Classical Concerts

Legendary I MUSICI 60th

Seoul Arts Center*

June 15

I Musici is an Italian chamber orchestra first formed in Rome in 1952. The chamber consists of 6 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos, and one double bass. Their music mainly focuses on works from the Baroque period, particularly Antonio Vivaldi and Tomaso Albinoni. To mark its 60th anniversary, I Musici will tour the world, performing their best for the audience. Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.

Paavo Jarvi & Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

Seoul Arts Center*

June 11

Germany’s traditional orchestra, the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra (FRSO) was founded in 1929 and Paavo Jarvi has been conducting the orchestra since 2006. With a wide-ranging musical style, the orchestra is among the best in Europe and consistently earns international acclaim. The program includes symphony and orchestral pieces and Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. U.S. violinist Hillary Hahn will collaborate in this concert. Tickets cost 50,000 to 220,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743.

Gidon Kremer & Kremerata Baltica

Seoul Arts Center*

Oct. 16

Gidon Kremer, a Latvian violinist and conductor, will perform with Kremerata Baltica, which is a chamber orchestra he founded that consists of young musicians from Baltic countries. The chamber orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2002 in Classical Music for a recording titled “After Mozart.” They return to Korea after three years for a performance that will be a mixture of contemporary musical melodies and classical repertoire. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.

Big Tickets

Jason Mraz Live in Busan

Busan BEXCO

June 8

Jason Mraz, a Grammy award winning singer and songwriter, is performing in Korea. Mraz has sold over 20 million copies just in Korea, and has maintained his place as Korea’s most loved pop star for years. He released his new album “Love Is a Four Letter Word” on April 17 and many more hit songs after. Tickets cost 110,000 to 126,000 won. Located near exit 1 of Centum City station on Busan subway line 2. For more information, call (051) 740-7320.

2012 b vocal Concert

Seoul Arts Center*

June 9-10

A Spanish a cappella group “b vocal” in 2010 won the “A Cappella Competition of Harmony Sweepstakes.” The following year, the group earned the “Best A Cappella Group” by New York Broadway in 2011. During this concert, b vocal will sing world famous hit songs and opera music such as “Dancing Queen,” “Staying Alive,” “Sir Duke,” “Yesterday,” and ”Handel and Rossini’s Opera Arias.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 523-5391.

The Ocean of White

Ilsan KINTEX

July 21

A Heineken-sponsored concert, “Sensation,” which began in Amsterdam in 2000 and has finally made its way to Korea. The concert will last 8 hours filled with stage shows, laser shows, and dance performances. DJs including Mr. White, Funkagenda and many more will light up the night. Standing only. Tickets cost 125,000 to 180,000. For more, call 1544-1555 or visit www.heinekein.com/kr.

2012 Jisan Valley Rock Festival

Jisan Forest Resort

July 27-29

The best of the best rock bands, Radiohead, Owl City, The Stone Roses, Bread Eye, and many more, will be performing at Jisan Forest Resort. The most renowned artists from Korea and the world will play their most popular line up. Tickets cost 225,000 won. For more information, call 1577- 3363, or visit www.valleyrockfestival.com.

Museums

The Civilization of Turkey: Emperors in Istanbul

National Museum of Korea

Through Sept. 2

Turkey is a nation where the civilizations of the East and the West coexist, as a variety of religions and cultures have settled and flourished there. The exhibition will display relics from the 3000 B.C. Anatolian civilization to the 19th century Ottoman Empire. Tickets cost 12,000 won. Located near exit 2, Ichon Station on subway line 4. For more information (02)2077-9000 or visit www.istanbul2012.co.kr.

Korean Art from the United States

National Museum of Korea

Through Aug. 5

The National Museum of Korea brings some major Korean artwork from museums in the United States such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. The exhibition will feature artwork, including paintings from the Goryeo Kingdom that have never been seen by the Korean public. The exhibition will explore how Korean culture was introduced overseas. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2077-9000 or visit www.museum.go.kr.

Pop & Jazz

Busker Busker

Olympic Park*

June 22-23

The runner-up winner on “Superstar K Season 3,” the celebrated trio band Busker Busker is holding their second concert. Their hit songs, “Cherry Blossom Ending” and “Yeosu Night Sea,” which are currently on top music charts, will be performed live with the theme “Youth Bus.” Tickets cost 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.

Song Young-joo New York Quartet: Tale of a City, the 2nd story

Mapo Art Center

June 9

Song Young-joo is a well known jazz pianist. After spending time collaborating with many recognized artists in New York, she is finally making her comeback to Seoul. Her album, “Tale of a City,” received the best performing musician award. For this year’s concert, she will be performing with a saxophonist Joshua Redman. Tickets cost 35,000 to 65,000 won. For more information, call 02-3274-8600.

LeeSsang Season 2

Olympic Park*

July 14-15

LeeSsang, a popular Korean hip-hop duo will collaborate with many recognized artists including rapper-singer Yoon Mi-rae, and singers Big Mama and Hwayobi. The duo has released a total of seven albums to date. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, callk 1544-1555.

Wouter Hamel The Best of Concert

Hongdae V-Hall

June 20

Wouter Hamel, a pop jazz artist from the Netherlands, will be performing in Hongdae, Korea. After winning the Dutch Jazz Vocal Competition, he received significant attention from the media. When Hamel released “Breezy” in Japan, he took over top charts in East Asia. All seats are standing. Tickets cost 66,000. For more information, call 1544-1555.

Dance

Romeo and Juliet

Seoul Arts Center*

July 7-14

Kenneth MacMillan’s most dramatic and thought-out ballet performance, Romeo and Juliet, is coming to Seoul. Universal Ballet, which is the most recognized ballet group in Korea, will be performing the heartbreaking love story. Join and be inspired by Shakespeare’s work. Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.

La Dame aux Camelias with Kang Sue-jin, Stuttgart Ballet

Sejong Arts Center*

June 16-17

The Stuttgart Ballet, Germany’s first and one of the world’s premier companies, will bring the iconic ballet by John Neumeier ”La Dame aux Camelias,” with famed Korean ballerina Kang Sue-jin in the lead and Marguerite Gautier and its Dutch principal Marijn Rademaker as Armand Duval. Dame, premiered in 1978 with the company in its hometown. Set to the music from Frederic Chopin and based on the 1848 novel of Alexandre Dumas that gave birth to the Giuseppe Verdi opera “La Traviata,” it follows the love arc between a courtesan and a provincial bourgeois. Tickets cost 50,000 to 250,000 won. For more, call 1544-1555.

Plays & Musicals

Mozart!

Sejong Center

July 10-28

“Mozart!” the musical was originally written in German, and first performed in Austria. The Korean rendition portrays the struggles and hardships of the world famous composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Korean production was first held in 2010, and since then — it was chosen as the best work in 2011. Tickets cost 30,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (1544-1555.

La Cage aux Folles

LG Arts Center

July 4-Sept 4

The musical based on Harvey Fierstein’s novel focuses on a gay couple, Georges who has a wife and a son. Tickets cost 60,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.

Wicked

Blue Square

Through June 30

Broadway blockbuster “Wicked” finally came to Korea for the first time. Since making its debut on Broadway in 2003, the musical has topped the box office for nine years with behind story of “The Wizard of Oz.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 160,000 won. Located near exit 2 of Hangangjin Station on subway line 6. For more information, call 1577-3363.

Man of La Mancha
Charlotte Lotte Theater
June 10-Oct. 7

Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th century masterpiece, “Don Quixote,” a musical based on Dale Wasserman’s book “Man of La Mancha” will be performed from June 10. This well known Broadway musical won 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Award. The Classic song “The Impossible Dream” is “Man of La Mancha’s” theme song. Tickets cost 60,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.

Poongwallju

Culture Space NU

Through July 29

“Poongwallju,” which means master of wind and the moon, is a homegrown musical about two men and a woman during the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C.-935 A.D.). Instead of traditional costumes, actors wear simple, modern black clothes to portray the love triangle involving Yeol, a charismatic male “gisaeng,” or Korean courtesan, his dearest friend Sa-dam and Queen Jinseong, who has everything except for the man she wants. Tickets cost 40,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.