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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.

Phantom Returns after 8 Years

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter ``The Phantom of The Opera,'' by legendary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, is one of the world's best-selling Broadway musicals and a landmark in local musical history that prompted huge growth in local productions both in quality and quantity. It drew a record setting 240,000 viewers in a short time when it was first staged in 2001, a record that still stands. Since then, the musical has been a watershed, dividing local musical history into the pre- and post-The Phantom of The Opera eras. The legendary show will soon return after eight years for a lengthy run starting Sept. 23 at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil, southern Seoul. The production has a 24-billion won budget and unveils a new cast of rising musical stars. ``When we first put `The Phantom' on stage in 2001, many people thought it was a crazy idea because the financial crisis in 1997 has just ended and there had never been such a big-budget musical. But we made it big and totally changed the Korean musical history and enlarged the musical market,'' Seol Do-yun, president of

May 6, 2009

Shakespeares Tempest Goes on Stage

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Shakespeare's ``The Tempest'' dramatized by playwright Bae Sam-sik and directed by Sohn Jin-chaek will go on stage at Seoul Arts Center Towol Theater from May 20 to June 6. The classic play revolves around the banished sorcerer Prospero, the rightful Duke of Milan, who uses his magical powers to punish and forgive his enemies when he raises a tempest that drives them ashore. The entire play takes place on an island under his control whose native inhabitants, Ariel and Caliban, respectively aid or hinder his work. The play is the only one of Shakespeare's plays which follows the neoclassical three unities ― the unity of action, place and time. Shakespeare's other plays rarely followed these, being set in separate locations miles apart and over several days or even years. One of the distinguished characteristics of the upcoming play is a new interpretation by the director. This rendition reconstitutes fantasy, one of the most important elements of the original, into exact reality, transforming the romance into a grand epic. Also, the

May 5, 2009

Exhibition Introduces Bangladeshi Art

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Bangladeshi art may not be quite familiar to the Korean audience. The Embassy of Bangladesh hopes to introduce the best of the country's modern art through an exhibition ``Contemporary Paintings of Bangladesh.'' The largest exhibition of Bangladesh paintings features 100 paintings by 11 leading artists at the Korea Foundation Cultural Center, downtown Seoul, Friday through May 16. The embassy hopes the exhibition will familiarize the Korean audience with Bangladeshi art and culture. Contemporary paintings from Bangladesh are described as ``vibrant, dynamic and reflect tradition and innovation, romantic aspiration and modernistic sensibilities.'' Although artists have adopted abstraction and other artistic trends from the West, folk themes remain a dominant characteristic of Bangladeshi paintings. In an introduction to the exhibition, Dhaka University professor Syed Manjurul Islam said the artists chosen are those ``who are considered `mainstream,' who have done innovative work and marked out areas for other artists to follow or

May 4, 2009

Arab Cultural Festival Offers Unique Experience

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Thanks to the upcoming Arab Cultural Festival to be held at various venues around Seoul, people can enjoy the rich culture of Arabian countries without having to travel abroad. With a total of seven countries visiting, including Sudan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Oman, the festival is celebrating its second year and has prepared even more interesting events for visitors to enjoy at the National Theater of Korea, Arthouse Momo and the ECC Student Theater at Ewha Womans University. ``There are basically two outcomes we are looking forward to this year. First, we hope visitors will have the chance to understand and come closer to the Arabian culture with the festival. We would also like to explain our efforts to our Arabian friends and further build stronger ties,'' said Kang Keun-hyung, the director of the Korea-Arab Society, at a press conference last week in central Seoul. The performance section held at the National Theater of Korea will offer various events prepared by the participating coun

May 4, 2009

Fidelio to Be Staged for First Time in 17 Years

By Lee Hyo-won Staff Reporter Seoul's classical music scene is becoming increasingly diverse, but operas remain mostly limited to the standard repertoire of Mozart, Puccini and Rossini. MuAk Opera presents Thursday through Sunday a rare production of Beethoven's ``Fidelio'' ― for the first time here in 17 years and for the first time in the original German. Beethoven's unique opera, ``Fidelio'' has been seldom revived since its 1805 premiere in Vienna under the German master's own baton. Johan Simons brought the piece back into focus last fall through a modern reinterpretation at the Opera Garnier in Paris. ``Fidelio'' debuted here in 1970 but wasn't restaged until 1992 due to the strict military regime of the '70s and '80s. Set in 18th-century Seville, Spain, it traces a faithful wife Leonore's efforts to save her husband Florestan, who had been illegally imprisoned for revealing the corrupt acts of Don Pizarro. She disguises herself as a man and enters the prison as a guard under the alias Fidelio and schemes to rescue Florestan from death row ― ``Prison Break,'' anyone?

May 4, 2009

Opie Finds Realism in Minimalist Figures

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter In British artist Julian Opie's artwork, human figures are depicted in minimalist forms. It's just a circle for the head and few curvy lines for the body. Opie says his art is not about depicting humans realistically, but about finding a realistic quality. ``My main aim to find some realistic quality, not photographic detail. It's about how you feel in the world. When people ask why am I only using a circle for a head. When I view a crowd, I don't take in the details. You are a circle. I see a bag, glasses, or long hair. This is the discussion of realism I'm talking about, not photographic realism,'' he told reporters, Monday, at the Kukje Gallery New Space, downtown Seoul. Opie, known for his use of computerized images, is holding his first solo show in Seoul. Opie was born in London, raised in Oxford and graduated from Goldsmiths College. For over 10 years, he has been drawing these minimalist human images, which stemmed from a conscious attempt to find an artistic language that allowed him to depict humans. ``I found the unive

May 1, 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

Apr 30, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts Palace Family Concert Deoksu Palace May 5 The Palace Family Concert will be held to celebrate the beginning of Seoul Spring Festival, which will last through May 18. Admission is free but limited to the space available. For more information, visit www.seoulspring.org or call (02) 712-4879. Located near exit 2 of City Hall Station on subway line 1. Seoul Spring Festival Opening Concert Sejong Center for the Performing Arts May 7 The 4th Seoul Spring Festival opens with a concert titled ``Vienna, Before and After,’’ meaning how Beethoven forever changed the Austrian art scene. The Jupiter String Quartet from the U.S. will perform his ``String Quartet No. 6,’’ while rising composer Kim Solbong will premiere ``Sundial Chronicles’’ and star pianist Kim Sun-wook will perform Schubert’s ``Piano Trio No. 1.’’ Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 40,000 won. For more information visit www.seoulspring.org or call (02) 712-4879. Located near exit 8 of Gwanghwamun Station on subway line 5. Rachel Podger & Gary Cooper Duo Recital LG Arts Center May 23 Violini

Apr 30, 2009

Drumline Live Coming to Korea

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Drumline Live, the show-stopping new attraction created by the music team behind the hit movie ``Drumline,'' will bring the marching band tradition to the theatrical stage in Korea. After touring 60 cities in the U.S. from January this year and Japan in April, the band, consisting of 40 percussionists, trumpeters and other soulful musicians and performers, will perform at Olympic Hall, Olympic Park, May 1-3. The members, including eight percussionists, nine trumpeters, six trombone players, five tuba players, two saxophonists, two euphonium players, one flutist, one piccoloist and five professional choreographers will hone their precision and energy, with years of experience from training in marching band programs. This upcoming show will be directed by Marilyn Magness, Director of Creative Entertainment at The Walt Disney Company. Magness has directed films, live shows and parades produced by the Walt Disney Company staged in the United States, France, Japan and Hong Kong. In the show, Magness will show off harmony between the instrume

Apr 29, 2009

Bubble Show Hall Opens in Seoul

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter The world's second Fan Yang bubble show performance hall, with 300 seats, opened in Seoul on April 20, attracting visitors with new and upgrade programs. Named Fan Yang's Bubble World (www.bubbleworld.co.kr), the new arena, located in Daon Hall within Myungbo Art Hall in Euljiro, becomes the world's second of its kind, following the New World Stage on New York's Broadway, which was converted into a performance space exclusively dedicated to bubble shows in February 2007. Canadian artist Fan Yang's Bubble World, organized by WAYSBE and Neodus HQ, is a sequel to Fan Yang's White Bubble Show, which has attracted more than 400,000 audiences from home and abroad. The bubble artists from Fan Yang's production company, including Fan Yang's elder brother Jano Yang and his son Deni Yang, appear in turn to present an 80-minute performance of amazing bubble magic. Having begun bubble performances under the profound influence of his brother Fan Yang, Jano has had extensive experience performing for about a decade in France, Italy, Russia and La

Apr 28, 2009
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