Concerts to Watch for in 2008

Left, Bjork. Center, Celine Dion. Right, Bobby McFerrin

By Culture Desk

Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas and Christina Aguilera; these were the big-name international pop stars who graced the stage in Seoul in 2007. Fans can expect a line-up of other renowned musicians next year.

Pop Concerts

Nana Mouskouri: World-renowned Greek singer will perform in five different cities across the nation. Mouskouri was scheduled to visit Korea last July, but cancelled the performance due to health problems. With her gentle voice, trademark glasses and hair, she is one of the most favored European musicians in Korea, remembered for her legendary songs such as ``Try to Remember.'' She will perform at Seoul (Millennium Hall at Central City Seoul) on Jan. 20; Seongnam (Opera House of Seongnam Art Center) on Jan.22; Daegu (Daegu Cultural Center for Students) on Jan. 25; Changwon (Changwon Seongsan Art Hall) on Jan. 25; and in Busan (Busan KBS Hall) on Jan. 26. Tickets cost 90,000-190,000won. Call 1544-7566.

Bjork: The exotic Icelandic singer Bjork will take the stage in February. The singer also won the Best Actress Award for the movie ``Dancer in the Dark'' at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000. She will be performing with an Icelandic brass band, and is expected to show her distinctive music on stage for the first time in Korea. Bjork will perform Feb. 16 at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastic Stadium. Tickets cost 67,000-89,000won. Call 1544-1555

Celine Dion: Pop diva Celine Dion will also visit Korean fans as a part of her ``Taking Chances World Tour 2008'' on March 18 and 19 at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastic Stadium. It is her second performance in Korea since her first visit a decade ago. The famous pop singer has prepared quite a performance with Jamie King, who recently produced the come back concert of the Spice Girls, as the director of the concert. Tickets cost 75,000-300,000won. Call 02-3444-9969

Bobby McFerrin: For those who remember the simple yet unforgettable melodies such as ``Don't Worry Be Happy'' from the movie ``Cocktail'' starring Tom Cruise, Bobby McFerrin's concert will certainly be a memorable New Year's event. Famous for his four octave vocal range and unaccompanied singing, the musician also composes jazz, pop and classical music. Fans will be able to see McFerrin in Seoul (Jan. 25) at the Concert Hall in Seoul Arts Center and in Daejeon (Jan.26) at the Daejeon Culture and Arts Center. Tickets cost 54,000-135,000 won. Call 02-586-2722

2008 will certainly be another fruitful year for pop lovers, for more concerts are yet to be scheduled, such as former Beatle's member, Paul McCartney, and English pop star Elton John.

Musicals

Movie-based musicals: ``Radio Star,'' at the Seoul Arts Center on Jan. 26 to March 2; ``My Love, My Bride'' at PMC Theater in July to September; ``The Harmonium in My Memory'' at Hoam Arts Hall from July to September; and ``Pounds Beauty'' in November, venue unannounced; will be adapted to stage musicals.

Foreign licensed blockbuster musical: ``My Fair Lady'' at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from August to September; ``Nine'' at LG Arts Center on Jan. 22 to March 2; and ``We Will Rock You'' at Seongnam Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 2 to 13; will be put on stage. ``Cats'' by the world tour team will also hit the stage again this year at Charlotte Theater in Seoul for nine months starting from May. After the world tour team's performance here, the Korean troupe will stage the Korean version of ``Cats''.

``Alegria'' presented by world-famous Canadian circus troupe Cirque Du Soleil which brought ``Quidam'' to Seoul's stage in 2007, will take to the stage on the big top theater in October.

Contemporary Korean Theater: Also, the year 2008 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Korean contemporary theater. ``Silver World'' (Eunsegye) by Lee In-jik, was first staged at Wongaksa, one of the early theaters in Seoul, in 1908. The play will be put on stage by veteran director Sohn Jin-chaek at Chongdong Theater in Seoul in October.

Exhibitions

2008 Art Spectrum: Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, will start off the year with works by young and talented contemporary artists in February. The biennial event will provide a chance to take a glimpse into the future of contemporary art in Korea. From Feb. 28 to April 13. For more visit call 02-2014-6901 www.leeum.org

Bourdelle Sculpture Exhibition: Renowned French sculptor Emile Antoine Bourdelle will attract Korean art fans with his exquisite sculptures such as ``Hercules the Archer'' at the Seoul Museum of Art. From Feb. 29 to June 8. For more call 02-2124-8800 or visit www.seoulmoa.seoul.go.kr

Annette Messager Exhibition: Another French artist, Annette Messager, will greet art lovers with her works in March at the National Museum of Contemporary Art. Messager won the Golden Lion Prize at the Venice Biennial Art Fair in 2005 with her experimental artwork. Starting from March to June. For more call 02-2124-8800 or visit www.seoulmoa.seoul.go.kr

Korean Photography Exhibition: The National Museum of Contemporary Art is also preparing a special photography exhibition in July. This exhibition will be one of the largest to be held exclusively on Korea modern photography, with photos and art works covering more than 120 years. From July to October. For more call 02-2124-8800 or visit www.seoulmoa.seoul.go.kr

Cartier Collection Exhibition: For luxury jewelry lovers, Cartier's exhibition will be quite a treat. More than 300 pieces of jewelry will be displayed in April at the National Museum of Art in Deuksu Palace. This glittery event will show the characteristics of the European art industry in the late 19th century. From April 22 to July 13. For more information call 02-2022-0600 or visit www.moca.go.kr/deoksugung.

Classical Concerts

Classical music buffs should be prepared for a painfully delightful 2008 ― considering how arduous it might be to choose from the long list of hard-to-miss concerts.

Korea's major cultural centers celebrate big birthdays: Seoul Arts Center (SAC) turns 20 and the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts marks its 30th anniversary.

The world's leading orchestras are due to visit Korea all year long. In February, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra ― the world's oldest continuing musical ensemble ― will play on the 27th at SAC. The following evening, the New York Philharmonic will perform after having made its historical Pyongyang debut. In March, the London Philharmoni will visit, featuring solos by violist Richard Yongjae O'Neil and pianist Paik Kun-woo (11th at Sejong; 13th at SAC).

In May, the Philadelphia Orchestra led by maestro Christoph Escenbach and the China Philharmonic Orchestra will play at the Sejong Center.

For the fall season, Chung Myung-whun will lead La Scala Philharmonic in September, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic will make its long-awaited Korean debut in October (SAC, Sejong).

In November, the Berlin Philharmonic visits Korea for the first time in four years to play Brahms Symphony pieces. Yuri Temirkanov will also conduct a performance by the Saint Petersburg Philharmonic.

Young artists: Young musicians are due to perform, beginning with the Vienna Boys Choir (Jan. 11, Sejong) and the Sejong Soloists (Jan. 22, Goyang Aram Nuri Complex). Star pianists will also make their rounds: Lim Dong-hyek will give a recital (Feb. 26, SAC); Kim Sun-wook will play with violinist Chung Myung-wha (Jan. 4, 6, Hoam Art Hall) and the BBC Philharmonic in March (SAC); and the great Martha Argerich and Chinese artist Lang Lang will also visit in May. Violinist Sarah Chang will perform Vivaldi pieces with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra in June and then with the L.A. Philharmonic in October (SAC), and cellist Han-na Chang will appear with the London Chamber Orchestra in November (SAC).

2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the introduction of opera to Korea. While 2007 came to a rather sour close, with the fire at SAC forcing the cancellation of productions scheduled until next fall. But for those disappointed with the cancellation of the opera ``Parsifal,'' the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will give a concertant performance in December with maestro Chung Myung-whun at the baton.

Meanwhile, there are operas at the Sejong Center by the Seoul Opera Group ― ``La Traviata'' in April, ``Don Giovanni'' in June and ``Don Carlos'' in November. In October, the Goyang Cultural Foundation & Arts Complex will stage ``Tosca'' in collaboration with Italy's Bologne Theater Opera.

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