my timesThe Korea Times
Lifestyle

Arts & Theater

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Around Town 1

Classical Concerts Danil TrifonovSeoul Arts Center*June 11-12 Award-winning Russian pianist Danil Trifonov will perform at Seoul Arts Center on June 11 and 12. The 22-year-old pianist is an up-and-coming name, winner of the third-place prize at the 2010 International Tchaikovsky Competition and top prize at the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition in 2011. Trifonov will play Scriabin’s “Piano Sonata No.2,” Listz’s “Piano Sonata in B minor” and Chopin’s 24 preludes in his first performance. On the second day, he will play Scriabin’s “Piano Sonata No. 3” and Rachmaninov’s “Variations on A Theme of Chopin” along with Tchaikovsky’s short pieces.  Tickets cost 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 541-3184 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Rotterdam Philharmonic OrchestraSeongnam Arts Center*June 9 The Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, led by guest conductor Yannick Nezet-Seguin, will perform at the Seongnam Arts Center in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province on Ju

May 30, 2013By Baek Byung-yeul

Spanish a cappella quintet to embark on tour

Spanish a cappella group b vocal during a concert at the opera house of Seoul Arts Center in 2012. / Courtesy of SPA EntertainmentBy Do Je-haeSpanish a cappella quintet b vocal will embark on a Korea tour on June 5 starting at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. They will also perform in Ulsan, Gimhae and Gangneung.Founded in 1997, the fast-rising ensemble has popularized a cappella in Spain through an innovative combination of songs and humor and a wide-ranging repertoire from both national and international sources.They have gained international recognition through many entertaining shows in various venues worldwide, such as Broadway where their shows have been sold out for the last few years. They perform around 200 concerts annually.In March 2010, b vocal received one of the most important international recognitions of their career _ Jury and Audience Awards at the Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival in New York, a premier showcase for unaccompanied vocal music.They have been coming to Korea since 2011 and their shows have been met with great enthusiasm, according to o

May 29, 2013
Spanish a cappella quintet to embark on tour

Essential beauty of Joseon art

Jar with decoration of clouds and bamboo from 17th century Joseon Kingdom.By Kwon Mee-yooMuneyoshi Yanagi (1889-1961), credited as the father of ``Mingei,’’ Japan’s folk art movement during the 1920s and 30s, is considered to be among the most influential Japanese culture figures of the 20th century. He was also a significant presence in shaping modern understanding of Korean art and crafts during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910) period, for better or worse.Yanagi was enthralled by Joseon art from his very first visit to Korea in 1916, in particular the ceramic crafts, and visited Korea about 20 times more until 1940 to collect craftwork and study their styles and roots. His trips led to the founding of the Korean Folks Crafts Museum in 1924, which influenced his blueprint for the Japan Folk Crafts Museum 12 years later.To Yanagi, the essential beauty of Joseon art was in the simplicity of its expression, which he believed conveyed a sense of poignancy. There were critics who attacked his interpretation, saying it inadvertently devalued Joseon art, cementing a passive

May 29, 2013
Essential beauty of Joseon art

Spain's flamenco charms audience

Dancers from Retiro Flamenco, a Madrid-based flamenco company, perform at Chungmu Art Hall in Seoul, Monday. The performance was hosted by The Korea Times. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chulBy Baek Byung-yeulA mesmerizing flamenco performance by dancers and musicians from Spain provided the heat to a wet evening in Seoul Monday, delighting an audience that included several dignitaries.“Retiro Flamenco,’’ a Madrid-based flamenco company led by percussionist Rafael Cassado, used its 80 minutes at the Chungmu Art Hall to prove why they are among the most critically-acclaimed groups on the Spanish flamenco scene, moving artistically and effortlessly from classical and modern flamenco to rapt applause. The event was hosted by The Korea Times and sponsored by Asiana Airlines, Hyosung, the Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK), Korean Air and SK Telecom.Established in 2007, Retiro Flamenco ― consisting of Cassado, guitarist David Duran, dancers Alejandra Gutierrez Diaz, Marta Iglesia, Rocio Pavelek and Stefano Domit and singers Pedro Obregon and Sonia Cortes ― i

May 27, 2013
Spain's flamenco charms audience

Discount offered for Berlin Philharmonic tickets

Sir Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic perform in Taipei during their 2011 Asia tour.  / Courtesy of Kumho Asiana Cultural FoundationTop German Orchestra to perform Prokofiev, Schumann, Bruckner in NovemberBy Do Je-haeThe Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation is offering a limited chance for local fans of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) to buy concert tickets at a discount.The orchestra will perform in Seoul on Nov. 11 and 12 at the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho. Concertgoers who make reservations between May 29 and June 7 will be given a 10 percent discount. Tickets range from 70,000 to 450,000 won. No additional discount will be available after this period. Regular sales will start on June 11. Since 2005, when the BPO started to make regular trips to Seoul, ticket prices for their concerts have been the most expensive among foreign orchestras performing in Korea. R seats cost 450,000 won, and the cheapest C (70,000 won) or B (160,000 won) seats are normally sold out within a few days of the opening of ticket sales. S seats are 380,000 won and the A seats are 270,00

May 27, 2013
Discount offered for Berlin Philharmonic tickets

Challenge of bridging Medea and Chunhyang

Park Ae-ri, left, performed as Medea in the National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s version of the Greek tragedy, which represented the latest attempt by the state-run theater company to modernize “changgeuk,” or traditional Korean opera. / Courtesy of National Changgeuk Company of KoreaBy Kwon Mee-yooIt’s hard to think of a more gut-wrenching character in Western theater than Medea, the heroine of the Greek tragedy named after her, whose fury at her unfaithful husband drives her to murder her own children.This makes reworking Medea in “changgeuk,” or Korean traditional opera that combines play and the narrative song style of “pansori,” a considerable challenge.Changgeuk is distinguished by its humor, social commentary and understated expression, and is fit for stories that are better when announced, instead of being portrayed. The Korean folktale of Chunhyangjeon, the love story between two young people who belonged to different social classes in the Joseon period (1392-1910), is perfect for this genre.Medea, on the other hand,

May 26, 2013
Challenge of bridging Medea and Chunhyang

Unsuk Chin to lead concert for Ho-Am Prize winners

Unsuk Chin, composer-in-residence of Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and 2012 Ho-Am Prize winner/ Courtesy of CrediaBy Do Je-haeGermany-based composer Unsuk Chin will host a concert on the occasion of the Ho-Am Prize ceremony, according to a press release by Credia, Friday.A 2012 laureate of the prestigious prize funded by Samsung, Chin is one of the most renowned classical music composers Korea has produced since the late Isang Yun. This year’s Ho-Am Prize ceremony will take place on May 31. Chin’s concert will take place on the following day at the Ho-Am Art Hall.The program will consist of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto; Stravinsky’s Concerto in D for Strings; and Schnittke’s Concerto Grosso No.1 for 2 Violins, Harpsichord and Strings.Chin will provide an introduction to each piece before they are played. Members of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, including associate concertmaster Shin A-ra, will participate in the concert.The Berlin-based Chin is a composer-in-residence of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra since 2006, directing its Contemporary Music Seri

May 24, 2013By Do Je-hae
Unsuk Chin to lead concert for Ho-Am Prize winners

Around Town

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 the Galleria department stores in the posh district of Apgujeong. For more information, call (02) 549-5490 or visit www.onceinabluemoon.co.kr. Club AnswerCheongdam

May 23, 2013

Around Town

Classical Concerts Phillip Herreweghe with the Orchestre des Champs-ElyseesLG Arts Center*June 1-2 Belgian conductor Phillip Herreweghe and his orchestra company will perform in Korea for the first time in seven years. While Herreweghe is best known for his interpretation of Bach, he will be performing Mozart’s work thi s time, including Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” in C Major and “Requiem” in D Minor with the Orchestre des Champs-Elysees. Soprano Im Sun-hae will also perform. Tickets cost 40,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2005-0114 or visit www.lgart.com. Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music 2013Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul Arts Center,Through May 26 The 8th annual music festival will feature 50 acclaimed artists from both classical and traditional Korean music circles. Musicians will perform in each of the 13 days under 13 different themes. Garnering most attention is the Tokyo String Quartet’s performance scheduled for May 23 at the Seoul Arts Center. The quartet is planning to retire at th

May 23, 2013

Gender, sexuality, oppression

Ghada Amer’s “The Words I Love the Most.”Cairo-born artist explores the struggles of women in her fifth Korean exhibition By Kwon Mee-yooGhada AmerThe works of Cairo-born artist Ghada Amer have predominantly dealt with gender, sexuality and the social oppression of women. In her latest exhibition in Seoul, the 50-year-old explores new methods to convey her ideas and messages.While Amer was mostly known for her paintings, the current exhibition at Seoul’s Kukje Gallery K3, her fifth in Korea, is highlighted by her new sculptural works.Amer was educated and cut her artistic teeth in France and now lives and works in New York. However, her Egyptian background always seems to be an obvious influence in her work.An oval-shaped piece called “The Blue Bra Girls” is a sculpture that feels like a painting. Swirling lines of stainless steel portray eight women in a physical struggle, but with glaring eyes aimed at their oppressor.Amer said the inspiration for this piece came when she saw a photo of a young female protestor being dragged and beaten by po

May 22, 2013
Gender, sexuality, oppression
previous page
272273274275276
next page

Most Read in Lifestyle