Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Classical concerts

Classical Concerts La Boheme Yonsei University Aug. 28- Sept. 2 Angela Gheorghiu, Vittorio Grigolo, Marcello Giordani, Fabio Capitanucci, and many more recognized international opera singers are performing in a production of “La Boheme.” Tickets range from 30,000 to 570,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363. Yo-Yo Ma Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 13 Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma is a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. His Seoul recital will be accompanied by pianist Kathryn Stott. Tickets cost 50,000 to 180,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica Seoul Arts Center Oct. 16 Gidon Kremer, a Latvian violinist and conductor, will perform with Kremerata Baltica, a chamber orchestra he founded that consists of young musicians from Baltic countries. The orchestra won a Grammy Award in 2002 for its recording of Mozart pieces. Tickets cost 50,000 to 150,000 won. For more, call (02) 580-1300. Located near exits 4 and 5

Aug 9, 2012By Do Je-hae

Real-life stories in children's books

By Rachel Lee Colorful illustrations in the doorway welcome anyone who is ready to explore the world of thought-provoking illustrations. “Voyage to French Illustration” presents some 250 works by 20 French authors and illustrators who are already established and respected abroad but have yet to get exposure to most people in Korea. The exhibition, designed for children as well as adults, runs through Sept. 9 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul. “I would like to deliver not just a single message but a series of many in my book,” said French illustrator Joelle Jolivet during a press conference at the center on Tuesday. “In one of my books ‘Penguins 365,’ proliferating a number of sea birds signifies social issues like immigrants or global warming. I want to talk about something that actually happens in real life.” Jolivet, 47, who has long worked in various fields such as advertising and broadcasting, is known for applying traditional skills to contemporary art. The award-winning artist’s published credits include “365 Penguins,” “Ouos!” “Papido dan

Aug 8, 2012

Exhibit to display rare traditional Korean music instruments from France

Traditional Korean musical instruments that came back from France last week after 112 years in that country are on display in a special exhibition at a national museum here. The 11 musical instruments, rented from France's national Music Museum, were transported aboard a Korean airplane a week ago for a two-month exhibition at the Museum of Gugak in southern Seoul. The museum, an affiliate of the National Gugak Center that preserves and promotes gugak, or traditional Korean music, opened the "Gugak in Paris, 1990" exhibit Tuesday to mark its reopening after one year of remodeling work. The eleven were part of 16 Korean musical instruments that were presented by Korea to the Paris International Exposition in 1900, along with household items used at the royal court, ceramic ware and seeds, according to museum officials. King Gojong, the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and the first emperor of the Korean Empire, sent the select exhibits with a Korean government delegation led by Min Yeong-chan, a high-level official and apparently a relative of Empress Myeongseon

Aug 7, 2012

Ko Doo-sim graces ‘Dance Lesson’

By Kwon Mee-yoo Veteran actress Ko Doo-sim returned to the theater after a five-year break, dancing to her heart’s desire in the play “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks” at Doosan Art Center Yonkang Hall in central Seoul. Ko, who made her debut in 1972, is one of the top actresses in Korea. She has mostly played maternal roles in movies and television dramas such as “Twinkle Twinkle” (2011) and “My Mother” (2005), and her theatrical credit in “Mother” (2007). However, she showed what a mature actress can present on stage in “Dance Lesson.” Written by Richard Alfieri, the play portrays how a friendship blooms between Lily Harrison, a retired teacher in her 70s, and her dance instructor Michael Minetti. Their first encounter is riddled with misunderstandings and lies, but they get to know each other’s secrets and scars, and become friends. The two are very different — Lily is a formidable upper-class woman living in an apartment with a breathtaking view, while Michael is a homosexual dancer living from hand to mouth. The elegant woman is halfhearted about this instructor

Aug 6, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Brit art galore at 'Cool Britannia'

By Kwon Mee-yoo London is at center of the world’s attention right now as it hosts the 2012 Summer Olympics. For art lovers who cannot visit the city, an exhibition in Seoul presents eight prominent British artists. “Cool Britannia,” going on at the new space of Gallery Hyundai in Sagan-dong, central Seoul, gives a glimpse into British contemporary art, which combines its long tradition with an experimental twist. The phrase was used in reference to the 1990s that saw a new cultural wave in the United Kingdom through art, music and fashion. It was further pushed after Tony Blair was elected British prime minister in 1997. This time also saw the emergence of Young British Artists (YBAs) that drew attention from the art world. Antony Gormley’s “Another Time XIV” (2011) shows the artist exploring the world through his body after casting his body in iron. It is Gormley’s way of communicating with the outside world with his body. Tracey Emin, the British representative for the 2007 Venice Biennale, presents her signature neon works. Titled “Welcome Always,” the 2008 p

Aug 5, 2012By Do Je-hae

Bringing world's finest dancers

Rachel Lee Ballet lovers are invited to enjoy the best performances in a biennial dance festival in Korea. Beginning Aug. 23,the 2012 Seoul International Ballet Festival gets underway for a 10-day event of extensive repertoires featuring rising young Korean stars including Park Sae-eun from the Paris Opera Ballet and Kim Li-hoe from the Korea National Ballet. The ballet showpiece will take place at the Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno in Seoul. Internationally-acclaimed ballet companies including the Austria-based Innsbruck Tanz Company and Het National Ballet from The Netherlands will participate. The Universal Ballet, led by Julia H. Moon, will stage Jiri Kylian’s modern ballet “Petite Mort” at the opening gala on Aug. 23. Tanz Company will also present “Cheek to Cheek” at the opening. Park was the first Korean ballerina to become an official member of the corps de ballet at the world-class company in June. The 22-year-old is to perform a number of repertories including “Romeo and Juliet” and “Adagietto” with male dancer Pierre Arthur Raveau. Kim, 24, known fo

Aug 5, 2012

Kim Ho-young spices up Korean 'La Cage'

By Kwon Mee-yoo It took some 30 years for the Tony Award-winning musical “La Cage aux Folles” to come to Korea. The musical, shortened to “La Cage” here, has been warmly welcomed by audiences here, who are captivated by the show’s spectacle. Premiering on Broadway in 1983, the musical comedy is set in a Saint-Tropez drag nightclub, owned by Georges. His partner Albin is the star of the club with the stage name of Zaza. The middle-aged gay couple’s satisfied life takes an unexpected turn when Georges’ son (from a one-night stand) wants to marry the daughter of an ultra-conservative politician. The musical won the Best Production Tony Award (Best Musical or Best Revival of a Musical) three times. Lee Gi-na, director of the Korean production, said “La Cage” is a timeless musical; and musical masterpieces have good reasons to become so in an interview with The Korea Times at The Cafe in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul, last week. Lee is a famed director here for both homegrown and licensed musical productions. Her hits include “Hedwig,” “Guys and Dolls” and “Seopyeonje.” “Prove

Aug 3, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Classical Concerts

Classical Concerts La Boheme Yonsei University Aug.28- Sept.2 Angela Gheorghiu, Vittorio Grigolo, Marcello Giordani, Fabio Capitanucci, and many more recognized international opera singers are performing in a production of“La Boheme.” Tickets range from 30,000 to 570,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363. Yo- Yo Ma Seoul Arts Center* Nov. 13 Renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma is a recipient of multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts and the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom. His Seoul recital will be accompanied by pianist Kathryn Stott. Tickets cost 50,000 to 180,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr. Great Mountains Music Festival & School Alpensia Concert Hall Through Aug. 5 The Great Mountains Music Festival & School will be held in Gangwon Province. Cellist Chung Myung-hwa and her sister violinist Chung Kyung-hwa serve as the artistic directors of this chamber music festival to be held at the Apelnsia Concert Hall in PyeongChang. This year’s theme will explore the relationship between dance and mus

Aug 2, 2012

Seoul Performing Arts Festival to be held in October

A total of 27 foreign and local theatrical works, dances and multi-genre works will be performed during the 12th Seoul Performing Arts Festival to be held at Arko Theater and other venues along Seoul's Daehangno Street from Oct. 5-27. Among the 12 foreign invitational works are "Apollonia," by Poland's Nowy Theatre, and "Soapera" by France's top contemporary dancer-choreographer Mathilde Monnier. Apollonia is a play featuring the history of the Nazis through an ancient Greek tragedy. Krysztof Warlikowski directed the lengthy play with a running time of three hours and 45 minutes, which premiered at Festival d'Avignon in 2009. Soapera is a dance and installation work collaboration between French choreographer Monnier and painter Dominique Figarella, who transform the stage into a big canvas. Dancers fill up the chasms of the canvas with movement. Domestic works will include "Homework18" by JK Project, "Raw material" by Im Ji-ae, "Access I" by Um, "Mars" by Roh Kyung-ae, "Intimate Immensity" by Som Movement and "Nothing for 60 minutes" by Baek Howool and Mathias Erian.

Jul 30, 2012

Daily objects turned upside down

By Kwon Mee-yoo Anti-mosquito coils create funnel-shaped sculptures while enlarged egg-like objects are set on a slope. Wooden fences in the gallery make visitors wonder what is inside. This is a part of the 13th Hermes Foundation Misulsang (art award) exhibition at Maison Hermes Dosan Park in southern Seoul. The three candidates for the 13th Hermes Foundation Misulsang — Koo Dong-hee, Jackson Hong and Lee Mi-kyung — present unusual ways to look at everyday life. The works on exhibit blur the traditional concept of art and daily objects. Koo, who works with multimedia including photo, video, sculpture and installation, experimented with the theme of “Helter Skelter.” The term refers to spiral slide fairground rides, and is also the title of a song by The Beatles. Notorious criminal Charles Manson also referred to the song title in his vision of a race war and it inspired Koo to create four artworks. “Helter Skelter” is a 160-centimeter tall spiral-shaped object made from mosquito coils and a parasol. It looks like a weird parachute and Koo said she trie

Jul 30, 2012By Kwon Mee-yoo

Arts & Theater