2010.4.28 ticket
The Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Vladimir Ashkenazy (top right), will perform next week at the Seoul Arts Center. Special guests include pianist Kim Sun-wook (above center) and violinist Chung Kyung-wha (above left). The concerts begin at 8 p.m. See MUSIC, left. Provided by Vincero
MUSIC
ANDREA BOCELLI
Jamsil Indoor Gymnasium
Sunday: World-famous classical crossover singer Andrea Bocelli is returning to Korea for his first concert in two years here.
The Italian tenor has sold over 60 million albums worldwide and has many hit songs, including “Time to Say Goodbye.”
In 1999, Bocelli became the first classical musician to be nominated for the Grammy Awards.
The concert starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets range from 100,000 won ($90.60) to 290,000 won.
Sports Complex Station, line No. 2, exit 6 or 7
1544-1555, http://ticket.interpark.com/global
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA
Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall
May 3 and 4: The London-based Philharmonia Orchestra is visiting Seoul for the first time in 15 years to hold concerts with two special guests.
The special guest on May 3 is renowned pianist Kim Sun-wook, who will play Schumann’s Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 and Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2.
On May 4, violinist Chung Kyung-wha will be joining the orchestra to play Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D major Op. 77 and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4.
Tickets range from 60,000 won to 250,000 won.
The concerts start at 8 p.m.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5
(02) 523-0985, www.sac.or.kr
KELLY CLARKSON
Olympic Park, Olympic Hall
May 4: Kelly Clarkson made her debut in the United States after being named the winner of the first season of “American Idol” in 2002.
She is currently on her All I Ever Wanted World Tour to promote the release of her latest album by the same name.
Clarkson has released four albums altogether, with sales of 56 million copies worldwide. She also earned an award for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance at the 48th Grammys in 2008. In 2009, her single “My Life Would Suck Without You” topped the Billboard single chart within a week of its release.
The concert starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 77,000 won to 132,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3
1544-1555, http://ticket.interpark.com/global
LEIF GARRETT
Olympic Park, Olympic Hall
May 8 to 9: A teen idol in the 1980s, Leif Garrett returns to Korea 30 years after his first visit. Garret has released nine albums and has had several hit singles, including “I Was Made for Dancin’” (1979) and “Runaround Sue” (1978).
The concert will start at 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets range from 66,000 won to 99,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3
1600-1716, http://ticket.interpark.com
SEOUL JAZZ FESTIVAL 2010
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Olympic Park
May 11 to 15: The Seoul Jazz Festival, celebrating its fourth anniversary this year, has established itself internationally as one of the best festivals in Korea’s capital.
On May 11 to 12, the concerts will be held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts’ Grand Theater and on May 13 through 15, the concerts will be held at Olympic Park’s Olympic Hall.
The festival will include performances by Pat Metheny, Joe Sample, Randy Crawford, Chris Botti, Tower of Power and other world-famous artists, along with the Korean musicians Pak Jeong-hyeon, Kim Kwang-min and others.
All concerts start at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 55,000 won to 88,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 1 or 8
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3
1544-1555, http://ticket.interpark.com
THEATER
THE BALLERINA WHO LOVES A B-BOY
Lotte World Arts Theater
To May 31: This perennial favorite brings street dance and ballet together. The performance tells the story of a ballerina who falls for a B-boy and breaks away from her classical training to become a B-girl.
Audiences of all ages will enjoy the dancers’ energetic performances and toe-tapping musical numbers.
Performances start at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, at 5 and 8 p.m. on Fridays and at 3 and 6 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Tickets cost 50,000 won.
Jamsil Station, line No. 2 or 8
(02) 2266-8558, www.showbboy.com
THRILL ME
Sinchon The Stage
May 12 to Nov. 14: “Thrill Me” has ranked No. 1 in ticket sales for three consecutive years since its 2007 premiere. The musical is based on the 1924 Leopold and Loeb murders in Chicago. It stars well-known musical actors Kim Moo-yeol and Choi Jae-woong as the infamous thrill killers who murdered a young boy just so they could commit “the perfect crime.”
Critics have called the Korean take on the musical a “robust and elaborate psychological portrayal” of Leopold and Loeb.
Tickets range from 35,000 won to 50,000 won.
Sinchon Station, line No. 2, exit 3
1544-1555, http://ticket.interpark.com
MISS SAIGON
Chungmu Art Hall, Grand Theater
May 14 to Sept. 12: The musical with a score that the BBC says is “wonderful” and “timeless” is returning to Korea. Based on Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly,” this epic production centers on the romance between a strong-willed Vietnamese woman and an American soldier during the Vietnam War.
When the musical first came to Korea in 2006, it had over 250,000 viewers and was ranked the most popular musical of the year by Ticketlink.
The performance starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays, at 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and at 1 and 6 on Sundays and public holidays. There are no performances on Mondays.
Tickets range from 55,000 won to 110,000 won.
Sindang Station, line No. 2, exit 9
(02) 2230-6624, www.cmah.or.kr
TRADITIONAL KOREAN PERFORMANCE
CHEONG
National Theater of Korea, Main Hall, HAE
To May 8: A major contribution to the popularization of changgeuk opera, the National Changgeuk Company of Korea’s “Cheong” returns to the stage after a one-year hiatus. The traditional opera tells the story of Sim Cheong, the 15-year-old girl who sacrifices herself to restore her blind father’s eyesight.
Chosen as a celebratory production for the 60th anniversary of the National Theater, Cheong features gifted pansori singers.
Tickets range from 20,000 won to 80,000 won.
Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 2
(02) 2280-4114, www.ntok.go.kr
CHILDREN’S MUSICAL THEATER: ONEURI
National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts, Umyeondang
Saturday to May 5: “Oneuri” tells the story of a young and beautiful girl in a place near the Woncheon River. The girl has been raised by a crane and does not know much about human life. So one day she sets off to see the world with the crane and her adventure begins.
The production features traditional Korean dances and songs, and is geared toward children of all ages and nationalities.
Performances begin at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends and Children’s Day, which is on May 5, and at 2 p.m. on Tuesday. There is no performance on Monday.
Tickets range from 10,000 won to 20,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5
(02) 580-3300, www.gugak.go.kr
FESTIVALS
BOSEONG GREEN TEA FESTIVAL
Boseong, South Jeolla
Saturday to May 5: Boseong is considered the birthplace of the commercial tea industry in Korea and is the largest producer of tea in the country.
The annual Boseong Green Tea Festival features chances to pick tea in the fields, tea making and tea tastings.
Other events include a tea exhibition and sale, as well as a number of celebratory performances.
To get there from Seoul, take a train headed toward Boseong from Yongsan Station, line No. 1.
(061) 1330, http://dahyang.boseong.go.kr
DAMYANG BAMBOO FESTIVAL
Jungnogwon, South Jeolla
Saturday to May 5: Located within a forest of 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) of bamboo, this festival is full of activities celebrating the beauty and function of the bamboo plant. More active visitors can test their skills during some of the festival’s scheduled river sports, such as log rafting and water bicycling. After working up an appetite, visitors can please their palates with some of Damyang’s famous cuisine and other foods from around the world at the Cultural Experience Center.
From Seoul, take a train headed toward Gwangju from Yongsan Station, line No. 1
(061) 1330, www.bamboofestival.co.kr
HADONG WILD TEA CULTURAL FESTIVAL
Hadong District, South Gyeongsang
Saturday to May 5: Hadong is famous for being the first tea plantation in Korea.
Unlike other machine-based production sites, Hadong continues to produce tea using time-honored traditional methods. As a result, it produces particularly high-grade teas, which are often sold at high prices.
During the festival, visitors can sample a variety of Hadong teas for free and purchase their favorites at bargain prices. The festival offers visitors a unique and entertaining combination of events and hands-on experiences, drawing a large number of visitors every year.
From Seoul, take a bus heading toward Hadong from Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal.
Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3
(055) 1330, http://festival.hadong.go.kr
YANGYEONGSI HERB MEDICINE FESTIVAL
Daegu
Saturday to May 5: Daegu Yangyeongsi is famous for its time-honored oriental medicine culture. Ever since being designated a Culture and Tour Festival in 2001, the festival has become a signature celebration that promotes the nation’s oriental medicine culture worldwide. During the festival period, visitors can learn the history of oriental medicine in Korea as well as experience traditional oriental medical treatments.
The Daegu Herb Medicine Market has been operating for 350 years. It is a truly an international market as visitors here will find medicines and merchants from countries such as China, Manchuria, Russia and Europe. This herb medicine festival displays medicinal herbs that are found in Korea’s mountains and visitors can experience a wide range of relaxing and curative traditional oriental medicine procedures.
From Seoul, take a train for Dongdaegu Station.
Seoul Station, lines No. 1 or 4
(053) 1330, http://herbmart.or.kr
THE JONGMYO ROYAL ANCESTRAL RITE AND ROYAL PROCESSION
Hunjeong-dong, central Seoul
Sunday: The Jongmyo rite was the biggest and most important memorial service in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). The ritual of taking the ancestral tablets of kings and queens was performed five times a year during that time, but ceased during Japan’s colonization of Korea (1910-1945) and resumed in 1969 as an annual event.
During the event, a re-enactment of the royal procession will be held, starting at 11:20 a.m. The entire event takes place from 9:30 a.m. until 2:40 p.m., beginning with a sacrificial offering and continuing with the Jeongjeon ceremony.
The procession departs from Gyeongbok Palace, passing through Sejong Intersection and Jongno 1-3 Streets, and arriving at Jongmyo’s Jaegung area.
The Jongmyo royal ancestral rite is Korea’s Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 1, and its music, the Jongmyo jeryeak, is No. 56. Together, they have been designated a Unesco Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.
(02) 765-2124, www.jongmyo.net/english_index.asp
SANCHEONG HERB FESTIVAL
Sancheong, South Gyeongsang
May 4 to 10: This festival celebrates the herbs of Mount Jiri, which are known to have medicinal properties. Visitors can sample herbs for free, and can later take home their favorite herb or remedy at an extremely reasonable price. Herb plants and seeds will also be for sale so that festivalgoers can try growing their own herbs at home.
55-1330, www.scherb.or.kr
*Event information is culled from the Korea Tourism Organization and other online sources.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)