Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra & Charles Dutoit

Seoul Arts Center*

June 29-30

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, led by Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit, will perform in Seoul. Formed in 1964 by Sir Thomas Beecham, the British orchestra company has a notable history, having performed under prominent conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Rudolf Kempe, Andre Previn and Daniele Gatti. The orchestra will play Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides Overture,” Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor,” Debussy’s “La Mer” and Ravel’s “Daphnis & Chloe Suite No.2” on the first day of their two concerts. They will perform Weber’s “Euryanthe Overture,” Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E minor” and Berlioz’s “Symphonie Fantastique” on the second day. Tickets cost 50,000 to 250,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-9606 or visit www.sac.or.kr.

Ditto Festival

Seoul Arts Center and LG Arts Center

Through June 30

The annual Ditto Festival, this year featuring five young talented musicians, will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center and the LG Arts Center through June 30. The ensemble at the festival includes violinists Stefan Pi Jackiw and Daniel Chong, pianist Ji Yong, cellist Michael Nicholas and violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill. They will perform Bach. For more information, visit www.dittofest.com

‘Pipe Organ Duo Concert’

June 22

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*

The central Seoul performing arts hall will be the venue of a rare pipe organ performance. The duo, compromised of Korean organist Shin Dong-il and promising American talent Nathan Laube, will perform works by Mozart, J.S. Bach and Mendelssohn. Tickets cost 20,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr.

Big Tickets

Sarah Brightman

Bexco

July 21

Singer Sarah Brightman will kick off her Korean tour in Busan. Her songs such as “The Phantom of the Opera” from the eponymous musical, “Nessun Dorma” from the opera “Turandot” and pop numbers such as “Time to Say Goodbye” have been particularly popular among Koreans. Brightman will perform at the Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju on July 23 and at the Olympic Gymnastics Arena in southern Seoul on July 26. The concert venue in Busan is located near exit 1 of Centum City Station, Busan subway line 2. Tickets cost 99,000 to 165,000 won. For more information, call 1566-5490 or visit www.interpark.com.

Museums

‘Art from the Islamic Civilization’

National Museum of Korea

July 2-Oct. 20

The National Museum of Korea holds a special exhibition highlighting Islamic artifacts. A total of 367 Islamic treasures, which were made from the eighth to 18th centuries, including pottery, glass, jewelry and miniature paintings from the al-Sabah Collection will be on display. Tickets cost 8,000 for children and 12,000 for adults. Located near exit 4 of Ichon Station, on subway line 4. For more information, call (02) 2077-9000 or visit www.islam2013.com.

Pop & Jazz

Shinhwa

Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Olympic Park*

August 3-4

Six-member boy band, Shinhwa will hold a concert celebrating their 15th anniversary. The K-pop group debuted in 1998 and became quickly established as one of the most popular acts in Korean music. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 66,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, contact 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com

Dynamic Duo & J-Park

Gangnam Club “Hollic”

June 29

Hip-hop artists Dynamic Duo and Jay Park will be holding a concert at the southern Seoul club ``Hollic.’’ The club is located on the first basement level of Youngdong Hotel, located near exit 3 of Sinsa Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 35,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

Kiyoshi Kobayashi with Jang Paul

Olympus Hall

Japanese ukulele master Kiyoshi Kobayashi will perform at the Olympus Hall in southern Seoul on June 22. The 58-year-old musician has released numerous ukulele albums and guide books for learning the ukulele, and performed a concert in Korea two years ago. Korean ukulele player Paul Jang will perform alongside him. To get to the venue, take the no. 7 mini bus at exit 5 of Samseong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (010) 7621-4208 or visit www.interpark.com.

Roy Kim

Yonsei University Main Auditorium

July 13-14

K-pop star Roy Kim will hold a concert at the Younsei University Main Auditorium from July 13 to 14. The 20-year-old singer was a winner of the television singing contest, “Superstar K4,” last year. His debut single, “Spring, Spring, Spring” topped the music charts in Korea in the first few weeks of release. To get the venue, take the mini bus no. 3 or 4 from the exit 2 or 3 of Sinchon Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (070) 8967-0901 or visit www.interpark.com.

BEAST

July 20-21

Six-member K-pop boy band BEAST will hold a concert in southern Seoul. The band debuted in 2009 and has released one studio album and several singles. Their single, “Will You be Alright?” released on May 29 topped major download charts in past weeks. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station, subway line 5. Tickets cost 77,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

Super Sonic 2013

Olympic Park*

August 14-15

The annual Super Sonic rock festival will take place for two days in southern Seoul, featuring a star-studded lineup. The first day of the concert on Aug. 14 will be highlighted by English duo Pet Shop Boys, veteran band Earth, Wind & Fire and New Zealand singer Willy Moon, along with Korean acts Dickpunks and Super Kidd. The performance on the next day will be highlighted by Cho Yong-pil, arguably Korea’s most influential pop musician. Rap singer Verbal Jint, rock band Jaurim, American rock band Hot Chelle Rae will also hit the stage. Tickets cost 150,000 won for two days. For more information, call (02) 6002-7577 or visit www.supersonickorea.com.

Youn Ha

Blue Square

June 21-23

Singer Youn Ha, who has a large following in both Korea and Japan, will hold a concert in Seoul. Debuting professionally in Japan in 2004, Yoon enjoyed huge commercial success with her first Korean album, “Good Day for Saying I Love You,” in 2008, and has remained one of the top attractions of the local music scene. In the concert, Yoon will sing her past hits and songs from her new album, “Just Listen,” which was released in early May. She will perform in Busan on June 29. Located near exit 2 and 3 of Hanganjin Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 77,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.interpark.com.

Laura Fygi

Guri Art Hall

Jazz virtuoso Laura Fygi will perform at the Guri Art Hall, Guri, Gyeonggi Province. She will sing famous jazz numbers including “I Love You for Sentimental Reasons,” “Let There Be Love,” and “Dream A Little Dream,” a song particularly beloved in Korea. Take a no.6 mini bus at exit 2 of Guri Station, Jungang Line, and get off in front of the art hall. Tickets cost 55,000 to 77,000 won. A wheelchair seat costs 33,000 won. For more information, call (031) 550-8800 or visit www.gart.go.kr.

Plays & Musicals

‘Chicago’

National Theater of Korea

July 6-Aug. 31

A Korean rendition of the Broadway hit musical “Chicago” will soon hit the stage in Seoul. Actress Lee Honey and Oh Jin-young have been double cast as Roxie Hart. Singer Insooni and musical actress Choi Jung-won will feature as Velma Kelly. To get there, take a shuttle bus provided by the theater at exit 6 of Dongguk University Station, subway line 3. Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.ntok.go.kr.

‘Jack the Ripper’

Seongnam Art Hall*

The Korean production of the Czech musical “Jack the Ripper” will be staged at the performing arts hall in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Set in London in 1888, the story revolves around Anderson, a detective chasing an unidentified serial killer, dubbed as “Jack the Ripper,” and Daniel, a young American doctor who asserts that he knows the identity of the killer. Rock singers Shin Sung-woo and Jung Dong-ha and musical veteran Lee Gun-myung highlight the cast. Tickets cost 40,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 764-7858 or visit www.snart.or.kr.

‘Les Miserables’

Through July 7

A high-profile list of Korean actors will stage the iconic musical at the theater near Itaewon. Comedian-turned-musical actor Jung Sung-hwa will play Jean Valjean, who is imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread; Cho Jung-eun will be Fantine, a tragic woman who leads a difficult life of a factory worker, and Javert, a policeman who chases Valjean, will be played by Moon Jong-won. The venue is connected to Hangangjin Station, subway line 6. Tickets cost 50,000 to 130,000 won. For more information, call (02) 547-5694 or visit www.lesmis.co.kr.

‘Hedwig’

Baekam Art Hall

Through Sept. 8

The musical “Hedwig” will be staged for Korean theatergoers again, as they bought more than 350,000 tickets for it when it was first performed here in 2005. Cho Seung-woo, the popular television and movie actor, will return as Hedwig, the struggling, transsexual rocker from East Germany. Located near exit 8 of Samseong Station, subway line 2. Tickets cost 50,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3485-8700 or visit www.baekamhall.com.

‘The Days’

Daehangno Musical Center

“The Days,” a musical featuring with songs of late folk rock singer Kim Gwang-seok, is on stage at the Daehangno Musical Center in Seoul. However, the story has no particular relation to Kim’s lyrics because it revolves around the adventures of bodyguards stationed at Cheong Wa Dae. Yu Joon-sang, Oh Man-seok and Kang Tae-eul lead a cast heavy with star power. Located near exit 1 of Hyehwa Station, subway line 4. Tickets cost 55,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363 or visit www.musicalthedays.co.kr.

‘Spamalot’

Yonkang Hall, Doosan Art Center

Through Sept. 1

Korean version of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical will be staged in Seoul through Sept. 1. Adapted from the 1975 comedy flick, “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” this musical follows King Arthur and Knights of the Round Table on their hilarious journey to find an ancient relic. Funnyman Jung Joon-ha and veteran actor Seo Young-joo alternate in the role of the King Arthur. Yonkang Hall is located near exit 1 of Jongno 5-ga Station, subway line 1. Tickets cost 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call 1588-5212 or visit www.interpark.com.

Dance

‘Onegin’

July 6-13

The Universal Ballet Company will perform “Onegin,” a work by South African choreographer John Cranko at the Seoul Arts Center in July. The ballet is based on Alexander Pushkin’s tragic love story “Eugene Onegin.” The Universal Ballet Company will be only the second company to stage this piece after China’s National Ballet performance in 2008. Tickets cost 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, call (070) 7124-1737 or visit www.universalballet.com.