using thousands of nails, has died at age 95.
Tears, tattoos, Cartier watches: fan frenzy at BTS army discharge
South Korea's Yeoncheon county, just kilometres from the heavily fortified border with the nuclear-armed North, is best known for its honey. But on Wednesday, it was flooded with K-pop supergroup BTS fans.
Two more BTS megastars released from South Korea military service
Two more BTS members were released from South Korean military service Wednesday, bringing the K-pop supergroup closer to a reunion as they promised fans a "better version" of themselves soon.
Combs defense seeks to show ex-girlfriend had agency
Sean Combs's defense lawyers on Tuesday began questioning a woman who dated the music mogul up until his arrest, and who has testified in agonizing detail that he pressured her into drug-fueled sex with escorts.
Ezra Collective's infectious energy defies jazz 'elitism' to win new fans
UK five-piece Ezra Collective has built up a loyal fan base with its upbeat jazz fusion, successfully challenging the genre's "elitism", saying that they embrace everyone.
Two BTS megastars released from South Korea military
The world's most popular boy band is heading for a reunion: K-pop megastars RM and V from BTS were released Tuesday after service 18 months of South Korean military service, prompting a fan frenzy.
Two of K-pop's BTS megastars released from military service
The world's most popular boy band are heading for a reunion: K-pop megastars RM and V from BTS were released Tuesday from 18 months of South Korean military service, prompting a fan frenzy.
Sly Stone: soul music's groundbreaking, elusive superstar
Funk master and iconic music innovator Sly Stone, whose songs drove a civil rights-inflected soul explosion in the 1960s, sparking influential albums but also a slide into drug addiction, has died, his family said Monday. He was 82.
K-pop's BTS members set for military service release
The world's most popular boy band are heading for a reunion: K-pop megastars RM and V from BTS will be released Tuesday from 18 months of South Korean military service, prompting a fan frenzy.
Apple plays it safe on AI despite Wall Street pressure
Apple on Monday remained on its cautious path to embracing generative AI even as rivals race ahead with the technology and Wall Street expresses doubts over its strategy.