Films screened with live orchestra performance

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Film concerts, or movies being screened with a live orchestra performing the soundtrack, are gaining popularity in Korea.

Film concerts are breaking prejudices against orchestra music, often considered difficult, as audiences feel more familiar with the movies the music accompanies.

The leading event is "Beauty and the Beast in Concert," held at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul, August 26 to 28. The live-action remake of the Disney film starring Emma Watson as Belle was a big hit, topping box offices around the world.

The musical film will be screened with vocals of its stars including Watson, Dan Stevens as the Beast, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth and more, accompanied with a full orchestra playing the musical score live.

The Korean concert will be performed by the Korea Coop Orchestra and conducted by Paik Yun-hak.

Tickets cost from 40,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call 02-552-2505.

"Amadeus Live" will revive the musician Mozart's turbulent life in a concert featuring the 1984 motion picture "Amadeus" on Nov. 15 at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center.

The film which won eight Academy Awards will be screened on a vast HD screen and the Ditto Orchestra along with the Seoul Motet Choir will deliver the Austrian composer's music, from symphonies and chamber music to operas and requiems.

The tour concert visited Korea last year and tickets were sold out with much interest in the well-known classical musician, combined with the film.

Tickets cost from 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call 02-552-2505.

A horror film will also get the film concert treatment on Aug. 11 and 12. The 1935 science fiction "Bride of Frankenstein" film will be screened at Lotte Concert Hall, accompanied by live music.

The concert is scheduled at 10 p.m. to match with the creepy atmosphere of the movie and Franz Waxman's spine-tingling score. The film is edited to 80 minutes for the concert and screened with Korean subtitles.

Tickets are 30,000 won. For more information, call 1544-7744.