Berliner Philharmoniker with Simon Rattle
Seoul Arts Center*
Sejong Performing Arts Center* (See ‘Venues’ on the right for more information)
Nov. 15 and 16
Berliner Philharmoniker will again visit Korea. In 2005 when the orchestra held a concert in Korea for the first time in 20 years, the ensemble promised it would hold a triennial concert for Korean fans. “Symphony No. 9 in D major” by G. Mahler and “Symphony No. 9 in D minor” by A. Bruckner will be played under the baton of conductor Sir Simon Rattle. Tickets cost 50,000 to 450,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6303-7700 or (02) 580-1300 (Seoul Arts Center).
Prague Philharmonia
Oct 22-23
Since its establishment in 1994, this young orchestra, best known as the classical musicians much loved by Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti, has received much attention from world experts with official support from the city of Prague. The orchestra is planning to entertain Korean fans during Prague Day in Seoul, an event designed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties from Oct. 20 to 23. Tickets cost 50,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 338-3513.
Han-Na Cello Recital
Dec. 8
World-renowned Korean cellist Chang Han-na will go on stage with her pianist and recital partner Finghin Collins, performing the pieces of Rachmaninov and Piazzolla. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 741-1763~5.
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra 2011 Mahler Series III
Oct. 20
Maestro Chung Myung-whun is set to perform Symphony No. 6 by Mahler, a 90-minute-long classical piece, with the Seoul Philharmonic. The production agency explains that it is surprising and worth noting that this gloomy piece was written during the happiest moment in Mahler’s life. Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3700-6300.
Trio Owon
LG Arts Center*
Nov. 6
Cellist Yang Sung-won and his classical group Trio Owon will make its first official debut in Korea on Nov. 6 at the LG Art Center. The trio — Yang, pianist Emmanuel Strosser and violinist Olivier Charlier — borrowed their name from legendary Korean painter Jang Seung-up (1843-1897) best known as the character in the film “Painted Fire” (2002) by South Korean master Im Kwon-taek. The group is set to play the pieces of the greatest German Romantic musicians in the 19th century, Schumann, Mendelssohn and Brahms. Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114.
Richard YongJae O’Neill ’Preghiera’
Oct. 8-9
Violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill will present tracks from his sixth solo album “Preghiera” accompanied by the Wurttemberg Chamber Orchestra led by conductor Ruben Gazarian. After entering the public spotlight through a TV documentary as a Korean adoptee, the violist has been captivating fans with his music. The program includes “Impromptu Op. 5 - No. 5 in B minor, No. 6 in E Major” by Sibelius and “Kol Nidrei for the Viola and String Orchestra” by Bruch. Tickets cost 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 741-1763-5.
Ashkenazy Piano Duo Recital
Oct. 12
Russian maestro Vladimir Ashkenazy is planning to give a piano recital with his son, Vovka Ashkenazy, on Oct. 12 at the Seoul Arts Center. Since he announced his retirement as a solo pianist in 2007, Vladimir has been absorbed in his position as a principal conductor and director for the European Union Youth Orchestra and Sydney Symphony. He rarely appears on stage as a pianist performing with family members. Tickets cost 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743.
Murray Perahia in Recital
Oct. 29
World-famous pianist Murray Perahia, the principal guest conductor of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, will arrive in Korea after touring in the United States, Japan and East Asian countries Oct. 29. For this performance, he is expected to perform “French Suite No 5 in G Major” by Bach and “Sonata No 27 in E minor, Op. 90” by Beethoven. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 741-1763~5.
2011 Sung Si-kyung Live Tour
Jamsil Gymnasium
Sung Si-kyung, one of the most popular male ballad singers in Korea, will meet his fans through Nov. 6, with the last stage set in Seoul. The concert series will promote his newly-released 7th album and will be a good chance for audiences to enjoy his romantic voice with an autumn flavor. Tickets cost 77,000 to 121,000 won. Located near exit 6 or 7 of Sport Complex Station on subway line 2. For more information, call (02) 540-4550.
Kim Gun-mo - 20th Anniversary Tour
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
Nov. 4-5
The father of K-pop, Kim Gun-mo, will go on a grand concert tour in over 20 cities (including Japan and the United States) for two years, starting in Seoul on Nov. 4 and 5 at the Olympic Park. Since he made his first debut in 1992, Kim himself has become a living history of K-pop as almost all of his songs have been a hit. Kim has recently released his 13th album with newly-written songs designed to celebrate his 20th anniversary. Tickets cost 66,000 to 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 542-4145.
Yanni
Gymnastic Stadium, Olympic Park*
Oct. 14
Greek New Age pianist Yanni will hold a mega concert and offer beautiful melodies to Korean fans on Oct. 14 at the Olympic Park. The concert, designed to celebrate both the 40th anniversary of Hyundai Department Store and Yanni’s newly released album “Truth of Touch,” will be an opportunity to hear his songs loved all over the world, such as “Aria” and “Santorini,” with grand live stage settings. Tickets cost 99,000 to 270,000 won. For more information, (02) 3141-3488.
Rush Hour Concert
Oct. 11, Nov. 3
The LG Arts Center has been holding a series of concerts at 7 p.m. for office workers that usually suffer from heavy traffic jams during that time. In October, pianist Bae Jang-eun, winner of the 2007 Korean Music Awards, will perform jazz tunes. In November, indie band Kingston Rudieska will perform ska music, which is rooted in Jamaican culture and considered the origin of reggae music. The concerts will last an hour, and tickets cost 15,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114.
X-Japan live in Seoul
Oct. 28
Japanese heavy metal band X-Japan will hold a concert in Korea on Oct. 28. X-Japan has been much loved since its debut in 1985 with “I Will Kill You” and has created sensational trends as an Asian pioneer of “visual rock.” The band reunited in 2007 after its breakup in 1997. Advance ticket sales will begin in August. For more information, call (02) 548-0597~8.
Ancient Writings and Thereafter
National Museum of Korea
Through Nov. 27
The museum will feature about 400 artifacts related to ancient Asian writings and letters, aiming at shedding new light on the relationship between ancient people’s life and writing culture. For this exhibition, “A Rubbed Copy of the Inscription on King Gwanggaeto’s Monument” will be displayed for the first time. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station on subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 2077-9461.
Paintings of Rabindranath Tagore — The Last Harvest
Commemorating “The Year of the Korea-India Friendship,” the museum exhibits 49 paintings by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) and his related books. Tagore, best known through his poem “A Light of the East,” is the first Asian who received the Nobel Prize in literature in 1913 with his poetry series titled “Gitanjali.” Though many people remember him only as a poet, this exhibition is designed to break this stereotype and show a wide range of his achievements in novel, theatre, music, dance and painting. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station on subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 2077-9496.
Jazz Prismatic by Kim Ka-on
Olympus Hall
Jazz pianist Kim Ka-on and special guest VJ Performance will take the stage to present the beauty of jazz melodies mixed with visual art, playing soundtracks from such movies as “Love Story,” “Once,” “Chungking Express” and “When Harry Met Sally.” Tickets cost 44,000 to 55,000 won. Located near exit 7 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 6255-3270.
Lasse Lindh — The Tiger With No Stripes Live 2011 in Korea
KT&G Sangsangmadang Live Hall
Nov. 4
Swedish singer songwriter Lasse Lindh is set to hold a concert, celebrating the recent release of his special edition album “The Tiger with No Stripes.” He has become well-known to Korean fans through his two pieces “C’mon Through” and “The Stuff,” featured in the hit Korean melodrama “Soulmate.” Lindh, who first met Korean fans at his first concert in 2006, has become more famous here as he moved to live in Seoul for a year to learn about Korean culture and music. Tickets cost 50,000 won. Located near exit 9 of Hongik Univ. Station on subway line 2. For more information, call (02) 324-3814.
Naomi & Goro Bossa Nova Concert
Yonsei University Culture & Art Center
Oct. 7
Bossa nova duo “Naomi & Goro” — vocalist Naomi Fuse and guitarist Ito Goro — will present “sweet bossa nova” melodies to Korean fans after its first solo concert in 2010. For this performance, acoustic group “One More Chance,” singer Lee Sang-soon and bossa nova vocalist Hyo-ki will appear on stage as special guests. Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. Located near exit 3 and 4 of Sinchon Station on subway line 2. For more information, call (02) 2658-3546.
Korea National Ballet ’Romeo & Juliet’
Oct 27 - 30
The Korea National Ballet will collaborate with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time. Fans can thus expect to enjoy a performance that is not only visually pleasing but also aurally enticing — just like a movie. Maestro Chung Myung-whun, the prolific music director of the Seoul Philharmonic (who recently made headlines by visiting Pyongyang) will conduct the original music by Prokofiev. Tickets cost 5,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or (02) 587-6181.
Mid-time Fantasy Dance Performance
The National Theater of Korea
Through Dec. 13
The National Theater of Korea is offering a weekly noon program introducing traditional dance performances every Tuesday. Eight different performances featured by the National Theater Company will be staged along with detailed explanations for audiences. Tickets cost 5,000 to 10,000 won. Located near exit 2 of Dong-guk Univ. Station on subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 2280-4114.
Ballet Nacional de Espana
Through Oct. 9
Audiences can enter the dynamic world of flamenco and Spanish dance at this unique performance. Since its founding as the National Dance Company in 1978, “Ballet Nacional de Espana” has achieved international fame due to its outstanding flamenco and traditional Spanish dance performances. Tickets cost 40,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114.
Mamma Mia!
D-Cube Arts Center
Through Feb. 26
Broadway hit musical “Mamma Mia!,” based on the songs of ABBA, is currently on stage as a Korean production. “Mamma Mia!” premiered in Korea in 2004 and has held more than 800 local performances, attracting more than a million viewers. Tickets cost 40,000 to 110,000 won. Located near exit 1 of Sindorim Station on subway line 1 or 2. For more information, call (02) 2211-3000.
Cats
Charlotte Theater
Through Dec. 31
Based on T. S. Eliot’s poems, the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber portrays the feline world in an affectionate way. This year’s production cast three divas, singer Insooni, actresses Park Hae-mi and Hong Ji-min, as Grizabella the former Glamour Cat. Tickets cost 50,000 to 120,000 won. Located near exit 3 of Jamsil Station on subway line 2 or 8. For more information, call 1577-3363.