2013.12.4 Ticket
MUSICKENNY G
Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall
Friday: Kenny G, one of the world’s most famous saxophone players, comes to Korea once more. Ever since his 1992 album “Breathless” sold 15 million copies, Kenny G has been a global icon of smooth jazz and adult contemporary music. This time, he will be performing with his band and the Korean Symphony Orchestra, their second time teaming up since 2012.
Tickets range from 99,000 won to 220,000 won.
The concert starts at 8 p.m.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
THE VOCALIST CONCERT
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park
Dec. 13, 14: For the fifth year, several leading Korean singers are coming together for “The Vocalist Concert.” This year’s lineup features Bobby Kim, Ali, Lee Jung and Park Wan-gyu, four singers known for their unique styles.
“The Vocalist Concert” started in 2009 with Bobby Kim, Kim Bum-soo and Wheesung. This year’s show will differ, however, thanks to the addition of Park, who is more of a rocker than a crooner.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. on Friday and 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets range from 66,000 won to 121,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
PSY: ALL NIGHT STAND
Olympic Park, Gymnastics Hall
Dec. 20 to 24: Psy is ready to dance under the moonlight with his Korean fans. The singer’s concerts are always popular, thanks to the singer’s nonstop energy onstage.
Psy recently wrote on Twitter that he had a hard time last year, despite his amazing international breakthrough, because he had to keep performing only “Gangnam Style” and “Gentleman.” For this concert he will perform about 15 songs, as per usual at his shows in Korea.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; at 7 p.m. Sunday; at 7:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. Tuesday
Tickets range from 77,000 won to 165,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
BROWN EYED SOUL:
THANK YOUR SOUL
Kintex in Ilsan
Dec. 20, 21, 24, 25: Brown Eyed Soul, the four-man R&B group, will hold a concert to commemorate its 10th anniversary. The group released new music for the first time in three years earlier this month, an EP titled “Always Be There.”
The concerts starts at 8 p.m. on Dec. 20, at 6 p.m. Dec. 21, at 6 p.m. Dec. 24 and at 8 p.m. Dec. 25
Tickets range from 88,000 won to 132,000 won.
Daehwa Station, line No. 3, exit 1.
LEE SEUNG-CHUL
COEX, Hall D
Dec. 20, 21, 22, 24: One of the best vocalists in Korea, Lee Seung-chul, will present his third series of concerts in 2013, “Carol Line.” These shows follow “Beach Voice,” his summer concert in August, and “Love Rain,” his fall concert in October.
Lee, who was a judge on the popular TV show “Superstar K” on cable channel Mnet, is known for his sweet but powerful voice.
“Carol Line” will kick off in Busan on Saturday and continue through Dec. 31 in Daegu.
The Seoul concerts all start at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 77,000 won to 154,000 won.
Samseong Station, line No. 2, exit 5.
MERRY URBAN ZAKAPA
COEX Hall C
Dec. 20, 21: Urban Zakapa will present its set of third Christmas concerts this year. Last year, the group’s Christmas shows were the biggest sellers of the year.
In addition to the two Seoul shows, Urban Zakapa will hold concerts in Daegu, Busan and Daejeon. Recently, the band released the single “Walk Backwards,” which made its way to the top of the music charts.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. Friday; at 7 p.m. Saturday
Tickets range from 66,000 won to 99,000 won.
Samseong Station, line No. 2, exit 5.
STEVE BARAKATT’S CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Sejong University, Daeyang Hall
Dec. 25: New Age pianist Steve Barakatt is known for his lush, romantic music. While his name might not be so familiar, his song “Rainbow Bridge” is well known to Koreans, thanks to its ubiquitous use in television ads and dramas. Barakatt not only writes pieces for the piano, but also for the symphony, and he sings and works as a producer. He has collaborated with numerous artists in Korea, including the singers Wheesung, John Park and Shayne. This Christmas concert is being held in the middle of Barakatt’s first tour in Korea, “Romantic Concert.” His tour will continue in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, afterward.
The concert starts at 6 p.m.
Tickets range from 66,000 won to 110,000 won.
Imae Station, Bundang line, exit 1.
GLEN CHECK
Blue Square, Samsung Card Hall
Dec. 31: Korea’s rising electro-dance sensation ushers in the new year and its new album with a big concert.
The show begins at 9:30 p.m.
Tickets range from 44,000 won to 66,000 won.
Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3.
LIM DONG-HYEK PIANO RECITAL
Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall
Feb. 18: Lim Dong-hyek, a pianist with many fans of his good looks, will present his first solo recital in two years. Lim’s play lacks unnecessary techniques and is famous for its tone and expression of various styles, which has made him one of the best pianists to perform pieces from the Romantic era. This time, however, he will present Debussy, Beethoven and Schubert. The concert will mark a turning point as Lim shakes off his image as a competition prodigy and finally becomes a mature pianist.
The concert starts at 8 p.m.
Tickets range from 30,000 won to 100,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
THEATER
WICKED
Charlotte Theater
To Jan. 26: A Korean production of the musical “Wicked” is being presented in Korea for the first time. Adapted from the best-selling novel, “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West,” by Gregory Maguire, the musical is an alterative view of L. Frank Baum’s famous story “The Wizard of Oz.”
Taking the point of view of Oz’s witches, “Wicked” shows how the Wicked Witch of the West and the Good Witch of the North were originally close friends.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays; at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays and holidays. No shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won.
Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 3.
GHOST
D-Cube Arts Center
To Dec. 22: The West End’s popular musical “Ghost” is being presented in Korea for the first time. Adapted from the Hollywood movie with the same name, “Ghost” tells the undying love story of Molly and Sam.
This production features musical stars such as Joo Won, Choi Jung-won and the inimitable diva Ivy.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesdays; at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays
No shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 60,000 won to 130,000 won.
Sindorim Station, line No. 2, exit 1.
MAMMA MIA!
Blue Square, Samsung Card Hall
To March 23: Sophie, who lives on a Greek island, is about to be married and wants her father to give her away, but the problem is that Sophie doesn’t know who her father is. After taking a peek in her mother’s diary she discovers that he could be one of three candidates, so she slyly tricks them into attending her wedding. Along the way there will, of course, be plenty of ABBA.
The original Broadway crew is coming to Seoul for this presentation of the popular musical. Made famous by the movie, audiences will appreciate hearing it performed with humor, energy and proper pitch by the original cast.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 150,000 won.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays; at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays; at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. No shows on Mondays.
Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 1.
THE NUTCRACKER
Universal Ballet / Korean National Ballet
Universal Arts Center / Seoul Arts Center
Dec. 20 to 31 / Dec. 18 to 25: Korea’s renowned Universal Ballet and Korean National Ballet both present the renowned Christmas performance of “The Nutcracker.” The performance is a wonderful staple of ballet, along with “The Sleeping Beauty” and “Swan Lake,” thanks to the great combination of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and ballet choreographer Marius Petipa.
Based on the story “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice” by E. T. A. Hoffman, the ballet tells the story of a little girl who, one Christmas Eve, dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and takes part in a fierce battle against the frightening Mouse King.
The difference between those two performances lies in their different version of choreographies. The Universal Ballet has chosen the reconstructed version of the choreographer Vasili Vainonen, whereas the Korean National Ballet has chosen the version of Yuri Grigorovich, which is very distinctive with a much higher level of difficulty.
The Universal Ballet’s performance starts at 3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Monday to Friday; at 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays; at 2 and 5:30 p.m. on Sundays and public holidays. No shows on Dec. 23 and Dec. 27.
Tickets range from 10,000 won to 100,000 won.
Achasan Station, line No. 5, exit 4
The Korean National Ballet’s performance starts at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays; at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends; at 1 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Tickets range from 5,000 won to 90,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
DECEMBER
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Dec. 16 to Jan. 29: This musical is based on songs by the late Kim Kwang-seok, one of Korea’s most important singers from the late 1980s and early 1990s, before his untimely death in 1996. His songs, like “Around 30,” “Become Dust” and “Although I Loved You,” are some of the most iconic from that era. Twenty-four songs made famous by Kim are included in the musical. “December” is a story of tangled love. Ji-wook and his best friend, Hoon, both loved E-yeon, who disappeared without a trace when they were in their 20s. But Yeo-il loved Ji-wook, while Seong-tae was secretly in love with Yeo-il. After 20 years, Ji-wook meets a girl who looks just like E-yeon, and soon the past and present collide.
Ji-wook is played by the idol singer Kim Jun-su from the K-pop trio JYJ for some shows, and in others by actor Park Gun-hyung.
The musical starts at 8 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 3 p.m and 8 p.m. Wednesdays; at 3 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. Saturdays; and at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sundays and holidays.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 140,000 won.
Yeoksam Station, line No. 2, exit 7.
Event information is collected from the Korea Tourism Organization and tickets for most events are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.
Standards Board Policy (0/250자)