Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

‘2016 The Little Singers of Paris Christmas Concert’

Seoul Arts Center

Dec. 17, 18

The only boys’ a cappella choir in the world, The Little Singers of Paris will have a Christmas concert tour in Korea.

The choir had Europe and Asia tour this year, visiting diverse countries including Switzerland, Germany, Japan, China and Russia, and received wide acclaim from international audiences. For its concerts in Korea, the choir will perform classical music, French chanson, traditional songs from various countries, Christmas carols and popular musical numbers.

Tickets cost from 33,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 597-9870.

‘Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra: Beethoven’s Choral Symphony’

Dec. 28, 29

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s famous 9th Symphony, “Choral” on Dec. 28 and 29.

Since 2008, the orchestra has performed the Choral Symphony at every year-end. Through this piece, the orchestra aims to send the audience messages of peace, harmony and love for all mankind. Globally renowned German conductor Christoph Eschenbach will lead the orchestra.

Tickets cost 10,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call 1588-1210.

‘2016 SAC New Year’s Eve Concert’

Dec. 31

Welcoming the New Year, Seoul Arts Center holds its New Year’s Eve Concert on Dec. 31. The Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, men’s voice orchestra I Maestri, violinist Shin Ji-ah, and musical singer Jung Sun-ah will take part. The concert will be directed by Jang Yun-sung, one of Korea’s representative conductors. Famous opera and musical numbers will be performed, as well as classical pieces by Piazzolla and Wieniawski. After the concert, there will be fireworks and a New Year’s countdown.

Tickets cost from 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.

‘Cho Seong-jin Recital’

Lotte Concert Hall

Jan. 3-4, 2017

Pianist Cho Seong-jin will have a recital at the Lotte Concert Hall on Jan. 3 and 4, 2017.

Cho is the first Korean to win the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition, one of the world’s oldest and biggest piano competitions. This is his first recital in Korea since winning the competition in 2015. In the recital, he will perform pieces by Berg, Chopin and Schubert.

Tickets cost 30,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, visit lotteconcerthall.com or call 1544-7744.

Big Tickets

‘AIDA’

Charlotte Theater

Through March 11, 2017

The legendary musical “AIDA” returns this year with a new cast. It will be staged at Charlotte Theater from Nov. 3 to March 11, 2017.

The performance starts as a statue of Amneris, a female pharaoh, comes to life and transports the audience back to ancient Egypt, in a period of war between Egypt and its neighboring country Nubia, where in the midst of the power struggle there blooms a story of love. Yoon Gong-joo and Jang Eun-ah play the title role of Aida, who agonizes between her homeland and the public. Ivy and Lee Jung-hwa play Amneris, and Kim Woo-hyung and Min Woo-hyuk play Radames, who falls in love with the slave Aida.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 577-1987.

Pop & Jazz

‘Kim Gun-mo 25th Anniversary Tour-Seoul’

Jamsil Indoor Stadium

Celebrating his 25th anniversary since his debut, Kim Gun-mo will have a live concert at Jamsil Indoor Stadium on Dec. 31. This is his first solo concert in five years.

Kim is one of Korea’s legendary singer-songwriters, nicknamed the “National Singer.” His third album, released in 1995, sold over 3 million copies and it still is the best-sold album in Korea. In this concert, Kim will sing his hit songs along with the new songs from his recently released mini-album.

Tickets cost 77,000 to 143,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 542-4145.

Plays & Musicals

‘Moon of Seoul’

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

Dec. 3 to 25

The musical “Moon of Seoul” is based on an MBC TV drama of the same name. The original drama was aired in 1994 and gained great popularity. The musical is about ordinary people living in a poor area of Seoul. Their lives, full of dreams about success and love, will be portrayed with emotive music.

Actors Lee Pil-mo and Huh Do-young will play the main character Kim Hong-sik, an ambitious figure who actively strives for success. Actors Park Seong-hun and Lee Seung-jae will play another main character Lee Chun-seob, who wishes to live without regret.

Tickets cost 40,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit sejongpac.or.kr or call (02) 399-1000.

‘Phantom’

Blue Square

Through Feb. 26, 2017

“Phantom,” a musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux’s novel “Phantom of the Opera,” will be performed at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall from Nov. 26 to Feb. 26.

“Phantom” is about Erik, a mysterious man living in the dark cellar of a Paris opera house. One day he hears someone singing and is enchanted by her heavenly voice. Discovering that the voice was of Christine Daee, he decides to make her the new diva of the Opera Theatre and begins to give her secret lessons every night. With the help of Erik, Christine has her debut, but it is ruined by Carlotta. Erik seeks revenge on her.

Park Hyo-shin, Park Eun-tae and Jeon Dong-suk star as Erik, the Phantom. Kim So-hyun, Kim Soon-young and Lee Ji-hye share the role of Christine Daee, and Jeong Young-ju and Shin Young-sook will alternate for Carlotta.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-6478.

Through Dec. 25

‘Romeo and Juliet’

National Theater of Korea

Through Jan. 15, 2017

Shakespeare’s famous play “Romeo and Juliet” will be performed at the National Theater of Korea from Dec. 9 to Jan. 15, 2017. There have been many productions of “Romeo and Juliet,” but this version stays loyal to the original work, with a maximum effort to convey his rhetorical expressions and wordplay into the Korean language. The play is directed by Yang Jeong-woong, who has much experience directing Shakespeare’s works, including “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Pericles” and “Twelfth Night.” Actor Park Jung-min will play Romeo, and Moon Geun-young will play Juliet. Many other veteran actors such as Son Byong-ho and Seo Yi-suk will also appear in the play.

Tickets cost from 33,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 1544-1555.

‘Monte Cristo’

Chungmu Arts Center

Through Feb. 12, 2017

The Korean version of the musical “Monte Cristo” will be performed at Chungmu Arts Center from Nov. 19 to Feb. 12, 2017. The musical is based on novel “The Count of Monte Cristo,” written by French writer Alexandre Dumas. This musical is about Edmond Dantes, a young sailor who is falsely accused of a crime and goes to jail. In jail, he meets Priest Faria who becomes his mentor and tells him about a treasure on the remote Island of Monte Cristo. After he breaks out of jail, he goes to Monte Cristo and finds the treasure. With the newly gained wealth, Edmond pretends to be a nobleman, Count Monte Cristo, and sets off to Paris. In Paris, he plans to take revenge on the people who framed him. Actor Ryu Jung-han, Um Ki-joon, Kai, and Shin Sung-rok play Edmond Dantes.

Tickets cost 50,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1577-6478.

Dance

‘The Nutcracker’

Dec. 17 to 25

Since 2000, the Korean National Ballet has performed “The Nutcracker” every winter, and the show soon became a steady seller. “The Nutcracker” captivates not only children but also adults with the diverse and spectacular choreography by Grigorovich and the beautiful music of Tchaikovsky. Splendid stage art and the highly advanced dancing technique of the Korean National Ballet invite audiences to the world of enchantment and fairy tale during the Christmas season.

Tickets cost 5,000 to 90,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 580-1300.

Clubs

Club Octagon

Nonhyeon

Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The club offers a stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. It is near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.

Club Globe Lounge

Itaewon

Club Globe Lounge is famous among women looking for a place to throw birthday parties or enjoy a light dinner. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., it serves as a bar, changing into a club after 10 p.m. Every Thursday, Club Globe Lounge has a Happy Hour buffet for guests. Club Globe Lounge is located near the Hamilton Hotel by exit 2 of Itaewon Station, subway line 6. For more information, call (02) 792-1127.

Club Evans

Hongik University

Club Evans is a live jazz club that has served as a platform for emerging jazz artists for a decade. It operates jazz recording studios and a jazz academy as well, producing albums for many local jazz artists. Club Evans provides jazz concerts and leads music sessions every Monday and Tuesday. Club Evans is located near exit 1 of Sangsu Station, subway line 6. It opens at 7:30 p.m. For more information, visit clubevans.com or call (02) 337-8361.

Once in a Blue Moon

Apgujeong

Once in a Blue Moon is one of the best-known and well-established jazz clubs in the city. It features live jazz sets from two different bands every night, usually starting at 7:30 p.m. It is located between the Hakdong Intersection and Galleria Department Store in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, visit onceinabluemoon.co.kr or call (02) 549-5490.

Club Answer

Cheongdam

Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hottest clubs in Seoul by CNN, provides a spacious interior and brilliant lighting system with entertaining DJs on stage nightly. Club Answer is in the classy area of Cheongdam, a district known to lead the party culture of Seoul. It is located near exit 13 of Cheongdam Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 514-4311.

Club Double Eight

Sinsa

Opened in 2010, Club Double Eight takes clubbing to its heights. Located in Gangnam, it provides diverse hotel promotions and features weekend lineups with exuberant DJs. It is located near exit 1 of Sinsa Station on Line 3. For more information, call (02) 543-8803.