2019.12.18 Ticket
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater
Dec. 14 - 29
The Broadway hit musical “Annie” is being staged by the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Musical Theater, which was established in 1961 and is one of the longest-running theaters in Korea.
Based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie” by Harold Gray, the musical was first staged in Broadway in 1977 and has been reproduced across many countries since.
The show tells the story of Annie who lives in an orphanage in New York. She believes her parents will return someday to take her back home, but she eventually gets tired of waiting for so long and sneaks out of the orphanage in search of her parents.
Annie is considered a nuisance by Ms. Hannigan, the head of the orphanage, because her frequent escapes put Hannigan’s career at risk.
Meanwhile, Christmas is coming and the orphanage greets an unexpected guest, the secretary of the billionaire Oliver Warbucks.
Warbucks is searching for an orphan to spend Christmas with. Of all the orphans, Annie is chosen for the special day out.
The show starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. on Sundays and holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 20,000 won ($17) to 90,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8.
GUM NANSE
Lotte Concert Hall
Dec. 25
Maestro Gum Nanse will present a one-day Christmas concert for families. The conductor will play a list of classical pieces including Bizet’s “Symphony in C Major,” first and second movements, and Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67,” third and fourth movements.
New World Philharmonic Orchestra led by Gum and up-and-coming violinist Danny Koo will accompany the concert.
The concerts start at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Tickets range from 40,000 won to 80,000 won.
Jamsil Station, Line No. 2, exit 1 or 2.
SARAH CHANG
Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall
Dec. 29
International violinist Sarah Chang will visit Seoul for a solo recital.
The award-winning violinist visited Korea last year and appeared as part of an ensemble with other musicians.
This is Chang’s first solo recital in seven years since the last one in 2012.
Having debuted at the age of 8 in 1990 with the New York Philharmonic led by conductor Zubin Mehta, Chang has been at the top of the classical music for decades.
The solo recital will be accompanied by pianist Julio Elizalde and will include performances of “Bartok Romanian Folk Dances Sz.56,” “Cesar Franck Violin Sonata in A major M.8” and “Salut D’Amour Op.12.”
The concert starts at 5 p.m. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 160,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater
Dec. 31
The country’s three popular crossover groups are coming together for the 2019 Phantom of Classic. The concert will feature Forte di Quattro, Forestella and Miraclass, above. It is a rare chance for music aficionados to see all three groups perform at one concert.
All three quartets made a name for themselves on the JTBC music competition show “Phantom Singer.”
Forte di Quattro was the winner for the first season of the show in 2016 while Forestella won the second season in 2017. Miraclass came in second place during the second season of the show.
The Korea Coop Orchestra will accompany the concert. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets range from 66,000 won to 121,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8.
YEAR-END CONCERTS
As the year is nearing its end, music festivals lure music fans with fireworks and countdowns to the New Year. One of the city’s biggest New Years’ celebrations is “2020 Countdown” which will be held at Vista Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjang-dong, eastern Seoul. The festival features rappers and D.J.s. The musicians will count down to 2020 along with the crowd and celebrate until the morning. [VISTA WALKERHILL SEOUL ]
SAC NEW YEAR’S EVE CONCERT
Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall
Dec. 31
The “SAC New Year’s Eve Concert” will start at 9:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. The Korean Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Chung Chi-yong, will perform music from operas including “La Forza del Destino” overture by Giuseppe Verdi and “Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi” from opera “La Boheme” by Giacomo Puccini among many others.
Soprano Hwang Su-mi, tenor Chung Ho-yoon and pianist Cho Jae-hyuck will accompany the orchestra.
After the countdown, the audience will be guided outside to watch fireworks. Tickets range from 30,000 to 100,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
LOTTE CONCERT HALL YEAR END CONCERT
Lotte Concert hall
Dec. 30 - 31
Lotte Concert Hall organizes year-end concerts on Dec. 30 and 31. The audience will be able to count down until the New Year together, but there will be no fireworks.
The Ditto Orchestra will perform under the baton of Choi Soo-yeol and will be accompanied by violinist Kim Bomsori, soprano Im Sun-hae and organist Choi Kumi. The concert will be hosted by musical star Kai.
Lotte Concert Hall has the biggest pipe organ in the country, so its organ pieces differentiate its offering from other similar sorts.
The organist Choi became the first Asian who won the St Albans International Organ Festival, a biennial organ competition.
The musicians will perform works including overture from “The Carnival of Rome” by Hector Berlioz and “This is the Moment” from musical “Jekyll and Hyde” by Frank Wildhorn.
A concert with the exact same program, minus the countdown, will be staged on Dec. 30 for those who can’t make it to the year-end concert. The concert starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from 40,000 won to 90,000 won.
Jamsil Station, Line No. 2, exit 1 or 2.
COUNTDOWN MUSIC FESTIVALS
More casual year-end music festivals are on offer, too.
“Zzong Party” features a wide scope of singer-songwriters including Jeong Jun-il, O. When, Ahn Ye-eun, Hoons and SURL.
The concert will be held at Nodeul Island Live House, located in Yongsan, central Seoul.
The concert starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are 77,000 won, but the price goes down to 66,000 won when the ticket is reserved online in advance.
The Cass Blue Playground World Countdown is being held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza on New Year’s Eve starting at 6 p.m. and running until 6 a.m. the next day.
World-famous D.J.s including Yellow Claw, Salvatore Ganacci, Kura and Yves V will be participating. Only those who are over 19 are eligible to enter the music festival.
Tickets cost 79,900 won.
Another countdown music party is held at Re:Bar, located in Vista Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjang-dong, eastern Seoul.
Rapper Woodie Gochild and Korean D.Js, including DD and Jaybee, will take the stage.
When tickets are purchased in advance, they will cost 19,900 won, without any free drinks. When a ticket is purchased on the spot, it will cost 50,000 won and include a welcome drink.
*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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