Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Brad Little Returns as Jekyll

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Broadway musical ``Jekyll and Hyde'' is coming to town for the first time with its star-filled cast, including internationally renowned singer and performer Brad Little. The musical will be staged at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts from Aug. 28 to Sept. 20. It is based on the novel, "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde'' by Robert Louis Stevenson, with music composed by Frank Wildhorn, and lyrics written by Leslie Bricusse. The show was first staged in Seoul as the Korean licensed version in 2004, and has since drawn more than 300,000 viewers, with the lead role played by the enormously popular actor Cho Seung-woo. Musical heartthrob Brad Little, who is most famous for his portrayals of Jekyll in "Jekyll and Hyde'' and the Phantom in "The Phantom of the Opera,'' will join the performance. Little is an American musical theatre actor who has appeared in a number of Broadway and touring productions. In 1994, Little joined the cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's ``The Phantom of the Opera'' as Raoul. In 1996, he joined the mu

Jun 23, 2009

Norma Offers Surreal Magic

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter The National Opera of Korea (NOK) returns to Seoul Arts Center's Opera Theater with Bellini's ``Norma,'' the cream of the crop among bel canto operas, Thursday through Sunday. After their last production in Seoul's foremost opera theater was notoriously interrupted by a fire in the winter of 2007, the NOK wanted to come back with a bang. Staging the tragic melodrama in Korea, where the opera scene is still struggling to draw more viewers, is ambitious, and pessimists might even say overreaching. ``Norma'' is associated with the greatest of divas such as Maria Callas. Norma, the high priestess of Gaul, secretly has two children with the Roman proconsul Pollione. But when Pollione falls in love with a younger woman, Norma conflicts between duty and desire, forgiveness and revenge. The soprano role requires not only breathtaking lung power and charismatic theatricality, but also the ability to caress both the bel canto style and coloratura technique. The most pernickety of critics say that even Edita Gruberova, who is considered post-1990s' `

Jun 23, 2009

Bae to Put on Stage Scent of Spring

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Staging a dance performance requires a lot of work and attention ― from the choreography to the sets and costumes. But for Jina Bae, the artistic director of the National Dance Company of Korea, one of the most important aspects is music. ``One of the main reasons I feel nervous and excited about working on a new piece is because of the chance to meet a new composer,'' she told The Korea Times during an interview last week at the National Theater of Korea. Even for her latest work, ``The Scent of Spring,'' which touches on the ancient love story of young maiden Chun-hyang and her lover Mong-ryong, it took many composers to get the right melodies. Although the dance piece begins next month, Bae is still not fully satisfied. ``To be completely honest, I would give it 70 percent on a scale of a perfect 100. The remaining 30 percent is left a mystery, I guess,'' she said. The 65-year-old art director started dancing when she was five years old and has been recognized as one of the best creative dance choreographers in Korea. Now considere

Jun 22, 2009

Cheongju Counts Down to Craft Biennale in September

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter The 6th Cheongju International Craft Biennale, touted as the world's largest, is counting down to its opening in September. The event may have been overshadowed by the more famous biennales in Gwangju or Busan in previous years, but organizers are hoping to create more buzz this year. Director Dr. Lee Ihn-bum is promising to shake things up this time around. ``Over the past 10 years, Korea has been awash in a wave of numerous sorts of exhibition biennales, hosted by various municipalities in a race to compete for the national spotlight. Out of this chaotic confusion sprang a clear and urgent message that the definitions of the following words, `international,' `craft,' and `biennale' need to be re-examined. The message I would like to share with the visitors of the biennale is a hope for the Cheongju Biennale 2009 to serve as a model for future biennales to come,'' Lee said. More than 158 artists from 25 countries are participating in the biennale, which runs from Sept. 23 to Nov. 1 at the Cheongju Arts Center and various loca

Jun 22, 2009

Korean Artists, Designers Reinterpret Perrier-Jouet

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Perrier-Jouet, one of the most prestigious champagne houses in the world, is collaborating with Korea's top designers and artists in a unique exhibition opening this week. ``Perpetual Emotions by Perrier-Jouet'' is being held from June 24 to 30 at Kring Gallery, Daechi-dong, southern Seoul. An opening reception is scheduled for Tuesday evening. The exhibition features 15 top artists and designers' interpretation of Perrier-Jouet, which is also known as ``Fleur de Champagne.'' Perrier-Jouet is also best known for its exquisite Belle Epoque champagne bottles with enamel-painted anemone flowers created by Emile Galle in 1902. ``Almost two centuries old, Perrier-Jouet has assembled 15 of the most acknowledged artists around the Korean Peninsula for a project creating a unique art collaboration, to signify its passion toward art throughout its past 200 year history,'' organizers said in a statement. The participants, who are all from different fields, like fashion, art, music and photography, were asked to present their unique

Jun 21, 2009

Exhibition Brings Latest Crop of British Artists

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter For the longest time, the so-called Young British Artists (YBA), led by Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas and Gary Hume, defined British contemporary art. They shocked the art world with their provocative art works and wild antics that attracted widespread media attention. Today's crop of British contemporary artists are no less talented than the YBAs, but they seem to be much more low-key. British artists Dryden Goodwin and Nathaniel Rackowe talked to The Korea Times last week about their own art works, as well as the influence of the YBAs on their generation of artists. They were in Seoul for the opening of the ``London Calling: Who Gets to Run the World'' exhibition at the Total Museum of Contemporary Art, Pyeongchang-dong, Goodwin and Rackowe were both young students when the YBAs made their mark in the art scene in the 1990s. ``For our generation of artists, those YBAs were huge. They opened things up but at the same time, when I was in art school, among the artists, there was almost a certain reaction against w

Jun 19, 2009

Clubs, Traditional Events & Art Exhibitions

Clubs The Circle Cheongdam-dong Located in the upscale Cheongdam-dong neighborhood, it's notorious for turning you down unless you're dressed chic and sleek. Faithful to its name, it has a round revolving floor _ looking for your ``lost'' table gives clubbers the perfect excuse to sit down with a sexy stranger. Located on Dosan-daero near Hak-dong intersection. Call (02) 546-5933 or visit www.thecircle.co.kr. Club Answer Cheongdam-dong This might be the answer to your nightlife. It offers an intimate partying environment with groovy electronic music by star DJs. You can reserve tables and those on the second floor provide an open view of the dance floor. Or mingling with the hot bartenders at the open bar might be a fine alternative. Located in Cheongdam-dong across the street from Prima Hotel, near the entrance toi Yeongdong-daegyo. Call (02) 548-7115 or visit www.clubanswer.co.kr. Club Evans Hongdae or Hongik University Area This club, located near Hongik University, is great for intimate live performances. The line-up of performers is generally top-notch and

Jun 18, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Hopeful Dream Concert Sejong Center for the Performing Arts June 21 Maestro Chung Myung-whun will lead Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra into Verdi's ``La Forza del destino Overture'' and Brahms' ``Symphony No.1 in c minor, Op. 68.'' Profits will be donated to charity. Tickets cost from 5,000 to 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Opera ``The Barber of Seville'' Sejong Center for the Performing Arts June 24- 28 Seoul Metropolitan Opera will perform Paisiello's ``The Barber of Seville.'' Opera director Lee Kyeong-jae and stage manager Lee Hak-sun participate in this work together. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 1 and 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Vienna National Opera Ensemble Gala Concert Ulsan Culture Art Center July 3 Vienna National Opera Ensemble will offer Korean fans a rare chance to meet the finest vocalists from Austria.

Jun 18, 2009

Paul Potts Revisits Seoul to Woo, Thank Fans

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Paul Potts, the former manager of a mobile phone shop, who wowed the world with his strong voice and passion for music, is back with a new album ``Passione.'' The winner of the popular show ``Britain's Got Talent'' arrived in Seoul once again last Saturday with high hopes and a tight schedule: an autograph event; an appearance on a local television show; a free performance at Seoul Plaza; and even a short appearance as a guest judge for the Korean version of ``American Idol,'' Mnet's ``Superstar K.'' ``I spent a lot of time, longer than the first (album). The first one was made in nine days but I had far more time to work on the second. I ended up with an album I'll always be proud of,'' Potts said at a press conference held at a hotel in central Seoul Tuesday. The 38-year-old seemed poised and calm, and there was no trace of nerves many may remember from his first appearance on British TV. ``Passione'' covers many of Potts' favorite classics, including ``Il Canto,'' Chopin's ``Tristesse,'' ``E Lucevan Le Stelle'' from the opera ``Tos

Jun 16, 2009

Victory, Dae-sung to Star in Musical

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Big Bang members Victory and Dae-sung are set to take to the stage in a musical, ``Shouting'' based on the trials and tribulations of their own group this summer. The show is the first joint production created by YG Entertainment, a local pop mogul, and Seol & Company, one of the country's major musical production companies. They are teaming up to take musicals from its traditional audience of 20- and 30-somethings to the teenage market by using a star cast. The musical portrays the dreams and efforts of young wannabes who shot to stardom after first being stage staff in a broadcasting company. It is based on and named after the band's best-selling autobiographical book, ``Shouting to the World.'' Previously, Dae-sung performed as the sexy rebel cat Rum Tum Tugger in the musical, ``Cats,'' while Victory appeared as a pure country boy in the musical ``Sonagi (Rain Shower).'' This time, the stars take on the title roles to lead the show. ``I had no dialogue in `Cats' because I was a cat. So I am very nervous and worried about my a

Jun 15, 2009

Arts & Theater