Spring is finally here. As the last of the ice melts from the city's sidewalks, Seoul citizens can step out and enjoy many cultural and arts performances on offer this month.
The first of three major productions is the ‘Bukcheong Lion Dance’ which opens March 18 at Seoul Namsan Gugakdang (Korean traditional music hall) in the hanok village near Chungmuro subway station. This eclectic performance features Korean traditional dances, including a mask dance, "mudongchum" (boy dance) and "ggopchuchum" (hunchback dance).
"The Song of Spring" will invite young talents in Korean traditional music at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul from March 31.
Foreigners will not regret exploring the Sigol Bapsang (traditional food table) Concert presented by the Seoul Metropolitan Chorus. This collection of songs about a variety of Korean traditional food will be heard in the evenings of March 23 and 24 at the Chamber Hall of the Sejong Center.
It is not just Korean traditional arts which are on offer. The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will perform Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Mendelssohn's violin concerto in collaboration with violinist Svetlin Roussev under the baton of Leo Hussain on March 24 at the Seoul Arts Center.
For those not-so-confident but nonetheless curious about the classics, the Seoul Philharmonic's Chamber Orchestra is holding a free concert at the Seoul Museum of History in Jongno-gu. Titled ‘Classical Music Made Fun With Doctor Oh,’ the concert will feature commentary during the performance.
Other offerings throughout the city include art exhibitions and pop group performances, all sure to provide extra warmth and memorable experiences this spring.