my timesThe Korea Times
Lifestyle

Arts & Theater

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

Feb 5, 2009

Concerts, Museums & Theater

Classical Concerts The Most's Cinema Concert: Love Story of Valentine LIG Art Hall Feb. 14 Performance group ``The Most'' will hold a cinema-themed concert to celebrate Valentines Day. It will offer various film scores including ``Cinema Paradiso'' and ``Life is Beautiful.'' All tickets are 25,000 won, each. For more information, visit www.ligarthall.com or call 017-256-5968. Located near exit 8 of Gangnam Station on subway line 2. Chamber Music Gala Concert With Gum Nan-se Seoul Arts Center Feb. 15 Conductor Gum Nan-se will hold a chamber music gala featuring the Borromeo String Quartet. The program includes works of Bach, Albeniz and Doppler. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr or call (02) 3473-8744. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3. Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's ``New Wave'' Series I Seoul Arts Center Feb. 19 Sung Shi-yeon, assistant conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, will lead the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra in Sibelius' ``Pohjola's Daughter, Op

Feb 5, 2009

Theatre Olympics to Be Held in Seoul in 2010

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Top-rated thespians from around the world will gather in Seoul next year to participate in the 5th Theatre Olympics. The participants who represent their countries in the performing arts will meet under the theme ``Love.'' The event was first founded in 1994 to seek development of theatrical performances through cultural exchanges between countries. Im Young-wung, director and chairman of the Korean preparatory committee, said that the Seoul's hosting of the event reflects the growing status of the Korean theater scene. ``Korean theater is recently getting attention from the world. Last year, Kim Yun-cheol, theater critic and a professor of the Korean National University of Arts, became the first Asian president of the International Association of Theater Critics (IATC). Also, Choi Chy-rim, director of the National Drama Company of Korea, is now an international committee member of the Theatre Olympics,'' he told reporters at a press conference. Choi joined the body's 14-member committee this year, along with Ratan Thiyam of India a

Feb 4, 2009

Science Meets Art at Future Scope

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter Can art and science truly mix? The Savina Museum of Contemporary Art seems to think so, as it presents its new exhibit ``2050 Future Scope.'' At first, art and science appear to be contradictory fields. Art is all about creativity and imagination, while science relies on logic and facts. Both the artist and scientist are ``naturally curious observers, asking the same question: `How will I portray the world?''' A scientist will look for the answer through experiments and research, while an artist will present his or her imaginative view of the world through art. Savina Museum curator Woo Sun-mi said ``2050 Future Scope'' is the exhibition's attempt to look at the future through the eyes of artists and scientists. Prior to the exhibition, Korean artists met with scientists to brainstorm for new ideas. After their meeting, the artists took the scientific knowledge and used it to create new works. ``There were attempts to bring together scientists and artists in the past. However, one of the reasons it didn't work out was because t

Feb 4, 2009

Musical Romeo et Juliette Upgraded but Gets Looser

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter When French musical ``Romeo et Juliette’’ was first shown in Seoul, Korean musical buffs were overwhelmed with the flamboyant choreography, prolific musical numbers and fast pace. The musical first hit the stage in Paris in 2001. Since then, the show has toured some 16 countries, entertaining more than four million people. The musical arrived in Korea in 2007 and this is the second performance of the original team, but seemingly too early to revive the emotional sensation. The musical is based on Shakespeare’s original play, ``Romeo and Juliet,’’ but follows a unique structure and the style of French musicals, which are expressed mainly through music and song. The contrast of melodies and strong pop and rock elements highlight the musical, which was produced by the original French cast. The role of Romeo was portrayed by outstanding vocalist Damien Sargue, and Joy Esther took the role of Juliette. With popular French composer Gerard Presgurvic as musical director, the French box-office smash musical is a new take on the classic vers

Feb 3, 2009

Experimental Dance Works to Go On Stage

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Dance fans will be pleased to find out that the local dance scene will see plenty of creative and experimental works this year. Numerous dance companies and choreographers are gearing up with new productions that they'll be able to enjoy soon. The Shin Eun-kyeong Ballet company is bringing ``The Hymn of the Soul- Symphony 9,'' the story of legendary composer Beethoven. Symphony 9 is one of the German composer's best works, and the performance will show his faith in bringing peace to the world with symbolic movements and a touch of neoclassical elements. . ``We're aiming to show movements of joy simply and clearly. Whenever we confront despair, joy follows. Joy is a very familiar feeling almost everyone can understand,'' MCT Dance said. With four scenes titled ``Beethoven's Funeral,'' ``Lonely Person,'' ``Lovers'' and ``The Breath of God,'' the climax will offer a full chorus, adding even more drama to the performance. Shin is all about bringing creative repertoires to the local ballet scene, and by combining pure art and pop culture with

Feb 3, 2009

Sarah Brightman Brings Symphony Tour to Korea

By Cathy Rose A. Garcia Staff Reporter British popera diva Sarah Brightman is bringing her acclaimed ``The Symphony World Tour'' to Korea next month. Brightman will have a series of concerts in Seoul, Goyang and Busan, as part of the Asian leg of her world tour. She will perform from March 13 to 14 at the Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park, Seoul, followed by a concert March 16 at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX), Goyang, Gyeonggi Province. Her last concert will be held March 20 at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO), Busan. Brightman will be accompanied by Italian tenor Alessandro Safina for the Korean tour. He recorded a duet with Brightman for her 2008 album ``Symphony.'' Last December, Safina performed in a series of concerts with world-famous coloratura soprano Jo Sumi in Korea.

Feb 3, 2009

Hong Brings Work of A Pilgrim

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Famed choreographer Hong Sin-cha is bringing the audience `` A Pilgrim,'' the upgraded version of her renowned dance work ``Pilgrimage.'' ``Pilgrimage'' debuted in 1998 and was a big hit with its futuristic moves, costumes, music and concept. Until last year, it had been on stage in more than 15 countries, gaining popularity with its powerful imagery. The New York Times reviewed it as ``a work that gently alludes to life's journey through a succession of calm, minimalist scenes that sometimes evoke the stylized stage pictures of Robert Wilson or Butoh performers.'' ``After putting `Pilgrimage' on stage for the last 10 years, I thought we needed some change, both in content and costumes. I'm satisfied,'' Hong said in a recent interview with the Yonhap News Agency. ``A Pilgrim'' will still bring the similar theme of ``pilgrimage,'' but with upgraded music, costumes, settings and lighting, the difference being the overall atmosphere. And whereas the previous work started and ended in hardship, the new version will be lighter and brighter.

Feb 3, 2009

Museums Should Coexist With Community

By Chung Ah-young Staff Reporter Celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Korean museums this year, efforts are being made toward making them global institutions. Alissandra Cummins, President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), praised the achievement of Korean museums and their protection of intangible cultural heritage. She visited Seoul last week for the editorial and advisory meeting of the International Journal of Intangible Heritage of the ICOM-ICME ― International Committee for Museums of Ethnography ― which took place at the National Folk Museum of Korea. ``Over the last ten years, I have become more aware of the Korean system for protecting intangible cultural heritage and what has been impressive is their knowledge about what they have and what is important in terms of representing different aspects of cultural life in the country and then reflecting that in a number of different ways,'' Cummins said in an interview with The Korea Times. The 51-year-old ICOM president said that a number of countries have appreciated the whole system of liv

Feb 2, 2009

Bong Family to Hold Art Exhibition

By Han Sang-hee Staff Reporter Bong Sang-kyun, the father of renowned film director Bong Jun-ho and chairman of the Korea Design Trend Society, is opening a special exhibition with his son, daughter and granddaughter this month. ``It is my solo exhibition, but my children decided to join as guest artists. It was possible because we all work in similar fields,'' he told The Korea Times. Bong is holding the exhibition to celebrate his 77th birthday this year, and visitors will have the chance to walk among the artwork of three generations. He added that when he first proposed the idea he thought it would be meaningful to work with his family. ``Jun-ho didn't major in art, but he enjoyed drawing cartoons when he was young and frequently creates storyboards for his movies,'' he said. The exhibition will display 30 works of art, 23 by the elder Bong and the rest by his film director son, daughter and textile artist Bong Ji-hee, and six-year-old granddaughter Bong Ju-yeon. Bong will offer graphic design works with traditional elements such as sotdaes, or folk stone

Feb 1, 2009
previous page
429430431432433
next page

Most Read in Lifestyle