Concerts, museums & theater
Classical Concert
Leonard Bernstein’s Youth Concert
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center* (See venues for more information)
Aug. 18
In time for the 20th anniversary of the death of legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein, conductor Seo Hui-tae will take the baton in a concert that invites youths to ponder the meaning of music. The program includes the “William Tell” overture by Rossini, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” by Mozart and “The Flight of Bumble-Bee” by Rimsky-Korsakov. Tickets cost from 15,000 to 45,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6377-1250.
Summer Vacation Project
Performance Hall and Concert Hall, Dream Forest Arts Center
Aug. 6-15
Dream Forest Arts Center presents a relay of performances for the younger audience ranging from “gukak” (traditional Korean music) to classical music and plays. Concerts will feature Korean folksongs, classics including “Nocturne Op. 9-2,” “ Etude, Op. 10-3,” “ Polka” and more by Quartet X. Maestro Geum Nan-sae will also provide explanations. In the Performance Hall, musicals and plays will be staged. Tickets cost 5,000 to 10,000 won. For more information, visit www.dfac.or.kr. Located near exit 3 of Mia Samgeori Station on subway line 4.
SAC Family Music Festival 2010
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Aug. 7-22
Every weekend in August, a music festival will bring classical tunes that many, including those new to the genre, might recognize. The music will be accompanied by broadcaster Yoo Jung-A’s comments to help better appreciate Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64,” Beethoven’s “Symphony No.8 in F major, Op. 93,” Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No.4 in F minor, Op. 36,” Dvorak’s “Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104” and more. Tickets cost 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.
A Filetta
Centennial Hall, Yonsei University Culture and Art Center
Aug. 31
A cappella group A Filetta, meaning “power of life” in Corsica, will perform for the first time in Korea. The seven-member male ensemble has released over 10 albums and was featured in the original soundtrack of the film “Himalaya,” which won the Cesar Awards-Best Film Music at the 2000 Cannes International Film Festival. They will sing 17 heavenly songs without intermission for 70 minutes. Tickets cost 66,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (070) 8683-3787. Located near exit 3,4 and 5 of Sinchon Station, subway line 2.
2010 SAC Summer Chamber Music
Recital Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
Aug. 10-15
Seoul Arts Center presents a five-day classical concert series that both parents and children can enjoy. Various pieces will be played ranging from classics to contemporary music including “Serenade for 13 Wind Instruments in E-flat major, Op. 7” by R. Strauss, “Petit Symphonie” by C. Gounod, and “Neuf pieces caracteristiques” by J. Francaix. Tickets cost 10,000 to 15,000. For detailed schedules and other information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sacticket.co.kr.
Opera ‘La Cenerentola’
Headoji Theater, Ansan Arts Center
Aug. 21-22
Though based on the fairytale “Cinderella,” this Rossini opera is devoid of glass slippers or fairy godmothers. Instead a philosopher helps Cinderella attend the royal ball to meet the prince disguised as a servant. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (080) 481-4000. Located near Gojan Station on subway line 4.
1st Summer Lecture Concert for Youth
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*; Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex*
July 31
Flutist Kim Mi-hi, the first foreigner to become a national professor in France, and charismatic female conductor Abe Kanako will deliver beautiful pieces such as “Piccolo Concerto in C major, RV.443” by Vivaldi, “Flute Concerto No.2 in D major, K.314” by Mozart, “Airs Valaques for Flute and Orchestra, Op.10” by Doppler and “Symophony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92” by Beethoven. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, call (02)580-1300 or 1577-7766.
Family opera ‘The Magic Flute’
Aram Theater, Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex*
Aug. 12-15
Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” will be being staged in its original German language. The Queen of the Night asks Tamino, a young prince, to save her daughter but it turns out that it was the queen herself who is holding the princess captive. Christopher Lee, a rising young artist, will conduct. Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1577-7766.
Summer Classics
Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
July 30, 31
MC Oh Sang-jin will give explanations on the musical instruments used, and the special features of each movement as well as listeners’ etiquette. The program is divided into two parts including Tchaikovsky’s “Valse des Fleurs” from “The Nutcracker,” Verdine’lieti calici” from “La Traviata,” and Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra Op.34.” Tickets cost from 5,000 to 25,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1145.
Youth Concert with Jewel of Korea Ensemble
Under the baton of music director and conductor Kim Yui-myung, the Jewel of Korea Ensemble (JK Ensemble) will deliver beautiful tunes including Handel’s “Concerto Grosso in D major Op. 6 No.5,” Pachelbel’s “Canon in D major for String,” Mendelssohn’s “Sinfonia No. 6 in E-flat major” and Vivaldi’s “Concerto for Recorder in C minor.” Tickets cost 10,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 785-6843, 6844.
For Sleepless Nights
Outdoor Concert Hall, Gyeonggi Arts Center
July 30
Suwon Civic Chorale will sing beautiful songs in an outdoor concert, including “You Raise Me Up,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Moon River,” “Oh! Happy Day,” “Dream Girls” and more. Admission is free of charge. For more information, call (031) 228-2814 or visit www.artsuwon.or.kr. Located near Suwon Station on subway line 1.
Big Tickets
Stevie Wonder Live in Seoul
Gymnastic Stadium, Olympic Park*
Aug. 10
American music icon Stevie Wonder will hold a concert in Korea as part of Hyundai Card’s Super Concert series. The singer-songwriter will offer fans his hit numbers including “You are the Sunshine of My Life,” “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” and “Isn’t She Lovely” among others. Tickets cost 77,000 won to 176,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit privia.hyundaicard.com.
Chang Han-na’s ‘Absolute Classic’
Seongnam Arts Center *
Aug. 14-28
Cellist and debutant conductor Chang Han-na will hold the 2010 season of “Absolute Classic,” an international music festival for youths. This year, her teacher, world famous Maestro Lorin Maazel, will participate in the event. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 70,000 won. Call (02) 2232-1148.
Museums
Calligraphy and History
Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center*
Through Aug. 31
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. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.
Rodin: Retrospective
Seoul Museum of Art
Through Aug. 22
More than 180 sculptures and watercolor sketches are on show at Korea’s largest ever Auguste Rodin exhibition. Admission is 12,000 won, for more information visit www.rodinseoul.com. Located behind Deoksu Palace near City Hall Station on subway lines 1 and 2.
The Pulitzer Prize Picture Exhibition
Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center*
Through Aug. 29
Over 100 pictures that won the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize of the media world, are on display. The photographs tell stories in history and everyday life reflecting happiness, anger, sadness and joy by capturing critical moments. Tickets cost from 6,000 to 10,000 won. Visit pulitzerkorea.com.
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
Lee Seung-hwan Live Concert
Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University
Aug. 12-22
“The king of live performances,” Korean rock star Lee Seung-hwan will hold a series of concerts on Thursdays next month featuring tracks on his 10th album. The crowd will be able to feel his energy in the intimate venue as he is set to sing for 120 minutes non-stop. Tickets cost 88,000 on Thursdays and 99,000 on Fridays and weekends. For more information, call 1544-1555. Located near exit 3 of Ewha Womans University Station on subway line 2.
2010 Summer Week & T
Naksan Beach, Yangyang County of Gangwon Province
Aug. 6-7
Hip-hop icon Kanye West and fellow artist Lupe Fiasco are to due to crash the summer beach festival along with famous local artists DJ DOC, Drunken Tiger and more. Admissions for one day cost 120,000 won or 160,000 won for two. SK Telecom users are entitled to a 30-percent discount. For more information, visit www.summerweeknt.com. Take a bus at Seoul Express Bus Terminal, Dong Seoul Terminal, or Sangbong Bus Terminal to Yangyang Express Bus Terminal. From there, transfer to Bus 9 or 9-1 and get off at Naksan Beach.
Jazz It Up 3
Guro Arts Valley Theater
Aug. 5
This concert features timeless jazz classics by big names such as Edward Kennedy Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis. The program includes “Autumn Leaves,” “Summertime,” “Waltz For Debby,” “Take 5” and more. Tickets cost 7,000 to 10,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2029-1700 or visit www.guroartsvalley.or.kr. Located near exit 4 of Daerim Station on subway line 2.
Dance
St. Petersburg State Ballet on Ice
Opera Theater, Seoul Arts Center*
Aug. 5-11
The Saint-Petersburg State Ballet will cool down the summer heat with its Russian-rooted figure skating and ice dancing. Two famous fairy tales will be performed, “Cinderella” from Aug. 5 to 8 and “Sleeping Beauty” from Aug. 10 to 11. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 548-4480.
Mirong
Seoul Namsan Gugakdang, Namsan Hanok Village
Through Aug. 1
“Mirong” is a contemporary version of Korean traditional court dances. The performance mostly comprises of poetic fragments of sounds and movements, rather than a dialogue, and will be delivered by the theater group See Sun. Tickets cost 10,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2261-0513 or visit www.sngad.or.kr. Located near exits 3 and 4 of Chungmuro Station on subway lines 3 and 4.
Baby: Battle B-boy
Hongdae B-boy Theater
Open run
This energetic break dance show is a spectacle with a great story. An unskilled B-boy, Han, is an outcast. But one day, his life changes when he learns Korean traditional dance from a lovely young girl. Tickets cost 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 323-5233. Located near exit 5 of Hongik University station on line 2.
Legend of Flower
Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, Walkerhill Theatre
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*
Aug. 13-open run
The musical “Billy Elliot” will be staged 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.
Kiss Me, Kate
Main Hall “Hae,” National Theater of Korea
Through Aug. 14
Under the director and choreographer David Swan, a love comedy based on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” has been transformed into “Kiss Me, Kate.” The musical premiered in 1948 on Broadway and was a big hit, and now big local stars including Nam Kyung-joo, Choi Jung-won and K-pop star Ivy will feature in the Korean edition. Tickets cost 40,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987. Located near exit 2 of Dongguk Univ. Station on subway line 3.
The Phantom of the Opera
Charlotte Theater
Through Aug. 8
This Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is one of the world’s best-selling Broadway hits and has prompted huge growth in the Korean musical industry. The show, featuring a dark love triangle, has returned to Seoul after eight years. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 130,000 won. Call (02) 501-7888. Located near exit 3 of Jamsil Station on subway lines 2 and 8.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
M Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Through Aug. 28
Shakespeare’s play “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is being staged as a musical. The love comedy portrays a conflict between friendship and love as two friends, Valentine and Proteus, fall in love with the same woman. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114.
Jack the Ripper
Seongnam Arts Center*
A reproduction of “Jack the Ripper” is on stage for Korean fans. It is based on a true series of cruel muder cases in 1888 London. Though the actual case remains unsolved, the musical unveils the truth behind the mystery. Tickets cost 30,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, visit www.jacktheripper.co.kr or call (031) 783-8000.