Around Town 1
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David String Quartet
Seoul Arts Center*
March 2, 2015
The David String Quartet will be holding a concert at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on March 2. After spending a considerable number of years studying in Germany, the four-seasoned musicians, consisting of violinists Kim Hee-sun and Choi Yoon-jung, violist Lee Hong-kyung and cellist Tak Yoon-ji, formed a classical music ensemble in late 2013. Despite the quartet’s recent nascence, however, the David String Quartet’s impressive achievements belie their relative inexperience. They will perform L. V. Beethoven’s “String Quartet No. 4 in C minor, Op. 18,” D. Shostakovich’s “String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110” and end on a resounding note with E. Grieg’s “String Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 27.” Tickets cost 10,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2235-8955 or visit
‘Mendelssohn Elias’
March 4
The Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing Mendelssohn’s “Elias” at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on March 4. First performed at the Birmingham Music Festival in 1846 to (wide acclaim), “Elias” depicts various prominent events in the life of the Biblical prophet Elijah. Led by the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra’s ]conductor Sung Shi-yeon, the piece’s title role will be sung by award-winning bass-baritone Samuel Youn, while tenor Alfred Kim, soprano Jang Yoo-ri, and mezzo-soprano Kim Seon-jung will also sing key roles. Ticket prices range from 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
‘Andrea Chenier’
March 12-15
The Korea National Opera will perform Umberto Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier” at the Seoul Arts Center from March 12 to 15. / Courtesy of the Seoul Arts Center
The Korea National Opera will perform Umberto Giordano’s “Andrea Chenier” at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from March 12 to 15. The celebrated opera, which has remained popular with audiences since its electrifying premiere at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan in 1898, is loosely based on the life of French poet Andrea Chenier during the Reign of Terror, a turbulent and barbarous period in French history to which Chenier fell victim. Park Sung-kyu and Yoon Byung-kil will take on the lead role of Chenier, while acclaimed Italian conductor Daniele Callegari will helm the entire production. Ticket prices range from 10,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-5282 or visit www.sac.or.kr.
Valentina Lisitsa
March 21
After performing at two other venues in Korea, Valentina Lisitsa, a Ukrainian-born pianist known for her social media prowess, will end her tour with a solo recital at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on March 21. The program comprises L.V. Beethoven’s “Sonata Op. 31, Listz’s “Sonata B Minor,” and Frederic Chopin’s “Chopin 24 Etudes,” for which she is well known. Ticket prices range from 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1544-5142 or visit www.opuscorp.org.
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Apr. 20-23
The world-famous Dutch symphony orchestra “Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra” will perform at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Apr. 20 to 23. Led by renowned Hungarian conductor Ivan Fischer, they will perform all of Beethoven’s symphonies. Tickets cost 70,000 to 330,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.vincero.co.kr.
New Zurich Orchestra
April 25
The New Zurich Orchestra will hold a concert at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on April 25. Composed mainly of young, up-and-coming musicians, the Orchestra has toured extensively around the world, from Austria and the Czech Republic to Hong Kong and China. Led by distinguished conductor Martin Studer and featuring Swiss flutist Philipp Jundt, they will perform, among other pieces, P. Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5” and J. Rodrigo’s “Flute Concerto ‘Pastorale.’” Tickets range from 30,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1661-1605 or visit www.bravocomm.co.kr.
The Script
Olympic Park*
April 4
The Script, a popular pop-rock band hailing from Ireland, will hold a concert at Olympic Park in southern Seoul on April 4. They will perform tracks including hit singles “Superheroes” and “No Good in Goodbye” from their latest album released in July 2014, “No Sound Without Silence.” Ticket prices range from 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6295-1818 or visit www.livenation.com.
‘2015 Theatre Lee Moon-sae’
LG Arts Center*
April 15-23
Korean singer-songwriter Lee Moon-sae will hold a solo concert at the LG Arts Center from April 15 to 23 to promote his new album. / Courtesy of KMOONfnd
Immensely venerated Korean singer-songwriter Lee Moon-sae will hold a solo concert at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul from April 15 to 23 as part of his nationwide tour to promote his new album, which will be released sometime between March and April. In addition to tracks from his newest album, his astonishing fifteenth since his last one, “Red Undies,” swept the charts, Lee will also perform his most representative songs, including but not limited to “The Farewell Story” and “A Love Song.” For more information, call (02) 3272-3133 or visit www.lgart.com.
‘Splendid Light: The Story of Bohemian Glass’
The National Museum of Korea
Through Apr. 26
The National Museum of Korea is holding a special exhibition, “Splendid Light: The Story of Bohemian Glass” from Feb. 10 to April 26 to honor the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and the Czech Republic. More than 340 pieces showcasing the rich history and culture of Bohemia will be on display, ranging from ancient artifacts, such as royal crowns and religious garments dating back to the Medieval period, to contemporary glass and crystal ware made possible through modern technological advances. Admission is free. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station on subway line 4. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2077-9276 or visit www.museum.go.kr.
Zion. T and Crush
BLUE SQUARE Samsung Card Hall
March 6-8
Popular hip-hop artist and record producer Zion. T and hip-hop wunderkind Crush will hold a joint concert at BLUE SQUARE Samsung Card Hall in Yongsan from March 6 to 8. The two singers will perform their song “Just,” the title track from their collaboration album project, “Young.” Tickets cost 77,000 won. Located near exit 2 of Hangangjin Station on subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 1544-1555 or visit www.amoebaculture.com.
C’est Si Bon Concert
Seongnam Arts Center*
March 14
Jo Young-nam, Yoon Hyung-joo, and Kim Sae-hwan, the three most esteemed artists to have walked through and performed in the halls of C’est Si Bon, the legendary live music cafe in 1960s Korea and arguably the birthplace of Korean folk music, will hold a joint concert at the Seongnam Arts Center on March 14. Yoon Hyung-joo and Kim Sae-hwan, former members of Korean folk group Twin Folio, will perform some of their hit songs, while Jo Young-nam, a household name in Korea, will revisit his younger days as top of the bill at the cafe. As a supplementary addition to this trip down memory lane, Lee Sang-byeok, whose debut at C’est Si Bon makes him an integral character in the cafe’s history, will be presiding over the concert as Master of Ceremonies. Ticket prices range from 66,000 to 121,000 won. For more information, call (031) 892-8200 or visit showplus.co.kr.
Naturally 7
March 4, 2015
American a capella group Naturally 7 will hold a concert at BLUE SQUARE Samsung Card Hall in Yongsan on March 4. / Courtesy of G.E.N.I.
American music group Naturally 7 will hold a concert at BLUE SQUARE Samsung Card Hall in Yongsan on March 4. The group, which has made a name for itself for its distinct a capella style they have dubbed “Vocal Play,” has been touring with Michael Buble’s Crazy Love Tour since 2008. They primarily sing R&B with extensive beat-boxing, making for a refreshing sound that shuns the unnecessary accouterments that afflict modern pop acts and instead focuses on the most important element of music: the human voice. Naturally 7 will be performing many of their singles like “Wall of Sound,” as well as covers of popular songs from the discography of renowned artists, such as Herbie and Simon and Garfunkel.Ticket prices range from 77,000 to 110,000 won. Located near exit 2 of Hanggangjin Station on subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 568-8831 or visit blog.naver.com/genicontents.
Judas Priest
AX-KOREA
March 16
Legendary Birmingham-based English heavy metal band Judas Priest will a hold concert in Seoul as part of its final world tour “Redeemer of Souls Tour 2015” in celebration of its 41st anniversary and the release of its 17th studio album at AX-KOREA in northern Seoul on March 16. Located near exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station on subway line 5. Tickets cost 121,000 to 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit
‘The Glass Menagerie’
Myeongdong Arts Center
Feb. 26-March 10
A production of Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” will be staged at the Myeongdong Arts Center from Feb. 26 to March 10. The play, which premiered in Chicago in 1944, was Williams’ first successful play, well-received by the most influential critics at the time and catapulting the destitute playwright to fame. The bulk of the play, which depicts the lives of fallen Southern belle Amanda and her children in St. Louis, mirrors the playwright’s own unhappy childhood in many aspects. At the helm of this production standsdirector Han Tae-sook, whose work in the theatre runs the gamut of Western classics like “Richard III” and “Oedipus the King” to contemporary Korean plays. Ticket prices range from 20,000 to 50,000 won. Located near exit 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station on subway line 2. For more information, call (02) 1644-2003 or visit www.mdtheater.or.kr.
‘Robin Hood’
D Cube Arts Center
Through March 29
A Korean rendition of German musical “Robin Hood” will be staged at the D Cube Arts Center through March 29. Based on the beloved legend of heroic outlaw Robin Hood and his merry band of men out to set right the wrongs of wicked and tyrannical Prince John, this adaptation sees the titular protagonist from an idealistic of the poor and marginalized to Robin of Loxley, a man in the service of the king who, betrayed by those closest to him, seeks to topple the despotic regime and build a better world of justice. Musical theater veterans Yu Jung-sang, Lee Gun-myung, and Um Ki-joon will take turns in the lead role as Robin Hood. Ticket prices range from 60,000 to 130,000 won. Located near exit 2 of Sindorim Station on subway line 2. For more information, call (02) 764-7857 or visit www.mmusicalart.co.kr.
New Creations by LDP
April 4-5
Laboratory Dance Project (LDP) will stage a double-bill performance at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul from April 4 to 5. Founded in 2001, LDP is regarded a pioneer in Korean contemporary dance, rendering the genre more accessible to the general public. Many of the troupe’s dancers have also successfully crossed over to the lay world through lauded performances on popular television shows, such as “Dancing 9.” LDP’s performance will consist of two parts, each choreographed by two choreographers boasting distinct styles, but which nonetheless showcase the dancers’ incredible versatility and range: “12Mhz” by Kim Pansun and “Graying” by Shin Chang-ho. Ticket prices will go from 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.
‘Swan Lake’
June 24-28
The Korean National Ballet led by renowned director Kang Sue-jin will stage Tchaikovsky’s classical ballet ‘Swan Lake’ at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from June 24 to 28. The story, spanning four acts, tells the story of a princess, Odette, who turns into a swan following a devil’s curse. Tickets cost 5,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 587-6181 or visit www.kballet.org.