Around Town 1

‘L’Orfeo’

SejongCenter for the Performing Arts*

July 23-26

Poster for opera “L’Orfeo”

The Seoul Metropolitan Opera will hold a production of “L’Orfeo” at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from July 23 to 26. Written and arranged by Italian Renaissance composer Claudio Monteverdi and staged for the Gonzaga family court, “L’Orfeo” is commonly credited as the earliest surviving opera that is still regularly performed to this day. The opera is based on the Greek legend of Orpheus, wherein Orfeo, still besotted with his bride, Eurydice, long after her accidental death, decides to traverse across the inhospitable plains of the Underworld and challenge the world of Hades to reclaim his love. Orfeo will be portrayed by Han Gyu-won and Kim Sae-il, respectively, while Jung Hye-wook and and Huh Jin-ah will each take on the role of the object of Orfeo’s undying affection, Eurydice. Ticket prices range from 30,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1111 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr.

‘Gran Tango’

Seoul Arts Center*

July 7

Cellist Song Young-hoo will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on July 7. / Coutesy of Seoul Arts Center

Song Young-hoon, one of the most sought-after cellists in Korea, will hold a collaborative concert with Cuatrocientos, a Japanese tango band, at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on July 7. Song is something of a household name in Korea. After making his sensational debut at the precocious age of nine on national television, he was commended by the Seoul mayoral office with the Seoul Mayor’s Medal for outstanding young talent. Since his vigorous studies at Juilliard at the pre-college level, Song has flourished both domestically and in the international classical music scene, participating in numerous prestigious music festivals and performing at hallowed venues around the globe. Cuatrocientos, for their part, stands at the helm of the Japanese tango movement of sorts. Consisting of violinist and bandleader Mmomoko, pianist Hayashi Masaki, bassist Nishijima Toru, and bandoneonist Ktamura Satoshi, Cuatrocientos derives their name from the Spanish word, which simply stands for the number 400. The dual act will perform music by Astor Piazzolla, a highly influential Argentinian tango composer and bandoneon player who revolutionized and modernized the traditional tango. Ticket prices range from 30,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2658-3546 or visit stompmusic.com.

Pavel Haas Quartet

LG Arts Center

June 16

The Pavel Haas Quartet, a Czech string quartet founded in 2002, will hold a concert at the LG Arts Center on June 16. Consisting of an ever-changing lineup of violinists and cellists, the quartet derives its name from the Czech composer whose life and work was brutally cut short when he became one of the countless casualties of the Holocaust during the Second World War. While the inspiration of the group’s name may seem dour, their accomplishments nonetheless pay great homage to the renowned composers of the past. Since winning the prestigious Paolo Borciani Competition in Italy in 2005, the Pavel Haas Quartet has enjoyed more than its fair share of fame, fortune, and accolades, even garnering the most coveted award of Recording of the Year at the 2011 Gramophone Awards. For this particular performance, the quartet will play Schulhoff’s "String Quartet No.1," Dvorak’s "String Quartet No. 12, Op. 96, American," and end with Janacek’s "String Quartet No. 2, Intimate Letters." Ticket prices range from 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com.

Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra

July 2

The Russian National Orchestra will hold a concert under the astute baton of Mikhail Pletnev at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on July 2. The orchestra has risen in both acclaim and popularity with the wider public since its thunderous premiere in 1990. Its accomplished conductor, Mikhail Pletnev, is no stranger to such critical adulation either, for he has led a starry career as a concert pianist prior to his current position, beginning with his win at the Tchaikovsky Competition at the age of 21. The orchestra will perform Glinka’s "Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture," Tchaikovsky’s "Piano Concerto No. 1 in b flat minor, Op. 23," and Rachmaninoff’s "Symphony No. 2 in e minor, Op. 27." Ticket prices range from 50,000 to 220,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-6234 or visit www.mastmedia.co.kr.

‘Lucky Day’

Jamsil Stadium

June 13

Insooni, Korea’s original and indisputable ‘Queen of Soul’ or ‘R&B Diva,’ will be holding a concert at Jamsil Stadium on June 13. As one of Korea’s foremost and most established musical talents, Insooni, with her rich, throaty voice, and larger-than-life personality both on and off stage, has achieved so much in the Korean music industry, both great and small; her accomplishments run the gamut of winning first place on MBC’s crowd-pleaser program I am a Singer to performing at Carnegie Hall in 2010. In addition to her resonant vocals, her tenacity in overcoming the manifold challenges she has faced over the years for her multiethnic background and attaining her present-day fame and fortune through her own hard work has surely raised her esteem in the eyes of the public. She will be performing, among other songs, several of her almost canonical tunes, such as "If It’s the Night, Every Night," "Friend," and "A Goose’s Dream." Ticket prices range from 77,000 to 121,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1599-4290 or visit www.skplanet.com.

Imagine Dragons

Olympic Stadium*

Aug. 13

American rock band Imagine Dragons will perform at Olympic Stadium on Aug. 13. Courtesy of Live Nations Korea

Imagine Dragons, a four-member American rock band, will be holding their first concert in Korea at the Olympic Stadium on August 13. While the band, consisting of lead vocalist Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee, and drummer Daniel Platzman, has been active since 2008, they first gained significant international exposure and attention upon the release of their debut studio album in 2012, “Night Visions,” which is exemplary for exhibiting influences from eclectic and seemingly incompatible musical genres. The group will also be performing songs from their second album, “Smoke + Mirrors,” as well as hit singles from their previous studio release. Ticket prices range from 66,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6925-1818 or visit www.livenation.kr.

‘Polish Art: An Enduring Spirit’

The National Museum of Korea

Through Aug. 30

In collaboration with the National Museum in Warsaw, the National Museum of Korea will be holding a special exhibition, "Polish Art: An Enduring Spirit," from June 5 to Aug. 30. This exhibition will be the first of its kind on Korean shores, with its primary objective being to introduce the artistic traditions and rich history of a country whose influence in shaping the European aesthetic identity is indisputable, but whose contributions have long since faded into the background. Thus, through the more than 200 pieces sourced from 17 different institutions that will be on display, visitors will have the invaluable opportunity to essentially ‘rediscover’ the veiled essence of Polish art. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station on subway line 4. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 2077-9483 or visit www.museum.go.kr.

‘I Am You Are Me’

BLUE SQUARE Samsung Card Hall

June 12-21

Korean-American singer Park Jung-hyun, or Lena Park will be holding concerts at the BLUE SQUARE Samsung Card Hall from June 12 to 21 as part of her first domestic tour of the year. With her distinctively clear voice and astounding vocal range, Park has over the years rightfully earned her place among the top echelons of the Korean, and arguably global music industry. While she has maintained an active presence within her field, releasing successful and widely enjoyed singles and studio albums, it was arguably after her victorious stint on the first season of the immensely popular Korean singing competition program I am a Singer that she was able to attain her goddess-like status. Ardent fans can rest assured that they will be hearing a variety of Park’s songs, from past hits such as "In a Dream," "P.S. I Love You" and "Thank You," in addition to new material from her most recent album. Ticket prices range from 99,000 to 121,000 won. For more information, call (02) 371-8380 or visit www.cjenm.co.kr.

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

Charlotte Theater

June 12-28

The Charlotte Theater in southern Seoul will be staging a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" from June 12 to 28. Written by the prolific duo of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the rock opera was first performed on Broadway in 1971 to a surprisingly lukewarm response, with some religious groups censuring the production teams and writers for their interpretation of Jesus’s sacrifice. In spite of its ecclesiastical subject matter and thematic elements, "Jesus Christ Superstar" has grown to become a fan favorite to this day with its tongue-in-cheek treatment of such a loaded story, as well as pop culture references and colloquial language scattered throughout the piece. Loosely based on the Gospels’ accounts of the last week of Jesus’s life and his penultimate crucifixion, "Jesus Christ Superstar" focuses on the political, ideological, and interpersonal rivalry between Jesus and Judas Iscariot, whose name in the modern context is evocative of cold-blooded betrayal. Michael Lee and Park Eun-tae will star as Jesus, while the role of his wily opponent, Judas, will be assumed by Choi Jae-rim, Yoon Hyeong-ryeol, and Han Ji-sang, respectively. Ticket prices range from 50,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1577-3363 or visit www.clipservice.co.kr.

‘Death Note’

Seongnam Arts Center

June 20-Aug. 9

A production of "Death Note" will be staged at the Seongnam Arts Center from June 20 to Aug. 9. Adapted from the colossally popular Japanese manga series of the same name, "Death Note" revolves around Light Yagami, a bored yet highly intelligent teenager who stumbles upon a supernatural notebook that grants its owner the ability to kill anyone whose name and face he or she knows. Armed with such a formidable weapon, Light proceeds to ‘cleanse the world of all evil’ and exterminates every individual whom he deems to be unfit for his ultimate plan for a ‘new world,’ free from evil and darkness. The inexplicable series of deaths of criminals soon piques the interest of L, an enigmatic and incredibly skilled international investigator who is lured by Light into a dangerous cat-and-mouse game. Ticket prices range from 90,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, call (02) 1577-3663 or visit www.clipservice.co.kr.

‘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.