Enjoy Outdoor Concerts in May
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The classical music scene will catch spring fever with a host of outdoor events in May ― so mark your calendars.
Concert at the palace:
East will meet West in perfect harmony. Saturday, May 3, the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will offer ``Goong & Concert,'' a free outdoor performance at Gyeonghi Palace in northern Seoul.
Maestro Chung Myung-whun will conduct the overture from Verdi's ``La Forza del Destino'' and the first and fourth movements from Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4. Soprano Park Jung-won and tenor Kim Yung-hwan will sing famous arias from Puccini's opera ``La Boheme.''
The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will seat concertgoers on a first come first serve basis. Enjoy a walk around the palace before the concert. Visit 120.seoul.go.kr (Korean and English). Located near exit 4 of Seodaemun station on subway line 5.
The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts welcomes spring and its 30th anniversary with various outdoor events.
Lunchtime break with music:
For busy businesspeople that find it difficult to make time for concerts, there are lunchtime performances from 12:20 to 12:50 everyday through May 9 (except Thursday, May 1, and in case of rain) in the grounds at the rear of the center. The program includes not only classical music but also modern dance (April 30), a capella tunes (Friday, May 2) and jazz (May 8).
Beneath the starlit sky:
There will also be festive evening events between 8-9 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays, May 6-June 13. The front steps of the Sejong arts center will stage shows ranging from folk music to ballet and modern rock. There are no performances on May 12, June 6 and in case of rain.
Through Friday, you can also see the special photo exhibition showing the evolution of the center on the sidewalk in front of the center. Visit www.sejongpac.or.kr (Korean and English). Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5.
Picnic concerts:
Every two weeks at 8 p.m. on Fridays and 7 p.m. on Saturdays, May 2-Oct. 18 (except Oct. 3), the Sejong Center will host various concerts and performances in the scenic Seoul Forest. There will be musical gala concerts, Korean traditional dance and percussion groups, punk, rock, jazz and more.
Seoul Forest is located near exit 8 of Ttukseom station on subway line 2. Call (02) 460-2905.