Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Around Town II

  ‘Fanta-Stick’ “Fanta-Stick” is performed every day at Seoul Fanta-Stick Theater on an open-ended run. The performance presents representative original Korean music, utilizing traditional Korean instruments to create fusion gugak.Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit www.fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959. ‘YOULL’Jeongdong TheaterApr. 1-Dec 31 “YOULL,” the dance performance mixed with drama, will be staged at Jeongdong Theater until the end of 2016.The performance will bring a wide range of traditional modes of expression together, including traditional Korean dance, theater, music and martial arts. By applying the heroic fantasy genre to this traditional production, Jeongdong Theater hopes to broaden its popular appeal. Actors Jeon Jin-hong, Lee Hyuk, Park Ji-yeon and Cho Haneul will play the main roles.Tickets cost 40,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, call (02) 751-1500 or visit www.jeongdong.or.kr.  Three Jewels: Buddhist Art of KoreaHoam Art MuseumThrough Nove

Apr 14, 2016

Around Town 1

‘Do You Like Brahms?’Olympus Hall*Through April 21 Following the success from Olympus Lecture Concert Season 1, a second season is being performed with the music of Brahms. The Musikamia ensemble will lead all the performances until the last one on April, featuring its vocalists and piano section. The ensemble aims to express the sense of purity in their performance, which Brahms always pursued within his music. Brahms composed a number of pieces for piano, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, and for vocal and chorus — many of his works have become staples of modern repertoires. Though his music is firmly rooted in the structures of the Baroque and classical masters, Brahms created a new approach to harmony.The “Do You Like Brahms” concert will alternate themes each week, presenting a wide variety of his works.Admission is 33,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6255-3270. ‘SAC 11am Concert’Seoul Arts Center*Through Dec. 8  On every 2nd Thursday of each month, an “11am Concert” will be staged at Seoul Ar

Apr 14, 2016

X-rated changgeuk 'Madame Ong' goes to France

A scene from the National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s “Madame Ong,” which will be staged at Theatre de la Ville in Paris, France, from April 14 to 17. / Courtesy of NCCKDirector Koh Sun-woongBy Kwon Mee-yoo The name Ongnyeo immediately reminds one of the lewd woman who had sex with the promiscuous Byeon Gang-soe in the adult folktale. However, director Koh Sun-woong rediscovered an independent woman who fought against her fate in the National Changgeuk Company of Korea's (NCCK) "Madame Ong.""Madame Ong" is a part of the NCCK's efforts to modernize the genre. It paid off, with "Madame Ong" enjoying two successful runs in Korea in 2014 and 2015 and being invited to perform at Theatre de la Ville in Paris, France, April 14-17 as a part of the Years 2015-2016 of Korea-France Bilateral Exchanges.The X-rated "changgeuk," a form of Korean musical theater employing pansori narrative singing, is based on the orally transmitted folktale "Byeongangsoe-jeon." It once existed in the form of pansori, but the lyrics are long lost and only the narrative has been passed down.I

Apr 13, 2016

X-rated changgeuk 'Madame Ong' goes to France

Dansaekhwa meets minimalism

An installation view of the exhibition “EMBRACING: Yun Hyong-keun with Chusa and Donald Judd” at PKM Gallery in central Seoul / Courtesy of PKM Gallery Exhibition highlights Yun, Kim, and Judd By Kwon Mee-yooCaligrapher and scholar Kim Jeong-hui (1786-1856) from the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), Korean dansaekhwa artist Yun Hyong-keun (1928-2007) and American artist Donald Judd (1928-1994) don't seem to have anything in common with each other ― except that they are artists who have become recognized for their work."EMBRACING: Yun Hyong-keun with Chusa and Donald Judd," an exhibition at PKM Gallery in downtown Seoul, sheds light on the three artists in an attempt to contextualize Yun in art history.Yun is one of the leading artists of the recently rediscovered Dansaekhwa, or Korean monochrome movement. Inspiration for Yun's work came from nature ― the artist realized the magnitude of nature through seeing a rotting tree returning to dust. He mainly used hemp and linen instead of traditional canvas and created wide paintings painted using thick brushs

Apr 12, 2016

'Mata Hari' is theatrical delight, but empty

The set of “Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge,” designed by Oh Pil-young, revives the lavish Moulin Rouge theater from the early 1900s. The scenery changes from the dressing room of Mata Hari to a bench by the Seine and from Captain Ladoux’s dining room to an aviation shed where second lieutenant Armand trains pilots. / Photos courtesy of EMK Musical CompanySinger-turned-actress OkJoo-hyun portrays the dancer and spy Mata Hari in the musical “Mata Hari.”By Kwon Mee-yooThe world premiere of the musical "Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge" raised its curtain at the Blue Square in Seoul on March 29.The name Mata Hari immediately relates to the glamorous, erotic image of the dancer who was executed on charges of espionage during World War I. The musical provides the visual pleasure describing the splendor of the exotic dancer and the French cabaret Moulin Rouge, but it feels rather hollow behind the gilded set and tuneful music.Produced by Korea's Eum Hong-hyun and his EMK Musical Company, the Korean musical aims to attract the international market ―&n

Apr 10, 2016

'Mata Hari' is theatrical delight, but empty

Around Town 2

  ‘Fanta-Stick’Seoul Fanta-Stick TheaterThroughout 2016 “Fanta-Stick” is performed daily at Seoul Fanta-Stick Theater on an open-ended run. The performance presents representative original Korean music, utilizing traditional Korean instruments to create fusion gugak.Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit www.fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959. Musical AranggaChungmu Art HallThrough April 10 The musical “Arrangga” will be staged at Chungmu Art Hall from Feb. 14 to April 10.Depicting a love story between a king and a commoner, the musical seeks to combine Western rhythms and Korean musical traditions — the musical numbers in Arrangga are a fusion of gugak and modern sounds. Kang Pil-suk and Yoon Hyung-ryul star as King Gaero, and Choi Joo-ri and Kim Da-hae play Arang.Admission is 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-7110 or visit www.ticket.interpark.com. ‘YOULL’Jeongdong TheaterApr. 1 — Dec. 31 “YOULL,” a dance performance mixed with drama

Apr 7, 2016

Around Town 1

 ‘Do You Like Brahms?’Olympus Hall*Until April 21 Following the success of Olympus Lecture Concert Season 1, a second season is being performed with the music of Brahms. The Musikamia ensemble will lead all performances until April, featuring its vocalists and piano section. The ensemble aims to express a sense of purity in their performance, which Brahms always pursued within his music. Brahms composed a number of pieces for piano, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestras and vocals and choruses ― many of his works have become staples of modern repertoires. Though his music is firmly rooted in the structures of the Baroque and classical masters, Brahms created a new approach to harmony.The “Do You Like Brahms” concert will alternate themes each week, presenting a wide variety of his works.Admission is 33,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6255-3270. ‘Rebecca’Seongnam Art CenterApril 9-10 “Rebecca” is a musical based on the classic Daphne du Maurier novel and Alfred Hitchcock’s Oscar-winning film of lo

Apr 7, 2016

Kim Whan-ki's painting breaks price record

By Kwon Mee-yooKorean artist Kim Whan-ki’s 1970 painting “Untitled,” which was sold for a record 4.86 billion won at the Seoul Auction held in Hong Kong, Monday. / Courtesy of Seoul AuctionThe sale of a painting by abstract artist Kim Whan-ki (1913-1974) broke the record for the highest price paid for a Korean artwork at an auction, Monday.The painting, “Untitled” (1970), fetched 4.86 billion won ($4.2 million) during Seoul Auction's Hong Kong event held at the Renaissance Harbour View Hotel in Hong Kong.The auction organizer said international collectors competed for the piece and an Asian collector won the work for HK$ 33 million. “Untitled” is similar to another of Kim's major works “Where, in What Form, Shall We Meet Again?” in its use of technique and the size and pattern of dots. It was produced around the same time.The previous record for a Korean painting was Kim’s “19-Ⅶ-71 #209” (1971), which was sold for 4.7 billion won at the same event last October.Kim's “Les Oiseaux Volants (Flying Birds)&

Apr 5, 2016

Around Town 2

 ‘Fanta-Stick’Seoul Fanta-Stick TheaterThroughout 2016 “Fanta-Stick” is performed every day at Seoul Fanta-Stick Theater on an open-ended run. The performance presents representative original Korean music, utilizing traditional Korean instruments to create fusion gugak.Tickets cost 30,000 to 60,000 won. For more information, visit www.fanta-stick.co.kr or call (02) 3143-5959. Musical AranggaChungmu Art HallThrough April 10 The musical “Arranga” will be staged at Chungmu Art Hall from Feb. 14 to April 10.Depicting a love story between a king and a commoner, the musical seeks to combine Western rhythms and Korean musical traditions — the musical numbers in Arrangga are a fusion of gugak. Kang Pil-suk and Yoon Hyung-ryul star as King Gaero, and Choi Joo-ri and Kim Da-haeplay Arang.Admission is 66,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-7110 or visit www.ticket.interpark.com. ‘YOULL’Jeongdong TheaterApr. 1-Dec 31 “YOULL,” the dance performance mixed with drama will be staged at Jeongdong

Mar 31, 2016

Around Town 1

 ‘Do You Like Brahms?’Olympus Hall*Through April 21 Following the success from Olympus Lecture Concert Season 1, a second season is being performed with the music of Brahms. The Musikamia ensemble will lead all the performances until the last one on April, featuring its vocalists and piano section. The ensemble aims to express the sense of purity in their performance, which Brahms always pursued within his music. Brahms composed a number of pieces for piano, chamber ensembles, symphony orchestra, and for vocal and chorus — many of his works have become staples of modern repertoires. Though his music is firmly rooted in the structures of the Baroque and classical masters, Brahms created a new approach to harmony.The “Do You Like Brahms” concert will alternate themes each week, presenting a wide variety of his works.Admission is 33,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6255-3270. ‘SAC 11am Concert’Seoul Arts Center*Through Dec. 8 On every 2nd Thursdays of each month, an “11am Concert” will be staged at Seoul A

Mar 31, 2016

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Around Town II

Around Town 1

X-rated changgeuk 'Madame Ong' goes to France

Dansaekhwa meets minimalism

'Mata Hari' is theatrical delight, but empty

Around Town 2

Around Town 1

Kim Whan-ki's painting breaks price record

Around Town 2

Around Town 1

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