Around Town 1

Classical Concerts

‘H.J. Lim Piano Recital -- Sound of Silence'

Seoul Arts Center

Feb. 4

For the first time in two years, pianist H. J. Lim will have a recital at Seoul Arts Center on Feb. 4.

H.J. Lim started piano at the age of three. She gained global recognition through her complete recordings of Beethoven's Piano Sonatas, becoming the first Korean pianist to top the Billboard classical chart and the U.S, Netherlands and Canadian iTunes charts.

For this concert, Lim will perform musical pieces of Schumann, Brahms, Ravel, and Franck, and present her unique characteristics and creative musical interpretations.

Tickets cost 25,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 737-0708.

‘Guerzenich-Orchester Koln'

Feb. 10

The Guerzenich Orchestra of Cologne will have a concert at Seoul Arts Center on Feb. 10.

The orchestra is famous for its long tradition, as its roots reach back to the 15th century. Since then, the orchestra has provided the citizens of Cologne with diverse music. For this concert, the orchestra will perform Beethoven's Violin Concerto in collaboration with Norwegian violinist Vilde Frang. Conductor Francois-Xavier Roth will lead the orchestra.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call (02) 599-5743.

‘Chamber Series 2: Brett Dean and Friends’

Kumho Art Hall

Feb. 12

Australian composer and violist Brett Dean will perform chamber music in collaboration with the Heim Quartet at Kumho Art Hall on Feb. 12.

Brett Dean is a contemporary composer whose works are globally acclaimed. He also enjoys a busy career as a violist and conductor. For this concert, Dean and the Heim Quartet will perform String Quintet composed by himself.

Tickets cost 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 3700-6333.

Big Tickets

‘2017 BTS Live Trilogy Episode III The Wings Tour in Seoul'

Gocheok Sky Dome

Feb. 18 and 19

Bangtan Boys (BTS) will have concerts on Feb. 18 and 19 at Gocheok Sky Dome, Seoul.

BTS is a K-pop boy band with seven members. The band debuted in 2013 with their first album "2 Cool 4 Skool." Since then, they have emerged as one of the most popular Korean boy bands in Southeast Asia, China and Japan. In 2016, BTS released their second studio album, "Wings" which was ranked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 chart and became the best sold K-pop album in the U.S.

These concerts mark the beginning of BTS's 2017 world tour, during which the band will visit various countries including the U.S, Chile, and Brazil.

Tickets cost 99,000 to 110,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 446-2690.

Pop & Jazz

‘David Bowie’s Last Band, Donny McCaslin Group’

Mapo Art Center

Feb. 3

U.S. jazz band Donny McCaslin Group will have a concert at Mapo Art Center on Feb. 3.

Since 2009, Donny McCaslin Group has been actively working on broadening the boundaries of contemporary jazz, by combining jazz with other genres. Inspired by their experience collaborating with David Bowie in 2016, they recently released a studio album, “Beyond Now.” For this concert, the band will perform songs from the new album.

Tickets cost 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 941-1150.

Plays & Musicals

‘Monte Cristo'

Chungmu Arts Center

Until Feb. 12

The Korean version of the musical "Monte Cristo" will be performed at Chungmu Arts Center through Feb. 12.

The musical is based on the 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.

‘Phantom'

Blue Square

Until Feb. 26

"Phantom," a musical adaptation of Gaston Leroux's novel "Phantom of the Opera," will be performed at Blue Square Samsung Electronics Hall through 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.

‘The Underdog'

Uniplex

A musical featuring the life of abandoned dogs, "The Underdog" will be staged until Feb. 26 at Uniplex.

Jin is an abandoned Jindo dog. One day, he is caught and taken to a dog shelter, where he meets other abandoned dogs, each of whom has their own tragic stories. However, he finds out the horrible truth about the dog shelter, and tries to escape with his new friends.

Actor Kim Joon Hyun and Lee Tae Sung play the main character Jin.

Tickets cost 33,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1522-6561.

‘The Bodyguard'

LG Arts Center

Until March 5

A musical adaptation of the movie "The Bodyguard" will be staged at LG Arts Center through March 5.

The musical features numerous popular songs from the original soundtrack of the movie "The Bodyguard," such as "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston. After its premiere in London, 2012, the musical has won extensive recognition in Europe, Australia and the U.S. This is the first time for the musical to be staged in Asia. One of the best musical actors in Korea, Jung Sun-ah, will play the main character, Rachel Marron, and actor Lee Jong-hyuk and Park Sung-woong will play the role of her bodyguard, Frank Farmer.

Tickets cost from 60,000 to 140,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

‘Our Friends, the Humans'

French author Bernard Werber's play, "Our Friends, the Humans," will be staged at the Seoul Arts Center through March 5.

Raoul is a timid scientist who works on animal testing, and Samantha is a short-tempered, attractive tiger trainer who loves animals. They find themselves within a glass wall, without knowing where they are, and why they are there. They try to figure out what is happening to them, gradually putting clues together.

Actors Go Myung-hwan, Oh Yong, Park Kwang-hyun, and Jeon Byeong-wook play Raoul, and Ahn Yu-jin, Kim Na-mi, and Stephanie Kim play Samantha.

Tickets cost 34,000 to 49,000 won. For more information, visit sac.or.kr or call 1577-3363.

Dance

‘Shen Yun 2017 World Tour'

Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center

Feb. 4 and 5

Shen Yun Performing Arts, a classical Chinese dance company based in New York City, will visit Korea as part of their 2017 world tour and perform at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center on Feb. 4 and 5.

Since the company's foundation in 2006, it has performed around 450 times in over 100 cities annually. For this show, the company will present ancient myths and legends of China through classical dance, along with unique pieces of music that combine traditional Chinese tunes with western orchestral sounds.

Tickets cost 60,000 to 180,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-8808.

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.