2009. 10.7 NOW PLAYING
MUSICSEOUL ARTS CENTER, Concert Hall
Thursday to Friday: “Blue Letter.” The National Chorus of Korea presents its regular concert series. This concert will feature cantatas based on the life of Seo Deok-chul, a pioneering poet-cum-lyricist whose poetry inspired many Koreans during the hard years of Japanese occupation. The main subjects of Seo’s work were nature, life and children.
For this concert, renowned composer Kim Ki-young has created original songs with lyrics by Seo Deok-chul, using the four seasons as his central theme. The concert will also feature the Korean Symphony Orchestra, as well as soprano Park Jeong-won and tenor Lee Won-jun.
The concert starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 15,000 to 30,000 won ($12.84 to $25.64).
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No.3, exit 5
(02) 580-1300, www.sac.or.kr
OLYMPIC PARK, Gymnastics Stadium
Friday to Saturday: “Rain: Legend of Rainism.” Korean megastar Rain makes his first concert appearance in Korea this year as part of his 2009 Rain Asia Tour.
Rain debuted in 2002 with his breakthrough album “Bad Guy,” and he has since become one of the most successful Korean singers on the international stage. In 2007, he was included in People magazine’s Most Beautiful People list and voted No. 1 in an online poll. Rain appeared in the Hollywood movie “Speed Racer,” and his latest film “Ninja Assassin” will open in November.
As a special tribute to Michael Jackson, Rain will perform some of the late singer’s hit songs.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. on Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets range from 44,000 won to 165,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3
(02) 3447-3411, http://ticket.interpark.com
SEOUL WORLD CUP STADIUM
Saturday: “2009 Dream Concert.” This concert provides a platform for K-pop artists not satisfied with blanket coverage on radio, television, mobile phones and other venues. It has grown into one of the biggest K-pop events in the country. Participating artists include: Kara, 2NE1, Super Junior, Big Bang, Girls’ Generation and the curiously named M.C. Mong.
K-pop has become big business in Asian countries such as China, Japan and Thailand, and over 5,000 visitors from abroad are expected to attend.
The concert starts at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets cost 5,000 won.
World Cup Stadium Station, line No. 6
1566-5701, www.dreamconcert.kr
THEATER
NATIONAL THEATER OF KOREA
Today to Sunday: “Mirong.” As part of the World Festival of National Theater, the National Theater of Korea presents “Mirong,” a traditional dance play based on Kim Chang-ha’s “Chun-ang-jeon.”
Mirong features traditional Korean court dance, or jeongjae. Because of its large and extravagant scale, court dances are difficult to re-create and are usually only seen at royal palaces. Although Mirong doesn’t make use of a large cast or expansive production elements, it still manages to exude the essence of a royal Korean court dance.
The story is largely told through movement and music, rather than verbally, making it easier for non-Korean speakers to understand.
The performance starts at 8 p.m. on Tuesday to Friday, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday, and at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets cost 20,000 won.
Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6
(02) 2280-4114, www.ntok.go.kr
SEOUL PLAZA, City Hall
Thursday: “Korean Arts, New and Old.” In this concert, two groups will offer two different interpretations of traditional Korean music.
First to take the stage will be the Performing Arts Company of the Korean Pansori Preservation Society, which was established in 1971 with the purpose of protecting and preserving pansori, a Unesco-designated world cultural heritage dating back to the Joseon Dynasty. Pansori is a type of narrative song performed by a singer and a percussionist.
Following the pansori will be the Goguryeo Band, named after the ancient Korean kingdom. Reinterpreting traditional Korean music in the rock genre, they have created their own style which they call “Arari rock.” The band aims to lead the way toward the popularization of traditional Korean music.
The performance starts at 7 p.m.
City Hall Station, lines No. 1 and 2, exit 5
(02) 2171-2476, www.casp.or.kr
SOGANG UNIVERSITY, Mary Hall
Friday: “Black Swan.” This is the latest work from Gilles Jobin, a Swiss choreographer who entertained Korean audiences in 2004 with his breakthrough work “Moebius Strip.” Jobin is best known for his unique method of combining images, language and performance in his dance pieces.
Jobin’s new work stays true to his belief in the “freedom of dance,” instead of focusing on the tried-and-tested forms seen in other dance pieces.
The title was inspired by Karl Popper’s theory of falsifiability, which states, for example, that only one black swan can disprove the proposition that “every swan is white.”
The performance starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 20,000 to 50,000 won.
(02) 3216-1185, www.sidance.org
SEOUL ARTS CENTER, Jayu Theater
Sunday: “‘&’ ou Regarder d’Ailleurs / Jam: Dance, Hip-hop, Jazz.” Belgian choreographer Fatou Traore and Korean calligrapher Lee Sung-yon collaborate on the work “‘&’ ou Regarder d’Ailluers.” In this piece, Traore uses Lee’s calligraphy as a way to explore another aspect of dance, where movements of the brush and body become one. The work features video projections showing the movement of a brush, as a dancer traces the brushstrokes in the foreground.
“Jam: Dance, Hip-hop, Jazz” is an improvisational performance of hip-hop, jazz and rap. Medius, a leading exponent of artistic hip-hop in Korea, and the Lim Mi-jung Jazz Band will join this performance.
The performance starts at 3 p.m.
Ticket prices range from 20,000 won to 30,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal, line No. 3, exit 5
(02) 3216-1185, www.sidance.org
SEOUL ART CENTER, Towol Theater
Oct. 15: “Radio and Juliet.” Imagine the greatest love story of all, boldly expressed against the epic work of Radiohead. Prominent Slovenian choreographer Edward Clug presents his reinterpretation of the “Romeo and Juliet” narrative, set to the music of the alternative rock band.
Radio & Juliet attempts to show the delicacy of love amid the cold hand of mechanization in the modern world. Radiohead’s music, coupled with the expressive mix of Ballet Maribor’s signature minimalist forms, intensifies the feelings of desperation, alienation and loneliness in the work, creating an atmosphere of aggression and the accelerating passage of time.
The performance starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 20,000 to 40,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5
(02) 3216-1185, www.sidance.org
SPORTS
KOREA BASEBALL ORGANIZATION
Wednesday
SK Wyverns vs. Doosan Bears
Munhak, 6 p.m.
Thursday
SK Wyverns vs. Doosan Bears
Munhak, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Doosan Bears vs. SK Wyverns
Jamsil, 2 p.m.
Sunday
Doosan Bears vs. SK Wyverns
Jamsil, 2 p.m.
Tuesday
SK Wyverns vs. Doosan Bears
Munhak, 6 p.m.
www.koreabaseball.com
K-League Soccer
Wednesday
Pohang Steelers vs. FC Seoul
Pohang Steelyard, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday
Gangwon FC vs. Jeonbuk Motors
Chuncheon, 2 p.m
Gyeongnam FC vs. Daegu FC
Geochang, 3 p.m.
Suwon FC vs. Ulsan Hyundai
Suwon World Cup Stadium, 3 p.m.
Gwangju FC vs. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Gwangju World Cup Stadium, 3:10 p.m.
Incheon United vs. Daejeon Citizen
Incheon World Cup Stadium, 3 p.m.
Busan I’Park vs. Jeju United
Busan Asiad Main Stadium, 3 p.m.
Chunnam Dragons vs. Pohang Steelers
Gwangyang Football Stadium, 3 p.m.
www.kleague.com
FESTIVALS
SEOUL DESIGN OLYMPIAD 2009, Jamsil Sports Complex
Friday to Oct. 29: “Seoul Design Olympiad 2009.” The Seoul Design Olympiad is back for a second year. If you’re at all into design, Jamsil Olympic Stadium is the place to go, and you’ve got three full weeks to enjoy the exhibition.
The event ties in perfectly with Seoul’s designation as the World Design Capital 2010, and will help reinforce the city’s image as a hotbed of creativity.
The theme of this year’s Design Olympiad is “i DESIGN,” which is meant to express the idea that we are all designers. This is in line with the city’s desire to attract more active citizen participation in this event.
The festival includes exhibitions, competitions, performances, concerts and workshops that incorporate architecture, graphic arts, ecological design and visual arts.
The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays to Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Sports Complex Station, line No. 2
(02) 413-5183, sdo.seoul.go.kr/eng
2009 D.FESTA, Daehangno
Saturday to Oct. 18: “D.Festa.” Clued-in Seoulites know that Daehangno is the capital’s theater district. At first glance, the neighborhood appears to be a place for youth culture, with impromptu performances by street musicians and performers, but hidden away down its labyrinthine alleys are over a hundred small theaters, most of them independently run.
The Daehangno Festival was created with the purpose of showcasing the area’s unique appeal, and has become an annual, weeklong event. Most events are located in and around Marronnier Park, and the adjacent streets will be filled with various kinds of performers and artists, with special shows taking place at four local theaters.
All performances are free.
Hyehwa Station, line No. 4
(02) 741-4188, www.dfesta.co.kr
GRAND MINT FESTIVAL 2009, Seoul Olympic Park
Oct. 24 to 25: “Grand Mint Festival 2009.” Now in its third year, this has become one of Korea’s representative music festivals. This year’s festival features a bevy of local and international bands, including folk singer Denison Witmer, Toronto’s acoustic pop duo Sunshine State, Japanese alternative pop singer Hideki Kaji and German singer Maximilian Hecker.
Koreans might recognize Hideki Kaji’s music from the 2008 Japanese animated film “Detroit Metal City.” The film was a big hit both here and in Japan.
A one-day pass costs 55,000 won and a two-day pass costs 88,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3
1588-7890, www.grandmintfestival.com
2009 KOREA INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL, Seoul Art Center
Oct. 27 to 30: “Korea International Music Festival.” Some of the most prominent classical musicians in the world are set to appear at this festival, including violinist Valeriy Sokolov, pianist Finghin Collins, euphoniumist Steven Mead, conductor Rumon Gamba and Korea’s own Lee Dong-ho.
The first Korea International Music Festival was organized in 1976 to promote the best classical musicians in the country to the world. The festival has now become one of Korea’s biggest annual music events, with more top classical musicians joining every year.
The festival starts on Oct. 27 with a performance of Glinka’s “Overture to Ruslan and Ludmilla,” Beethoven’s “Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61” and Shostakovich’s “Symphony No. 5 D minor, Op. 47.”
More pieces from Beethoven, Brahms, Sibelius and many more will be played throughout the festival.
The concerts start at 8 p.m. every day.
Tickets range from 10,000 to 100,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5
(02) 580-1300, www.sac.or.kr
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)