Classical Concerts, Big Tickets, Museum, Pop and Jazz, Plays and Musicals
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Classical Concerts
Glinka Boys Choir
Seoul Arts Center*
Dec. 11
The Boys Choir of the Glinka Choir College, one of the oldest musical institutions in Russia, will hold a concert in Seoul. The concert will feature Schubert’s “Ave Maria,” hymns from Christian liturgy, carols, and Russian folk songs. Tickets cost 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3463-2466 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
Jo Su-mi
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
Dec. 30
Soprano Jo Su-mi will hold a concert in Seoul. With the Western Symphony Orchestra and Gwangmyeong City Choir, she will sing pieces from her albums, “Missing You,” “Ich Liebe Dich,” “Liberia,” and her latest album “La Luce.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 170,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr.
Christmas Carol Festival
Dec. 10
The Seoul Metropolitan Chorus (SMC) will hold a Christmas carol festival for its 130th regular concert. The SMC and Christmas Civic Choir, which is comprised of 180 Seoulites who passed the audition last October, will sing J. S. Bach’s “The Christmas Oratorio” in the first half and “The Many Moods of Christmas” of R. Shaw and R. Bennett in the second section with the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr.
Sarah Chang
Dec. 16
Violinist Sarah Chang will perform in Seoul to mark the 20th anniversary of her debut album. She will play Vitali’s “Chaconne in G Minor for Violin and Piano,” Bach’s “Air on a G String,” Prokofiev’s “Violin Sonata No. 2 in D major” and a new arrangement of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” written for Chang by American composer David Newman. Chang will also perform at Gunpo Culture & Art Center on Dec. 8, Daejeon Culture & Arts Center on Dec. 10, and Busan Cultural Center on Dec. 11. Tickets cost 60,000 to 160,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-3183 or visit www.mastmedia.co.kr.
Big Tickets
50 Cent
Olympic Gymnasium, Olympic Park*
Jan. 12
American rapper, 50 Cent, is bringing his sounds and entourage to Seoul. He will sing new single “My Life” from the new album “Street King Immortal” and other hit numbers. The rapper will also perform at Bexco, Busan on Jan. 13. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit ticket.interpark.com/global.
Ryuichi Sakamoto Trio Tour 2012
Dec. 9
Japanese pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto, based in Tokyo and New York, will tour Japan and Korea with violinist Judy Kang and cellist Jaques Morelenbaum. The trio will perform pieces including “Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence,” “Rain,” “Energy Flow” and “The Last Emperor.” Tickets cost 50,000 to 160,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743.
Museums
The Best under Heaven, the Celadons of Korea
National Museum of Korea
Through Dec. 16
The National Museum of Korea holds its second exhibition that deals with Goryeo (Kingdom between 918-1392) celadon following its first one in 1989. It consists of four parts including the history of Goryeo celadon. A total of 350 examples of celadon are on display including 18 National Treasures and 11 Treasures. Tickets cost 3,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2077-9499 or visit museum.go.kr.
Tim Burton Exhibition
Seoul Museum of Art
Dec.12-April 14, 2013
Film director Tim Burton’s paintings and artwork will be on exhibit at central Seoul. Artwork from his movies “Edward Scissorhands,” “Batman,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Alice in Wonderland” and “Frankenweenie,” and about 700 of his sketches, drawings and photographs will be on display. Located near exit 1 of Seoul City Hall Station, subway line 1. Tickets cost 8,000 won for children under 12, 10,000 won for students under 18, and 12,000 won for adults. For more information, call (02) 325-1077 or visit sema.seoul.go.kr.
Pop & Jazz
Deulgukwha
Daehangno Musical Center
Dec. 20-24
Korea’s rock legend, Deulgukwha, will hold a concert under the title “Act II, Scene I.” During the “Christmas” concert, they will sing their famous numbers such as “March,” “Please,” “After Love,” and “That’s My World.” Located near exit 1 of Hyehwa Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 55,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 763-8233 or visit www.hakchon.co.kr.
Kazumi Tateishi Trio
Mapo Arts Center
Dec. 15
Jazz band Kazumi Tateishi Trio are bringing their compelling, melodic music to Korea. Under the title “Ghibli Meets Jazz,” the trio will play theme songs from Ghibli animations such as “Spirited Away,” “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “My Neighbor Totoro.” The band consists of Kazumi Tateishi on piano, Shinobu Sato on bass, and Mao Suzuki on drums. Located near exit 2 or Daeheung Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 44,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (070) 8680-8477 or visit www.jinurock.com.
Macy Gray
Uniqlo-AX
Dec. 12
Macy Gray, an American R&B singer, will please fans and newcomers with her soulful sounds at her gig in Seoul. The winner of 2001’s “Best Female Pop Vocal Performance” for “I Try,” will sing hits such as “Do Something,” “Beauty in the World,” “Sweet Baby,”and “Help me” in her first visit to Korea. Located near exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 512-6706 or visit www.uniqlo-ax.com.
Suzuki Tsunekichi
Veloso
Dec. 8-9
Japanese singer Suzuki Tsunekichi, known for an opening song, “Omohide” (Memories), of Japanese drama “Shinya Shokudo” (The Midnight Restaurant), will hold a concert. Singer O So-young (Dec. 8) and singer and friend Kim Doo-soo (Dec. 9) will join his concert as guests. Located near exit 9 of Hongik University Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 35,000 won. For more information, call (02) 323-7798 or visit www.veloso.co.kr.
‘Top Band’
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
Dec. 15-16
Bands from the Korean Broadcasting System’s audition program, “Top Band,” will hold a concert in southern Seoul. The concert will feature Pia, Broken Valentine, Tacopy, Romantic Punch, Gate Flowers, Peter Pan Complex and Sinawe. Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-7110 or visit interpark.com.
Leessang
Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center
Dec. 7-8
Hip-hop duo Leessang will perform in Goyang with such hits as “Ballerino,” “Pursuing the Happiness,” “For Me, the Answer Is You” and “The Girl Who Can’t Breakup and the Guy Who Can’t Leave.” The duo will also have a concert at Incheon Culture & Arts Center Dec. 15-16. Located near exit 3 of Jeongbalsan Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1588-0766, or visit www.artgy.or.kr.
The Real Group Christmas Concert
Swedish a cappella group, the Real Group, will hold a concert in Seoul. The quintet consists of Emma Nilsdotter as soprano, Katarina Henryson as alto, Anders Edenroth as tenor, Morten Vinther as baritone and Anders Jalkus as bass. They will perform such their hit numbers as “I Sing You Sing,” “Small Talk,” “Substitute for Life,” “Let It Snow,” “Nature Boy” and “The Christmas Song.” Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. For more information call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
‘Our Bad Magnet’
Daehangno Art One Theater
Through Jan. 27, 2013
A production of Scottish playwright Douglas Maxwell, “Our Bad Magnet,” is underway in Daehangno, central Seoul. The play focuses on four friends who have know each other since the age of 9 in Girvan, Scotland. Now 29-year-old men, Fraser, Paul and Alan reunite, recalling memories of their late friend, Gordon. Located near exit 2 of Hyehwa Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 35,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1566-7527 or visit interpark.com.
‘Rudolf’
Chungmu Art Hall
Through Jan. 13, 2013
The musical, “Rudolf,” based on the novel, “Nervous Splendor,” which dealt with the Mayerling incident in 1889, was composed by Frank Wildhorn. The cast features Ahn Jae-wook, Im Tae-kyung and Park Eun-tae as Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria. Oak Joo-hyun, Choi Yu-ha and Kim Bo-kyung portray Rudolf’s lover, Mary Vetsera. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information call (02) 2230-6601 or visit www.musicalrudolf.co.kr.
‘Aida’
D-CUBE Arts Center
Through April 28, 2013
Inspired by the Verdi opera of the same title, “Aida” won four Tony Awards in 2000. The Korean rendition features Sonya and Cha Ji-yeon as Aida, Jung Sun-ah and Ahn Si-ha as Princess Amneris of Nubia, a daughter of the Pharaoh of Egypt, and Kim Joon-hyun and Choi Soo-hyung as Radames, the Egyptian captain. Celebrated director Kollen Park directs the Korean version to music composed by Sir Elton John. Tickets cost 60,000 to 120,000 won. Located exit 1 of Sindorim Station, subway lines 1 and 2. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.d3art.co.kr.
Dance
‘The Nutcracker’
Universal Art Center
Dec. 21-31
The Universal Ballet, one of the leading ballet companies in Korea, will stage the original Mariinsky Theater version of “The Nutcracker.” This version was created by Vasily Vainonen in St. Petersburg in 1934. Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (070) 7124-1737 or visit www.universalballet.com.
‘Swan Lake’
Through Dec. 12
Korean National Ballet will perform one of the most frequently performed ballets, “Swan Lake,” in Seoul. Kim Ji-young, Kim Li-hoe, Park Seul-ki and Lee Eun-won will be featured as Odette-Odile and Lee Young-cheol, Jung Young-jae, Lee Dong-hun and Kim Ki-wan feature as Prince Siegfried. Tickets cost 5,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 587-6181 or visit www.sac.or.kr.