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Remembering video art pioneer

Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall will house large-scale, site-specific artworks as apart of “The Hyundai Commission,” starting 2015. / Courtesy of Tate ModernTate Modern plans Paik Nam-june exhibition this year Tate director Nicholas SerotaBy Kwon Mee-yooThe Tate Modern, London’s influential modern art museum, will hold a special exhibition later this year of the definitive works of the late Paik Nam-june, the Korean artist revered as the father of video art.The display is a project in partnership with Korea car maker Hyundai Motor, which in January announced an unprecedented 11-year commitment to funding the space, starting with the Paik exhibit.In a news conference in Seoul, Friday, Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota expressed hopes that the museum’s partnership with Hyundai will help it broaden the range of international works displayed in its spaces, including The Hyundai Commission in the Turbine Hall.“We look forward to working together with Hyundai, exploring the most innovative and creative ideas from around the world,” he said.The

Mar 7, 2014By Kwon Mee-yoo

Around Town 2

Clubs The OctagonNonhyeon Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. Near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847. Club VolumeItaewon Offering a venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station. Club Volume was listed by Time magazine among the “10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul.” For more information, call 1544-2635. Once in a Blue MoonApgujeong 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 stores in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr. Club AnswerCheongdam&nbs

Mar 6, 2014By Baek Byung-yeul

Around Town 1

Classical Concert ScenTrio ConcertSeoul Arts Center*March 10 ScenTrio, comprised of violinist Shin Eun-ryoung, cellist Kim Young-eun and pianist Son Young-kyung, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on March 10. They will play Mozart’s “Piano Trio No. 6 KV. 548,” Lalo’s “Trio for Piano, Violin and Cello” and Mendelssohn’s “Piano Trio in C Minor, Op. 7.” Tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945 or visit www.sac.or.kr. London Symphony OrchestraSeoul Arts Center*March 10-11 The London Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Daniel Harding, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center March 10-11 with pianist Kim Sun-wook. They will play Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain,” Stravinsky’s “Petrushka” and Mahler’s “Symphony No.1 in D Major.” Tickets cost 60,000-320,000 won. For more information, call (02) 599-5743 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Omar Sosa & Paolo FresuLG Arts Center*March 15 Six-time Grammy-nominated Cuban composer and piani

Mar 6, 2014By Baek Byung-yeul

New national theater director begins run with 'Macbeth'

Kim Yun-cheol, the new artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea, is hoping to make a splash with his production of "Macbeth,'' which opens this week at Seoul's Myeongdong Theater. / YonhapBy Kwon Mee-yooKim Yun-cheol, the new artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), will open his term with Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth.”He hopes to make a statement with the new production, which will be staged from Saturday at Seoul’s Myeongdong Theater, considering the controversy that followed his appointment last month.A group of thespians have been voicing their displeasure over the culture ministry’s decision to pick Kim as the head of NTCK. The national drama company has been traditionally helmed by artists, but Kim has spent most of the last three decades as a critic.Kim, a Seoul National University graduate, does have experience as an actor and director, and happens to be the founder of the Seoul-based drama company Maekto.He pursued a career as a critic and drama theorist after a vocal cord injury prevented

Mar 3, 2014

New national theater director begins run with 'Macbeth'

A love story that blurs boundaries

“Kiss & Cry,” a performance that combines dance, film and literature, will be staged at the LG Arts Center in southern Seoul on March 6-9./ Courtesy of LG Arts CenterMichele Anne De Mey, left, and Jaco Van DormaelBy Kwon Mee-yooThe LG Arts Center, which is earning a reputation for experimental shows, will open its new season with an imaginative work that combines dance, film and literature.“Kiss & Cry,” which will be staged at the southern Seoul venue from March 6 to 9, is a creation of Belgian movie director Jaco Van Domael and his wife Michele Anne De Mey, a reputed choreographer.Exploiting the latest advantage in multimedia and stage technologies, the couple blurs the boundaries of traditional genres in dramatizing a story about a woman and her old loves, based on a short story of the same title by Belgian author Thomas Gunzig.The result is perhaps the most stunning visual experience performed at LG since the 2007 staging of Robert Lepage’s “Andersen Project.”Upon entering the theater, the audience will face a large screen erected

Mar 2, 2014By Kwon Mee-yoo

Pianist Kim Sun-wook to perform Prokofiev

Kim Sun-wook will perform Prokofiev’s second piano concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra on March 11./  Courtesy of VinceroBy Do Je-haePianist Kim Sun-wook's focus for the last two years has been Beethoven. His sonatas and concertos have formed the core of the London-based musician's performances and recordings. It is surprising that he has chosen Prokofiev's second piano concerto for his return to Korea next month. With a full cycle of Beethoven's 32 sonatas behind him, Kim will show a passionate side of his playing through one of the most exciting concertos ever written for his instrument. He has rarely performed the piece, except for a couple of concerts in Paris in 2011. Kim will be partnered by the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) during its concert at Seoul Arts Center on March 11.The orchestra has been important in developing his career in Europe. In November 2012, he performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 4 with the London Symphony under Sir John Eliot Gardiner, receiving favorable reviews from the British press.Kim sets himself apart from other Korean

Feb 28, 2014By Do Je-hae

Pianist Kim Sun-wook to perform Prokofiev

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Classical ConcertsLee Yang-kyungSeoul Arts Center*March 5 Pianist Lee Yang-kyung will hold a piano recital at the Seoul Arts Center on March 5. Lee will play Bach’s “Italian Concerto in F Major, BWV 971,” Beethoven’s “Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110” and Chopin’s “24 Preludes Op. 28.” Tickets are 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 515-5123 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Choi Jung-hyunSeoul Arts Center*March 5Violinist Choi Jung-hyun will hold a violin recital at the Seoul Arts Center on March 5. Choi will play Schubert’s “Sonatina No. 1 in D Major, D. 384” and Brahms’s “Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 2 Op. 100.” Tickets are 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945 or visit www.sac.or.kr. ScenTrio ConcertSeoul Arts Center*March 10ScenTrio, comprised of violinist Shin Eun-ryoung, cellist Kim Young-eun and pianist Son Young-kyung, will perform at the Seoul Arts Center on March 10. They will play Mozart’s “Piano Trio No. 6 KV. 548,&rdq

Feb 27, 2014By Baek Byung-yeul

Colossus of Russian pianism

Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin will perform at Seoul Arts Center on March 30. Courtesy of CrediaEvgeny Kissin returns to Seoul with Schubert-Scriabin programBy Do Je-haeThe biggest classical music event in Seoul this year is the upcoming recital of the Russian piano virtuoso Evgeny Kissin.At 42, Kissin is the reigning superstar in a long line of Russia's piano legends. His recital is generating a lot of anticipation among local fans who have not heard him live here since his sensational recital in 2009. At the time, he had brought a program of Prokofiev and Chopin, finishing off with what seemed like an endless array of 10 encores and signing autographs past midnight.His upcoming Seoul recital next month will feature a rare program that combines the lyricism of Franz Schubert and the passion of Alexander Scriabin. Both composers have been central to his repertoire since the early years of Kissin’s career.There is a tendency among Korean audiences to associate Kissin with mainly Chopin's ballades, preludes and sonatas. With a boundless repertoire, Kissin is among the most versati

Feb 23, 2014By Do Je-hae

Around Town 1

Classical ConcertsThe Scottish Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Robin Ticciati, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, on Feb. 23. / Courtesy of Seongnam Arts CenterScottish Chamber OrchestraSeongnam Arts Center*Feb. 23The Scottish Chamber Orchestra, led by conductor Robin Ticciati, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 23 with pianist Maria Joao Pires. The performance will include Mendelssohn’s “Hebrides Overture,” Chopin’s “Piano Concerto No. 2 in f minor, Op.21” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in c minor, Op. 67.” Tickets are 40,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, call (031) 783-8000 or visit www.snart.or.kr.Yongin Philharmonic OrchestraSeongnam Arts Center*Feb. 25The Yongin Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Choi Se-hoon, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province on Feb. 25. Tickets are 10,000 to 15,000 won. For more information, call 070-4118-7281 or visit www.snart.or.kr. ScenTrio ConcertSeoul Arts Center*March 10 ScenTrio, c

Feb 20, 2014By Baek Byung-yeul

Around Town 2

ClubsThe OctagonNonhyeon Near the New Hilltop Hotel in Nonhyeon, this club is notable for its stylish interior and elite clientele. The venue offers a club stage, lounge bar and dining area to satisfy any night out after work or on the weekend. Near exit 4 of Hakdong Station on subway line 7. For more information, call (02) 516-8847.Club VolumeItaewon Offering a venue for specially-themed weekly events and world-class DJs, Club Volume is located in the Crown Hotel near Noksapyeong Station. Club Volume was listed by Time magazine among the “10 things to do in 24 hours in Seoul.” For more information, call 1544-2635.Once in a Blue MoonApgujeong 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 stores in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr.Club AnswerCheongdam Club Answer, chosen as one of the five hot

Feb 20, 2014By Baek Byung-yeul

Arts & Theater

Arts & Theater

Remembering video art pioneer

Around Town 2

Around Town 1

New national theater director begins run with 'Macbeth'

A love story that blurs boundaries

Pianist Kim Sun-wook to perform Prokofiev

Around Town

Colossus of Russian pianism

Around Town 1

Around Town 2

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