Celebrate the Season With Something Classic
Seasonal, Year-End Concerts in Town
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The year is drawing to a close but there is still time to make new memories in 2009. Huddling close with loving family members and friends, and being immersed in a live, year-end performance is one way ― various events are awaiting concertgoers, from winter-themed classical concerts and seasonal musicals to New Year's Eve celebrations with fireworks.
Something Classical
Two big names in the classical music scene ― bass Youn Kwangchul, a renowned Wagner specialist active in Bayreuth, Germany, and Maestro Chung Myung-whun ― invite fans for a mellow
"Winter Journey"
(Winterreisse). Youn will sing the full cycle of 24 songs by Schubert accompanied by Chung on piano. 8 p.m., Dec. 21 at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 30,000-100,000 won. Call (02)518-7343.
Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra
wraps up 2009 with the seventh of its Masterpiece Series. Maestro Chung Myung-whun will lead the ensemble for Ravel's "Rhapsodie Espagnole" and Piano Concerto in G major and Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique." Teenage pianist Cho Sung-jin, who recently became the youngest ever and first Asian winner of the Hamamatsu Piano Competition, will appear as soloist. 8 p.m., Dec. 22 at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 10,000-70,000 won. Call (02) 3700-6300.
Quartet-X
has emerged as leading specialists of Beethoven string quartets by presenting the German master's complete cycle of 17 works over the year. The group will offer fans nine pieces for quartet in a year-end concert. 8 p.m., Dec. 22 at Sejong Chamber Hall, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul. Tickets cost 30,000-50,000 won. Call (02)491-0413.
Seoul Arts Center presents a
White Christmas concert
featuring some of the country's top classical talents, including pianist Kim Dae-jin, music director of the Suwon Philharmonic; violinist Baek Ju-young, professor at Seoul National University; rising cellist Kim Minji; and members of the Kumho Art Hall Chamber Music Society, the country's first residential ensemble. They will perform Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, among others. 8 p.m., Dec. 23 at the Concert Hall. Tickets cost 30,000-80,000 won. Call (02)580-1300.
Pianist Yiruma
will offer fans his beloved New Age melodies. The popular artist offers variations on a theme ― a retrospective of his musical career, which has been marked by seven albums over nine years. His cross-country tour includes concerts in Incheon, Friday; Busan, Saturday; and Jeju Island on Christmas Eve. He will give two performances, at 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Dec. 26 at the Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 44,000-99,0000 won. Call (02)3658-3546.
The Grand Piano Concert
supersizes the conventional classical piano performance by bringing together 90 pianists, with up to 12 performers simultaneously taking the stage. The pianists will perform 11 pieces, including Bach's Brandenburg Concerto and Beethoven's "Chorale," arranged for keyboard. 8 p.m., Dec. 27 at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 10,000-50,000 won. Call (02) 3272-2121.
Violin virtuoso Sarah Chang
is only 28 but is already celebrating her 20th anniversary of her debut with the New York Philharmonic. She has recently released a new album featuring works of Brahms (EMI Classics), and continues her recital tour featuring various violin sonatas, ending with Seoul Arts Center on Dec. 28. Call (02) 541-6237.
The Korea National Opera
will present a series of gala concerts that bring together top Korean opera singers from near and far. The opening event features Kim Young-mi, 55, the country's top dramatic soprano who performed with the late Luciano Pavarotti. The following evening, David Dong-qyu Lee, 31, an emerging countertenor on the European opera scene, will perform. Soprano Im Sun-hae, 33, from Germany, and bass-baritone Samuel Youn, 38, will grace the closing gala. 8 p.m., Dec. 29-31 at Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 30,000-100,000 won. Call (02)586-5282.
With a Theatrical Twist
The musical
"A Christmas Carol,"
based on the story by Charles Dickens and staged annually by Seoul Performing Arts Company, returns for the holiday season. Child actor Wang Seok-hyun, who rose to stardom through this year's hit comedy "Scandal Makers," will appear in the performance. Saturday through Dec. 31 at Woori Art Hall, Olympic Park, southwestern Seoul. Tickets cost 20,000-100,000 won. Call (02) 722-8885.
"Wizard of Oz,"
the timeless black-and-white movie, can be appreciated live onstage as a colorful musical rendition. The family audience is invited to join Dorothy and her friends ― Scarecrow, Tin Man and Lion ― on an exhilarating adventure. The ornate set and costumes provide for a fun spectacle, complete with a fantastic flying scene. Through Dec. 28 at Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, downtown Seoul. Tickets cost 30,000-50,000 won. Call (02) 399-1114.
"I Love You,"
is not surprisingly, about romance. It depicts lovers, from their initial stage of falling in love to having children and finally growing old together. Each actor assumes about 20 different roles. Through March 28, 2010 at Art One Theater, Daehangno. Tickets cost 20,000-45,000 won. Call (02) 501-7888.
Complete With Fireworks
Leading performing arts centers in the metropolitan area will provide festive fireworks and other events for the big countdown to 2010 on New Year's Eve.
Seoul Arts Center
, Seocho-dong, presents an eclectic year-end celebration with timeless classical scores by Strauss and Ravel to popular musical numbers by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Kim Min will conduct the Korean Chamber Ensemble, and soloists include violinist Zakhar Bron, harpist Yoon Ji-yoon, baritone Seo Jung-hak and musical singer Kim So-hyeon. The nocturnal event begins at 9:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall. After the performances, concertgoers can enjoy a beautiful firework display outside. Tickets cost 40,000-70,000 won. Call (02) 580-1300.
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
, Jongno, offers a diverse program featuring the Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, top opera and musical singers and traditional Korean vocalist Jang Sa-ik. The event offers concertgoers the chance to write postcards to their "future selves." The Sejong Center will deliver the messages a year later, in December 2010. The countdown for 2010 will be accompanied by a live broadcast of the annual Bosingak bell-ringing event in Jonggak. The concert begins at 10 p.m., at the Grand Hall. Tickets cost 20,000-50,000 won. Call 1544-1887.
Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex
, Gyeonggi Province, will also provide a colorful evening. Popular baritone Kim Dong-gyu and rising popera singer Park Wan will appear with the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra. Dancers from the Korea National Ballet will present highlight sequences from timeless works including Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," "Sleeping Beauty" and "The Nutcracker." The concert begins at 10:30 p.m. at Aram Theater. After the show, concertgoers are invited to count down to the New Year with the musicians by a giant clock. Tickets cost 10,000-70,000 won. Call 1577-7766.
Seongnam Arts Center
, Gyeonggi Province, presents an evening with a 60-member male ensemble, Mostly Voices. The vocalists will sing a batch of beloved tunes including choral music and arias from operas. Special guests will join them, including soprano Park Mi-hye and celebrated jazz singer Nah Youn-sun. Afterward, concertgoers can go outside to groove to music by DJ Dust and release helium balloons at the stroke of midnight. The concert begins at 10 p.m. Tickets cost 12,000-50,000 won. Ticketholders for VIP and R seats will be entitled to refreshments such as rice cakes and sweet potatoes. Call 1544-8117.