Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

‘L’Elisir d’Amore’

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*

July 5

Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti’s 1832 opera “L’Elisir d’Amore,” known in the English-speaking world as “The Elixir of Love,” will be performed at the Sejong Center in Seoul on July 5. Tenor Jeong Neung-hwa will play the role of Nemorino, while soprano Kim Seong-eun has been cast as Adina. Tickets cost 20,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1111 or visit www.interpark.com.

The Secret of Mozart & Rossini

D-Cube Arts Center

July 4

The Korea Festival Ensemble is preparing a celebration of the music of Rossini and Mozart. They will perform some of the most famous work of the iconic composers, including Rossini’s “Sonata No. 3 in C major” and Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik No. 13 in G major.” Located near exit 1 of Sindorim Station, subway lines 1 and 2. Tickets cost 10,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.d3art.co.kr.

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Charles Dutoit

Seoul Arts Center*

June 29-30

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, will perform in Seoul. Formed in 1964 by Sir Thomas Beecham, the British orchestra company has a notable history, having performed under prominent conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Rudolf Kempe, Andre Previn and Daniele Gatti. The orchestra will play Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides Overture,” Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor,” Debussy’s “La Mer” and Ravel’s “Daphnis & Chloe Suite No.2” on the first day of their two concerts. They will perform Weber’s “Euryanthe Overture,” Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E minor” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” on the second day. Tickets cost 50,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

Ditto Festival

Seoul Arts Center and LG Arts Center

Through June 30

The annual Ditto Festival, this year featuring five young talented musicians, will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center and the LG Arts Center through June 30. The ensemble at the festival includes violinists Stefan Pi Jackiw and Daniel Chong, pianist Ji Yong, cellist Michael Nicholas and violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill. They will perform Bach. For more information, visit www.dittofest.com

Big Tickets

Hyundai Card Super Concert

Olympic Stadium

Aug. 17-18

Metallica and Muse will highlight a two-day rock concert on Aug. 17 and 18 at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul. Organized by credit card provider Hyundai Card, Muse will join Limp Bizkit and Korean band Jang Kiha and the Faces in the lineup on the first day, while Metallica and Rise Against will headline the second day. Tickets cost 165,000 won for a single day and 250,000 won for both days. For more information, call (02) 332-3277 or visit www.interpark.com.

Sarah Brightman

Bexco

July 21

Singer Sarah Brightman will kick off her Korean tour in Busan. Her songs such as “The Phantom of the Opera” from the eponymous musical, “Nessun Dorma” from the opera “Turandot” and pop numbers such as “Time to Say Goodbye” have been particularly popular among Koreans. Brightman will perform at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju on July 23 and at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southern Seoul on July 26. The concert venue in Busan is located near exit 1 of Centum City Station, Busan subway line 2. Tickets cost 99,000 to 165,000 won. For more information, call 1566-5490 or visit www.interpark.com.

Museums

Art from the Islamic Civilization

National Museum of Korea

July 2-Oct. 20

The National Museum of Korea holds a special exhibition highlighting Islamic artifacts. A total of 367 Islamic treasures, which were made from the eighth to 18th centuries, including pottery, glass, jewelry and miniature paintings from the al-Sabah Collection will be on display. Tickets cost 8,000 for children and 12,000 for adults. Located near exit 4 of Ichon Station, on subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 2077-9000 or visit www.islam2013.com.

Pop & Jazz

Sunny Kim

Auteur

July 19

Jazz vocalist Sunny Kim will perform at Auteur in Hongdae, Seoul on July 19. Debuting as a vocalist of Roswell Rudd’s jazz band in 2007, Kim released her first studio album “Android Ascension” in 2008, and has performed both in Korea and overseas. Recently, she released her second album “Painter’s Eye” on American jazz label, Sunnyside Records. Located near exit 3 of Hapjeong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 941-1150 or visit www.interpark.com.

Super Sonic 2013

Olympic Park*

August 14-15

The annual Super Sonic rock festival will take place for two days in southern Seoul, featuring a star-studded lineup. The first day of the concert on Aug. 14 will be highlighted by English duo Pet Shop Boys, veteran band Earth, Wind & Fire and New Zealand singer Willy Moon, along with Korean acts Dickpunks and Super Kidd. The performance on the next day will be highlighted by Cho Yong-pil, arguably Korea’s most influential pop musician. Rap singer Verbal Jint, rock band Jaurim, American rock band Hot Chelle Rae will also hit the stage. Tickets cost 150,000 won for two days. For more information, call (02) 6002-7577 or visit www.supersonickorea.com.

Daybreak

Olympic Hall

Aug. 24-25

Korean Indie band Daybreak will perform at the Olympic Hall in southern Seoul. Comprised of guitarist Jeong Yu-jong, bassist Kim Sun-il, keyboardist Kim Jang-won and Lee Won-suk on vocals, they have garnered a significant following for their three albums released since 2007. Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

Shinhwa

Olympic Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park*

August 3-4

Six-member boy band, Shinhwa will hold a concert celebrating their 15th anniversary. The K-pop group debuted in 1998 and became quickly established as one of the most popular acts in Korean music. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 66,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, contact 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com

Dynamic Duo & J-Park

Club Hollic

June 29

Hip-hop artists Dynamic Duo and Jay Park will be holding a concert at the southern Seoul club “Hollic.” The club is located on the first basement level of Youngdong Hotel, located near exit 3 of Sinsa Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 35,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

Roy Kim

Yonsei University Main Auditorium

July 13-14

K-pop star Roy Kim will hold a concert at the Younsei University Main Auditorium from July 13 to 14. The 20-year-old singer was a winner of the television singing contest, “Superstar K4,” last year. His debut single, “Spring, Spring, Spring” topped the music charts in Korea in the first few weeks of release. To get the venue, take the mini bus no. 3 or 4 from the exit 2 or 3 of Sinchon Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (070) 8967-0901 or visit www.interpark.com.

BEAST

Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Olympic Park*

July 20-21

Six-member K-pop boy band BEAST will hold a concert in southern Seoul. The band debuted in 2009 and has released one studio album and several singles. Their single, “Will You be Alright?” released on May 29 topped major download charts in past weeks. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com.

Laura Fygi

Guri Art Hall

Jazz virtuoso Laura Fygi will perform at the Guri Art Hall, Guri, Gyeonggi Province. She will sing famous jazz numbers including “I Love You for Sentimental Reasons,” “Let There Be Love,” and “Dream A Little Dream,” a song particularly beloved in Korea. Take a no.6 mini bus at exit 2 of Guri Station, Jungang Line, and get off in front of the art hall. Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. A wheelchair seat costs 33,000 won. For more information, call (031) 550-8800 or visit www.gart.go.kr.

INFINITE

Olympic Gymnastics Arena

August 9-10

Heart-throb K-pop boy band INFINITE will perform at the Olympic Gymnastics Stadium in southern Seoul on Aug. 9 and 10. The Seoul shows will kick off a worldwide tour, stopping by Japan, China, South America and Europe. Tickets cost 88,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

Plays & Musicals

Chicago

National Theater of Korea

July 6-Aug. 31

A Korean rendition of the Broadway hit musical “Chicago” will soon hit the stage in Seoul. Actress Lee Honey and Oh Jin-young have been double cast as Roxie Hart. Singer Insooni and musical actress Choi Jung-won will feature as Velma Kelly. To get there, take a shuttle bus provided by the theater at exit 6 of Dongguk University Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

Jack the Ripper

Seongnam Art Hall*

The Korean production of the Czech musical “Jack the Ripper” will be staged at the performing arts hall in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Set in London in 1888, the story revolves around Anderson, a detective chasing an unidentified serial killer, dubbed as “Jack the Ripper,” and Daniel, a young American doctor who asserts that he knows the identity of the killer. Rock singers Shin Sung-woo and Jung Dong-ha and musical veteran Lee Gun-myung highlight the cast. Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, visit www.snart.or.kr.

Les Miserables

Blue Square

Through July 7

A high-profile list of Korean actors will stage the iconic musical at the theater near Itaewon. Comedian-turned-musical actor Jung Sung-hwa will play Jean Valjean, who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread; Cho Jung-eun will be Fantine, a tragic woman who leads a difficult life of a factory worker, and Javert, a policeman who chases Valjean, will be played by Moon Jong-won. The venue is connected to Hangangjin Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more, visit www.lesmis.co.kr.

Hedwig

Baekam Art Hall

Through Sept. 8

The musical “Hedwig” will be staged for Korean theatergoers again, as they bought more than 350,000 tickets for it when it was first performed here in 2005. Cho Seung-woo, the popular television and movie actor, will return as Hedwig, the struggling, transsexual rocker from East Germany. Located near exit 8 of Samseong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 50,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3485-8700 or visit www.baekamhall.com.

Spamalot

Yonkang Hall, Doosan Art Center

Through Sept. 1

Korean version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical will be staged in Seoul through Sept. 1. Adapted from the 1975 comedy flick, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” this musical follows King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table on their hilarious journey to find an ancient relic. Funnyman Jung Joon-ha and veteran actor Seo Young-joo alternate in the role of the King Arthur. Yonkang Hall is located near exit 1 of Jongno 5-ga Station, subway line 1. Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit www.interpark.com.

Dance

Onegin

July 6-13

The Universal Ballet Company will perform “Onegin,” a work by South African choreographer John Cranko at the Seoul Arts Center in July. The ballet is based on Alexander Pushkin’s tragic love story “Eugene Onegin.” The Universal Ballet Company will be only the second company to stage this piece after China’s National Ballet performance in 2008. Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.universalballet.com.