Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

Son Yeol-eum

Seoul Arts Center*

March 7

Pianist Son Yeol-eum will perform her first recital in southern Seoul. She has received numerous awards including the Silver Medal at the 13th International Van Cliburn Piano Competition and second prize at the 2011 Moscow Tchaikovsky Piano Competition. The pianist will play Charles-Valentin Alkan’s “Opus 39, No. 12, Le festin d’Esope,” Chopin’s “Ballade No. 2 in F major,” “Mazurka in a minor,” Prokofiev’s “Sonata No. 8 in B flat major” and Kapustin’s “Eight Concert Etudes Opus 40.” Tickets cost 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266.

London Symphony Orchestra

Feb. 28-March 1

Maestro Bernard Haitink will lead the London Symphony Orchestra in Seoul. Portuguese pianist Maria Joao Pires, who is known as one of the greatest interpreters of Mozart, will also visit Korea for the first time in 17 years. She will play Mozart’s “Piano Concerto No. 17” and Beethoven’s “Piano Concerto No. 2.” The orchestra will also perform Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7” on Feb. 28 and Bruckner’s “Symphony No. 9” on March 1. Haitink was a violinist and switched to conducting in his early 20s. He was with Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for 25 years and visited Korea with the orchestra in 1977. Tickets cost 70,000 to 35,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

Great Composer Series — Tchaikovsky

Feb. 20

The Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Kim Dae-jin, will perform on Feb. 20 at southern Seoul’s biggest concert venue. This will be the opener for the “Great Composer Series — Tchaikovsky” and the orchestra plans to perform five more times at the Seoul Arts Center this year. The first concert will feature the more famous works of Tchaikovsky’s music, including “Polonaise” from the opera “Eugene Onegin,” “Violin Concerto in D major Opus 35” and “Symphony No. 5 in E minor Opus 64.” Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

‘Geum Nan-sae and Duo Kemi’s Talk Concert’

Garden Five Art Hall

March 1-2

The Swedish group Duo Kemi will be joined by Korean conductor Geum Nan-sae in their concert. Duo Kemi, consisting of violinist Daniel Migdal and guitarist Jacob Kellermann, is a classical music duo that has a large following in Europe. Geum will explain Duo Kemi’s repertoire to the audience. The duo will play Sarasate’s "Zigeunerweisen" and Piazzolla’s "History of Tango" at the first concert on March 1, and Bartok’s "Rumanian Folk Dances" and Shostakovich’s "String Quartet No. 8 c minor Opus 110" on March 2. Located near exit 3 of Jangji Station, subway line 8. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2157-8780 or visit www.interpark.com.

Big Tickets

Steve Barakatt

Feb. 17

Canadian composer and pianist Steve Barakatt will hold a concert in Seoul, a market where other new age pianists Yuhki Kuramoto and Yiruma have a massive following. Barakatt’s works such as “Rainbow Bridge,” “The Whistler’s Song” and “Flying” are already familiar to many Koreans as they have been frequently used in television commercials and dramas. Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

Museums

The Year of the Snake: The Many Faced Snake Between Imagination and Reality

National Folk Museum of Korea

Through Feb. 25

This exhibition at the National Folk Museum of Korea features the snake, which is the animal representing this year according to the Chinese zodiac, and is considered a creature of immortality to Koreans. About 40 items including craftwork, paintings and books are on display. Located near exit 1 of Anguk Station, subway line 3. For more information, call (02) 3704-3114 or visit nfm.go.kr.

History in Glass: 3,000 Years of Glassware from the Mediterranean and West Asia

National Museum of Korea

Through Feb. 17

This exhibition introduces the history of glassware production in the Mediterranean and West Asia regions where glassware was invented. A total of 375 pieces from the collection of the Hirayama Ikuo Silk Road Museum in Japan are on display. The show is comprised of three sections: early ancient glass; glassworks made by the blowing technique; and glassware of the Sassanid Persian Empire, which it invented using a new production method. Located near exit 4 of Ichon Station, subway line 4 and Jungang Line. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2077-9559 or visit www.museum.go.kr.

Pops & Jazz

Prelude

Samsung Hall, Ewha Womans University

Feb. 15

Jazz quartet Prelude will hold a concert at Ewha Womans University a day after Valentine’s Day. Organized in 2003, the band is one of the most active on the scene with six studio albums as of last year. Consisting of a piano, saxophone, bass and drums, the band will play songs from its albums and love theme songs in the concert titled, "Romantic Valentine Concert." Located near exit 2 of Ewha Womans University Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 55,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3273-0775 or visit samsunghall.interpark.com.

JK Kim Dong-uk and Jazzpark Bigband

Yongin Cultural Foundation Big Harmony Yard

Feb. 24

Jazzpark Bigband, a 17-member Korean jazz group, and singer JK Kim Dong-uk will hold a concert at Yongin Cultural Foundation Big Harmony Yard, Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 24. Kim who debuted in 2002 with his first studio album “Life sentence,” gained popularity by appearing in MBC’s show “I Am a Singer” in 2011. The singer who majored in jazz vocal at Humber College in Canada formed a jazz trio project “Zebra” in the same year. He will perform such numbers as “English Man in New York,” “summertime” and “Fly Me to the Moon” with the band. Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won. For more information, call (031) 260-3355 or visit www.yicf.or.kr.

‘2013 Amoebahood Concert’

Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*

March 16-17

Hip hop artists under the Amoeba Culture label, which includes Dynamic Duo, will hold a concert at the southern Seoul sporting venue. The label was established in 2006 by Gaeko and Choiza of Dynamic Duo. Supreme Team, Yankie, Zion. T, Planet Shiver, Rhythm Power and Dynamic Duo will perform in this concert. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call (02) 371-8567 or visit www.interpark.com.

Adam Lambert

Uniqlo AX

American singer-songwriter Adam Lambert will hold a concert in Seoul. He debuted in 2009 through TV program “American Idol.” In his first visit to Korea, he will sing such hits as “Whataya Want from Me,” “Time for Miracles,” “Better than I Know Myself” and “Cuckoo.” Located near exit 2 of Gwangnaru Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 119,000 won. For more information, call (02) 407-2589 or visit www.uniqlo-ax.com.

Baek Ji-young

Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium, Olympic

Park*

Feb. 16

Pop and ballad singer Baek Ji-young will hold a concert in southern Seoul. Baek debuted with the dance number with Latin beats “Choice” in 1999 and recently released her new single “Hate,” which was composed by pianist Yiruma. She will sing her hits such as “Like a Bullet Hit Me,” “Dash” and “My Ear Candy.” Tickets cost 60,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 532-5338 or visit www.interpark.com.

10cm

Olympic Gymnasium, Olympic Park*

Feb. 23

Acoustic duo 10cm will hold a concert to celebrate their second studio album “Fine Thank You and You?” They made their debut in 2010 and the band won the Best Pop Single at 8th Korean Music Awards in 2011 with “Tonight I’m Afraid of the Dark.” Comprised of vocalist Kwon Jung-yeol and guitarlist Yoon Cheol-jong, the group will perform hits such as “Americano,” “So Nice,”

“Hold Me” and “Tonight.” Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 563-7110 or visit www.interpark.com.

Lee Jang-hee

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*

March 2

Lee Jang-hee, the 1970s folk music icon, will hold his much-anticipated concert in downtown Seoul. Lee, known for his firm and distinctive voice as well as his moustache and love for motorcycles, left the Korean music scene during his peak and later settled in the United States as a businessman. His performance in Seoul will allow old fans to sing along to hits like "Who Are You," "I Will Give Everything to You" and "A Glass of Reminiscences." The Seoul concert will kick off Lee’s national tour. Tickets cost 55,000 to 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 550-8665 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr.

Plays & Musicals

‘Three Musketeers’

Chungmu Art Hall

Feb. 20-April 21

Veteran actor Um Ki-joon will join some of the leading stars in K-pop, including Super Junior’s Kyu Hyun, 2PM’s Jun.K and 2AM’s Lee Chang-min in the musical adaptation of the “Three Musketeers,” based on the eponymous novel by Alexandre Dumas. Lee will play D’Artagnan. The concert venue is located near exit 9 of Sindang Station, subway lines 2 and 6. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 764-7857 or visit www.musicalthreemusketeers.com.

‘Amy’s View’

Myeongdong Theater

Feb. 15-March 10

The translated version of the David Hare play “Amy’s View” will be staged at the central Seoul theater. Originally premiering in London in 1997, the plot revolves around the story of Amy, played by Suh Eun-keyong, her boyfriend Dominic, played by Jeong Seung-gil, and Amy’s mother Esme, played by Yoo So-jung. Esme, a veteran stage actress, dislikes Dominic, who thinks light of traditional theater and aspires to be a film director. Esme’s confrontational style breeds conflict with her daughter as well. Located near exit 6 of Myeongdong Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1644-2003 or visit www.mdtheater.or.kr.

‘Rebecca’

LG Arts Center*

Through March 31

Based on the Daphne du Maurier’s 1938 novel of the same title, the musical “Rebecca” is on stage in Seoul. The novel was also made into a film by Alfred Hitchcock in 1940 as his first American project, and won two Academy Awards. Yoo Jun-sang, Ryu Jung-han and Oh Man-seok perform as wealthy widower Maxim DeWinter who cannot forget his late wife Rebecca. Im Hye-young and Kim Bo-kyung will perform as “I” who falls in love with DeWinter while traveling to Monte Carlo. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114.

Dance

‘It Is Written There’

Gangdong Arts Center

Feb. 22-23

Japanese choreographer Zan Yamashita’s dance performance “It Is Written There” will be on stage with the Ahn Aesoon Dance Company. Since its first performance at the Itami Ai Hall in Hyogo, Japan, 2002, Yamashita has performed in Kyoto and Fukuoka in Japan, Brussels in Belgium and Istanbul, Turkey. In this piece, every audience member will be given a 100-page book on entrance, and will constantly be asked to turn the pages. The choreographers will perform different moves, as the stage host calls out the page numbers. Located near 4 of Godeok Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 440-0500 or visit www.gangdongarts.or.kr.