Classical Concerts

Chang Il-bum’s Classic Cafe VI
Hoam Art Hall* (See venues for more information)
Sept. 12

Music critic and radio personality Chang Il-bum will host a concert featuring music from Vienna. He will provide narrations for songs, including Johann Strauss’ “Pizzicato Polka,” Rudolf Siecynski’s “Vienna, City of My Dreams,” Franz Peter Schubert’s “Piano Trio,” Beethoven’s “Four Elise” and more. All seats cost 20,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266.

Opera ‘La Boheme’
Aram Theater, Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex*
Oct. 29-31

One of Puccini’s signature works, along with “Tosca,” “Madame Butterfly” and “La Boheme” will be staged under the conduction of Kim Duk-gi. The Prime Philharmonic Orchestra will enliven the colorful story about the poor yet passionate lives of artists in 1930s Paris. Tickets cost 10,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call 1577-7766.

Glazunov Symphony No. 4
Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Sept. 18

Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, comprising of middle and high school students, will deliver Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet, Suite No. 2, Op. 64b” and “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 3 in C major, Op. 26” and A.K. Glazunov’s “Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 48.” Tickets cost 5,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114~7.

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 16
Lawrence Renes, one of the most sought-after young conductors in Europe, and piano prodigy Kim Sun-wook will join the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra for Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 27” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica.’” Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1588-1210.

ChunCheon City Choir
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 19

ChunCheon City Choir will host the first of a series of concerts promoting PyeongChang’s bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics. The program includes “Carmina Burana,” a dramatic cantata written by Carl Orff, a composer who has made a substantial contribution to music education. Tickets cost 10,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call (033) 256-8986.

TIMF’s ‘Mix & Match’
Hoam Art Hall*
Sept. 10

The Tongyeong International Music Festival (TIMF) Ensemble will perform songs in a mix and match of electronics, a combination of classical instruments and media devices. “‘Advaya’ for Cello Solo and Electro-acoustic in Real Time,” “Black Angels’ for Amplified String Quartet” and more will be staged. Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606.

Jang Hyung-jun & IPCO Chamber Orchestra Concert
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 27

Pianist Jang Hyung-jun will play with the Inspired Passion Chamber Orchestra (IPCO), a team of young talented artists mostly in their 20s and 30s. The program features “Capriol Suite” by P. Warlock, “Concerto for Piano and Strings Orchestra, Op. 40” by H. Go’recki, “Chamber Concerto for Piano and Orchestra” by E. Grieg and more. Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 587-5961.

Opera ‘La Traviata’
Opera Theater, Seoul Arts Center*
Through Sept. 11

As a part of 2010 Seoul Arts Center Young Artist Opera Festival, “La Traviata” is being staged featuring a cast of Seoul National University students. A tragic melodrama unfolds when a rich man falls in love with a prostitute in 19th-century Paris. Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or 1544-0113.

Lee Kyung-sook’s Mozart Piano Sonata Cycle
Hoam Art Hall*
Sept. 14-18

Pianist Lee Kyung-sook will play Mozart’s complete piano sonatas, from Nos. 1 to 18, in four days. This will be a special treat for piano lovers. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606~10.

Poem and Song
Hoam Art Hall*
Sept. 11

Composer Kang Un-soo will present beautiful poems with choral music including “Gloria Patri & Laudate Dominum” and “Dad Love Song.” Tickets cost 20,000 to 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 280-5054.

SAC Artist Concert
Recital Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 10

As part of the SAC Artist Series, a program that offers a chance for young artists chosen through an audition to take the stage, pianists Kang Hye-yong and Choi Young-mi will deliver Chopin’s “4 Mazurkas,” Schubert’s “Piano Sonata in G major, Op. 78, D. 894,” Prokofiev’s “Piano Sonata No. 8, Op. 84” and more. Tickets cost 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.

Big Tickets

Radu Lupu ‘The First Piano Recital in Korea’
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Oct. 31

Romanian maestro pianist Radu Lupu will make his recital debut in Korea. One of the best known interpreters of Beethoven and Schubert, he will play Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 ‘Appassionata’” and Schubert’s “Piano Sonata in B-flat major, D. 960.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-3183.

Pansori & Samulnori
Aram Theater, Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex*
Sept. 11

Two icons of traditional Korean music will deliver exhilarating folk tunes: Ahn Sook-sun, dubbed “the prima donna in the world of ‘pansori’ (Korean opera),” will sing to the rhythms of “samulnori” (play of four traditional percussion instruments) under maestro Kim Duk-soo. The program includes “Rabbit Story,” a song that was presented in 2007 at the National Museum of Houston. Tickets cost 10,000 to 40,000 won.

London Philharmonic Orchestra With Sarah Chang
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 17

Under the baton of Vassily Sinaisky, the London Philharmonic Orchestra will perform with world-class violinist Sarah Chang. The program features Brahms’ “Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77” and Dvorak’s “Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 280,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266.

Rufus Wainwright Live in Seoul
MelonAx-Hall
Oct. 10

Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright, who moved many hearts with songs such as “Across The Universe,” the title song in the movie “I am Sam,” as well as “Hallelujah,” which appeared in “Shrek,” will hold a concert for the first time in Korea. Praised as “the greatest songwriter on the planet” by Elton John, Wainwright’s concert will demonstrate his genuine talent. Tickets cost 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 563-0595 . Located near exit 2of Gwangnaru Station subway line 5.

Museums

Road of Writing Brush, Road of History
Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 16-Oct. 24

To mark the 100th anniversary of the forced annexation of Korea by Japan, Seoul Arts Center presents a historical exhibition through calligraphy. Tickets cost 2,000 to 5,000 won.

Art Garden
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Through Sept. 11

Summer is the time when all creatures’ movements and growth peak. Under the title “Dynamic State,” the exhibition features animals with diverse shapes and resembling animation characters. The show will offer urbanites a taste of the wildness of nature. No entrance fee. For more information, call (02) 399-1151~4.

Formula One
Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center*
Through Oct. 31

A touring exhibition from the Design Museum, London will visit Korea. The exhibition will present an A to Z of the top auto racing event Formula One through video clips, photos and pieces of the actual cars. Tickets cost 8,000 to 12,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1705 or visit www.sac.or.kr/eng/f1.

White Porcelain Jars: Embracing Joseon Ideals and Rituals
Fine Arts Gallery II, National Museum of Korea
Through Nov. 14

The exhibition is designed to show off the unique features of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) ceramics through its jars. Such jars as the placenta jar, burial ware and jar with dragon motif were created for specific purposes with the unique culture and the aesthetic of the Joseon royal family at work only within the court. Located at Ichon Station on subway line 4, exit 2.

Pop & Jazz

‘Real Slow is Back’ Wheesung Concert
Main Auditorium, Yonsei Culture and Art Center
Oct. 16-17

K-pop star Wheesung is back with his single album “Real Slow is Back” and will present a performance showcasing his powerful voice and popular music that ranges from ballads and R&B to rock and dance. Tickets cost 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call 1588-4992. Located near exit 3 and 4 of Sinchon Station on subway line 2.

Park Hyo-shin ‘2010 Gift 2 Live Tour’
Gymnastic Stadium, Olympic Park*
Sept. 25-26

Balladeer Park Hyo-shin will hold a concert to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his debut and to promote new songs that will be released in early September. “Gift Part 2” promises perfect live sound and a beautiful performance for three hours under the theme of “Fantasy, Magical, and Mysterious.” Tickets cost 33,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.

Trio Concert in Seoul 2010
Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Oct. 6

Dubbed as the greatest piano trio in the history of contemporary jazz, the trio, Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack Dejohnet will be in Korea this fall. After releasing three albums “Changes,” “Standards, Vol. 1,” and “Standards, Vol .2,” the three have been working as a team for almost 30 years without a change in members. Tickets cost 50,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114~6.

Dance

Ballet ‘Raymonda’
Opera Theater, Seoul Arts Center*
Sept. 25-30

One of Aleksandr Glazunov’s signature works, “Raymonda” will bring the age of knights and chivalry to life. Ever since premiering in 1898, the show has become a core repertoire in many theaters and has been reinterpreted by many of the world’s leading choreographers. This two-act ballet is about a noblewoman who tries to safeguard her love through many hardships. The Korea National Ballet Company and Bolshoi Ballet will perform together for the first time. Tickets cost 5,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 587-6181.

Woolf
Arco Art Center
Sept. 10-12

Literature falls in love with dance — Virginia Woolf’s “The Waves” will be interpreted through dance and prose. YJK Dance Project, a team of artists from diverse countries, will challenge the audience to contemplate the nature of time and space. Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (02) 889-3561. Located near exit 2 of Hyehwa Station on subway line 2.

Nuevo Ballet Flamenco
Universal Art Center
Through Sept. 12

The Nuevo Ballet Flamenco will give a pulsating performance from Sept. 8 to 12 at the Universal Art Center, Seoul. The globe-trotting troupe led by celebrated flamenco duo Angel Rojas and Carlos Rodriguez will offer fans nothing short of a sizzling experience, with gypsy flair and spirit. The group’s Seoul debut comes in time for the 60th anniversary of bilateral relations between Korea and Spain. Tickets cost from 55,000 to 150,000 won. Call (02) 517-0394.

Legend of Flower
Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, Walkerhill Theatre
Open run

Experience both traditional and modern music through this dance production. The performance will feature four acts under the themes “Flower,” “Water and Fire,” “Wind” and “Golden Earth.” Tickets cost from 60,000 to 300,000 won, including dinner. Visit www.legendofflower.com or call (02) 455-5000. Take the free shuttle bus at Gangbyeon Station, line 2, or Gwangnaru Station, line 5.

Plays & Musicals

Billy Elliot
LG Arts Center*
Open run

The musical “Billy Elliot” is on stage in Korea as the first non-English production in Asia. In England during the historic 1984-85 coal miners’ strike, a young boy Billy pursues his dream to become a ballerino in secret. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3446-9630.

Thrill Me
The Stage
Through Nov. 4

The musical, which premiered in New York in 2003, revolves around a cruel 1924 murder case in Chicago. The intricate complexities of the human condition are expressed solely through a densely written script and atmospheric piano music. Tickets cost 35,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 744-4011 or visit www.thrillme.co.kr. Located near exit 3 of Sinchon Station on subway line 2.

The Toxic Avenger
KT & G Sang Sang Art Hall
Through Oct. 10

“The Toxic Avenger,” winner of the Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards in 2009, is being staged in Korea for the first time. A man becomes a giant green mutant while trying to save the environment and his beautiful lover from evil forces. Tickets cost 55,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3404-4314. Located near exit 2 of Samseong Station on subway line 2.

Romeo & Juliet
Seoul Namsan Gugakdang, Namsan Hanok Village
Sep. 21- Oct. 24

The famous Shakespeare play will be staged featuring a special Korean touch. Under the direction of Oh Tae-sok, the Mokhwa Repertory Company, a group focusing on traditional language, sound and dance, will perform the classical play in a unique style. Tickets cost 20,000 to 30,000 won. English subtitles available. For more information, visit www.sngad.or.kr. Located near exits 3 and 4 of Chungmuro Station on subway lines 3 and 4.