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Arts & Theater

Shakespeare’s first play reborn as musical

“The Two Gentlemen of Verona” is William Shakespeare’s first play but is not as well-known as some of his other masterpieces. Nevertheless, the play has important elements and themes that can be found in his later works, touching upon the universal human nature aspects of love, friendship and also betrayal. Veteran British director Glen Walford who specializes in Shakespeare’s works in various languages and cultures has turned it into a musical version. “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” scored a big success when it was first staged in Japan in 2007 and now the work will be readapted for the Korean audience. “There are much more scripts (than music). To be honest, it’s more a play with music than a full musical. But it combines my two loves of Shakespeare and musical theater. So it’s an interesting blend for me. Also, I know people so enjoy the music,” Walford said in an interview with The Korea Times. The lyrics are all from Shakespeare’s works. “So there are no fresh lyrics. Shakespeare wrote all the lyrics but they are from different Shakespeare’s productions. So I st

Jul 5, 2010

Musical star Park debuts in play

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Top musical actor Park Geon-hyeong will make his debut in the play "Fool For Love" as the opening performance of a drama festival to be staged in Daehangno. The Broadway play written by American playwright Sam Shepard will be adapted by veteran producer and director Cho Kwang-hwa who has previously directed the musicals "Claws of Angle," "Soridoduk" and "Harmonium in My Heart." The play revolves around the relationship between two lovers ― Eddie and May ― who are half-siblings and focuses on the yearnings, violence and inner struggles of the couple who are in conflict but complementary rather than just the basic love and hate existing between them. Park will take the role of Eddie in the play. He has a strong fan base for numerous hit musicals such as "Saturday Night Fever," "Wedding Singer," "Mozart!" and films "Dancing Princess" and "Ddukbang Legend." Park's huge popularity was proved once again when the play topped in ticket reservations within 30 minutes after the ticket sales opened last month. Not only Park but also celebrate

Jul 4, 2010

Timeless modern ballets coming to Seoul

By Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter Pointe shoes, leotards and a nimble, gravity-defying leap into the air. But throw in a pair of denim overalls, exchange the leotards for black mesh stockings and top it off with an edgy attitude, and you’ll never say ballet is boring. Both fans and non-fans of classical ballet can forget about the familiar sequences of ``The Nutcracker’’ until Christmas ― in time for the sultry season come two sets of hot contemporary classics by the Korean National Ballet and Universal Ballet Company. Roland Petit’s world The Korea National Ballet will stage three masterpieces by Roland Petit for the first time in Korea at the Seoul Arts Center from July 15 to 18. ``A Night with Roland Petit’’ presents three hallmark pieces by the French maestro dancer-choreographer: ``Le Jeune homme et la mort (The Young Man and Death),’’ ``Carmen’’ and ``L’Arlesienne (The Woman of Arles).’’ It’s difficult to believe that ``The Young Man and Death’’ was created 64 years ago in 1946. A young man, tortured by love, chooses to take his own life in his studio. He perfo

Jul 4, 2010

Daelim Museum looks into past, present of Korean War

By Ines Min Staff reporter This year's 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War has been initiative for myriad performances, exhibitions and even big-production war films. From private ads in New York's Times Square thanking American veterans to big-production war films and memorials to those who fought in the war can be found everywhere. The Daelim Contemporary Art Museum's memorial to the war is ``On the Line,'' a special group exhibition organized in conjunction with the Ministry of National Defense. Ten of the country's renowned photographers created 170 new works for the show, exposing fresh insight to the pivotal war. ``Existing photographs about the war have either documentary or journalism values, so for this exhibition we attempted an artistic interpretation of the war,'' said Shin Sue-jin, the exhibition's director. The participating photographers are well-known names, including Oh Hein-kuhn, Nanda, Kang Woon-gu and Koo Bohn-chang. The unique perspectives from both the young and old _ the photographers range in age from 37- to 70-years-old _ look to re

Jul 2, 2010

Clubs, art exhibtions and sports games

Clubs Underlounge Seoul Hongdae or Hongik University Area This is the local club of a hip Japanese chain that’s also in Shanghai. Located in the famous clubbing area, Hongdae, it’s all flashy with loud music and lights. Spacious, with a supersized crystal ball hanging over your head, DJs from near and far make music while you can hang out at the bar or classy private rooms. Located near the main entrance of Hongik Univ. Call (02) 325-5715 or visit www.underlounge.kr. Club M2 Hongdae M2 features top DJs from home and abroad. The dance floor and the DJ are in the center of the club, which attracts a trendy crowd along with models and celebrities. Packed on the weekends. Check www.ohoo.net. Le Nuit Blanche Cheongdam-dong Formerly Club Answer, Le Nuit Blanche is introduced as a posh restaurant, theater and club. Located in front of Hotel Prima in Cheongdam-dong, Le Nuit Blanche offers Cirque du Soleil-type performances at its theater restaurant. World class DJs from all over the world are invited to perform at the club. Call (02) 514-4311 or visit www.le

Jul 1, 2010

Concerts, museums and theater

Classical Concerts Lindenbaum Music Festival Concert Hall and Recital Hall of Seoul Arts Center*, Xi Gallery and Korea National University of Arts (* See venues for more information) Through July 5 The Lindenbaum Music Festival is being held for the second time since it was launched in 2009 for supporting young, talented musicians. Renowned conductor Charles Dutoit and some of the world’s best musicians including pianist Paik Kun-woo will take part. The event is divided into three parts: the Orchestra Academy, Chamber Orchestra Music Concert and Orchestra Concert. Tickets cost 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, visit www.lbmf.or.kr or www.facebook.com/lindenbaum2010, or call (02) 720-1013. Wiener Staatsoper Ensemble Concert Guro Arts Valley Theater July 5 Under art director Thomas Lang, the 20-strong world’s top opera ensemble is performing in Korea. The program includes “Libiamo” from “La Traviata”, “Nessun Dorma” from “Turandot”, “Habanera” from “Carmen” and a parody “Es lebt eine Vilja” from “The Merry Widow.” Tickets cost 20,000 to 40,000 won. Cal

Jul 1, 2010

Korean painter Hwang Julie shares life through art

By Ines Min Staff reporter Hwang Julie, a distinguished Korean painter, is holding a solo exhibition of her latest works in Gallery Hyundai Gangnam Space through July 11. The title of the show, ``Men Over Flowers,'' may bring to mind the runaway hit drama of 2009 (``Boys Over Flowers''), but Hwang takes the phrase to signify more of her life philosophy than a flippant preference. The 53-year-old artist does not buy into the romance of fresh-cut flowers, opting instead for the immortality of artificial buds or the natural cycles of a living plant. However, with a partiality to fields of sunflowers and cacti blossoms, Hwang has been attracted to colorful plants since growing up around white lilies in her childhood home. ``Flowers are a likely symbol of love and life,'' the artist said. ``In my dreams, I would like to stick flowers like wallpaper onto the dreary walls of reality.'' However, even the symbolic beauty of flowers can only last so long. Hwang said that though the paintings in her dreams were aesthetic, she needed something more. ``I realized for the fi

Jun 30, 2010

Lee Joong-sup painting sold for 3.56 billion won

By Ines Min Staff reporter ``Bull'' by famed Korean painter Lee Joong-sup was sold for 3.56 billion won ($2.95 million) at the 117th Seoul Auction, in Pyeongchang-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. But the much-anticipated auction failed to break the record as the country's most expensive artwork, falling short of the 4.52 billion won paid for "A Wash Place" by Park Soo-keun, which was sold in 2007. The 1953 painting ― which is 51.3-centimeters-wide and 35.3-centimeters-tall ― was valued between 3.5 billion won and 4.5 billion won, raising art aficionados' hopes of breaking the auction record. Instead, the winning telephone bid barely increased the starting price of 3.4 billion won. The piece was from the private collection of Park Tae-heon, 87, who first acquired it in 1955 directly from the artist. Park purchased three paintings on family themes at Lee's solo exhibition at the Midopa Gallery at the time; but Lee wanted to exchange "Bull" for the three paintings Park bought to give it to his family. Since then, Park has preserved the artwork in a wooden box, storing it in his b

Jun 29, 2010

Silla travel journal returns to Korea

By Chung Ah-young Staff reporter The 8th-century travel journal of a Silla Buddhist monk and owned by the National Library of France will be on exhibition for the first time at the National Museum of Korea in Seoul. “Wang Ocheonchukguk Jeon or “The Memoir of the Pilgrimage to the Five Kingdoms of India” will be on display at the special exhibition of “Silk Road and Dunhuang” in December. The Korean museum officially requested the French library in April to loan the journal to Korea and stressed the importance of the exhibition of the artifact when it invited Bruno Racine, library director here on June 14. The museum said that the French counterpart finally informed them of its decision to loan the treasure to Korea on June 24, after some deliberation. The travel journal was written by Ven. Hyecho (704-787) of the Unified Silla Kingdom in the early 8th century. The existing journal consisting of 5,893 classical Chinese characters in 227 lines is a scroll of manuscript and slightly damaged on the front and back. The journal is 28.5 centimeters in width and 358.6 cen

Jun 29, 2010

Korea, Spain celebrate friendship through dance

By Lee Hyo-won Staff reporter This year marks the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950. But that same year the country also established diplomatic relations with Spain. Korea's special tie with Spain seems to go further back in time. The first Westerner to arrive on the Korean Peninsula was a Spaniard in the late 16th century, according to one Korean scholar, Kwak Jae-sung, a professor at Kyung Hee University, which is one of the two local institutes of higher education with a Spanish department in Seoul. Today, the two countries share an increasingly dynamic exchange in the cultural sphere, with Spanish flamenco having long established its place among popular seasonal performances here. Earlier this month, a Korean dancer-choreographer, Jung Bo-kyung, brought home the top prize at the ACT Festival, a performing arts event held annually in Bilbao, Spain. In time for the anniversary, more top Korean artists are dancing their way across Spain. The Korean Dance Express in Spain kicked off on June 24 in the representative street dance festival LEKUS

Jun 29, 2010
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