2016.8.24 Ticket
World renowned soprano Sumi Jo will be holding her 30th anniversary concert at the Seoul Arts Center on Sunday. During the concert, she’ll be singing “Simple Song,” which was featured in the film “Youth,” pictured above, and nominated for best original song for the 88th Academy Awards. [JOONGANG ILBO]
SUMI JO RECITAL - LA PRIMADONNA
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
Sunday: Soprano Sumi Jo marks her 30th anniversary as an opera singer this year. Jo, who debuted in 1986 as Gilda for the opera “Rigoletto,” will perform with pianist Jeff Cohen. The coloratura soprano has won various international prizes since graduating from the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome.
She will sing “Caro Nome” from the opera “Rigoletto,” the song that she first used to impress European audiences. Other famous pieces like “The Doll Song,” “I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls” and “Concerto pour Une Voix” will also be performed.
The concert starts at 5 p.m.
Tickets range from 50,000 won to 150,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
GUSTAV MAHLER - SYMPHONY OF A THOUSAND
Lotte Concert Hall
Thursday and Saturday: Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 is a massive undertaking - the scale has lent it the nickname “Symphony of a Thousand” - and it’s rarely performed in Korea. But for two shows, 1,000 musicians and 860 choir singers will take it on under conductor Lim Heon-jeong.
Lim, the artistic director and conductor of the Korean Symphony Orchestra, is the only conductor who has directed the piece twice in Korea.
The concert starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets range from 90,000 won ($80) to 150,000 won.
Jamsil Station, line No. 8, exit 11.
LEE SUN-HEE - THE GREAT CONCERT
Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Sept. 2-4: Korea’s queen is back to entertain fans with three days of concerts. Lee Sunhee debuted in 1984 with the song “To J,” which immediately became a hit. She’s now known by many as the “National Diva” or the “Queen of Female Vocalists,” and has established her name in the music industry with her impressive and emotional catalogue. She is also a songwriter, having penned many of the tracks on her later albums.
The show starts at 8 p.m. on Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets range from 99,000 to 154,000 won.
Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 7 or 9.
PARK CONCERT 2016 - PIANO PARADISO
Olympic Park, 88 Jandi Madang
Sept. 3: Pianists Yuhki Kuramoto, Yiruma, Klazz Brothers and Cuba Percussion will offer varied takes on the instrument through “Piano Paradiso.”
Kuramoto and Yiruma appear in the first part of the concert, followed by the Klazz Brothers and Cuba Percussion, who mix classical, jazz and salsa. The final two groups will be joined by vocalist Horan from Clazziquai.
The event, modeled after concerts like BBC Proms, and NY Philharmonic Concerts in the Parks, aims to bring classical music to a wider audience.
The show starts at 6 p.m.
Tickets range from 4,000 won to 240,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
PARK CONCERTS 2016 - DISNEY IN CONCERT
Olympic Park, 88 Jandi Madang
Sept. 4: For the last three years, Disney in Concert has been giving families an evening outdoors where they can listen to their favorite Disney songs. Last year’s show saw many children come dressed as Elsa from “Frozen,” Simba from “The Lion King” and Belle from “Beauty and the Beast.”
Every year, a special guest performs alongside the Disney Concert performers and Ditto Orchestra, and this year the event will feature young singer Oh Yeon-jun. Oh gained popularity after appearing on an Mnet program as a singing prodigy. He stole the show with Disney tracks like “Colors of the Wind” from “Pocahontas” and “Reflection” from “Mulan,” which he is expected to reprise.
The concert starts at 5 p.m.
Tickets range from 40,000 won to 240,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3.
PLACIDO DOMINGO
Jamsil Sports Stadium
Oct. 2: The King of Opera is coming to Seoul. The Spanish singer rose to fame through his tenor roles, though he debuted as a baritone in 1957. Placido Domingo has shown outstanding performances with the New York Metropolitan Opera House, Vienna State Opera, London’s Royal Opera House, La Scala in Milan, the Opera Bastille in Paris and other well-known opera houses in the world. Over the past ten years, the tenor has received many awards, and this will be the sixth concert in South Korea where Korean fans are able to enjoy his extraordinary voice. This year’s concert program is expected to include both arias and songs from various genres including musicals.
The concert starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets range from 110,000 to 330,000 won.
Sports Complex Station, line No. 2, exits 6 and 7.
[THEATER]
WICKED
Opera House, Seoul Arts Center
To Sunday: The blockbuster Broadway musical “Wicked” is coming to Korea with an exciting cast:
Cha Ji-yeon and Park Hye-na will play Elphaba, while Jung Sun-ah and Ivy will play Glinda.
The musical gained a strong following after its premiere in Korea in 2012 and an 11-month run in 2013.
This year, the musical is also going to Daegu for five weeks.
Performances start at 8 p.m. on weekdays; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5.
42ND STREET
CJ Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center
To Sunday: “42nd Street” is an eye-catching and glamorous American classic full of tap dancing that entertains both the eyes and ears.
This summer’s show marks 20 years since the musical debuted in Korea, with updated dance sequences and additional scenes.
Actors Song Il-gook and Lee Jong-hyuk will play the main role of Julian Marsh.
The show starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
There are no shows on Mondays.
Tickets range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won.
Nambu Bus Terminal, line No. 3, exit 5.
Main Hall Hae, National Theater of Korea
Friday to Sunday: The Korean National Ballet is presenting the story of Spartacus, a Roman slave who is forced to fight as a gladiator to regain his freedom. He plans a revolt with his fellow slaves, which ends with a one-on-one duel with Crassus, who is holding Spartacus’ wife as his slave in his villa.
The piece impresses with its dynamic, deeply emotional choreography, and has been voted by ballet fans as the most anticipated show of the season.
The shows on Friday start at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m.
Tickets range from 10,000 to 30,000 won.
Dongkuk University Station, line No. 3, exit 2 for the shuttle bus
Bus 02 or 420, The National Theater of Korea bus stop.
SWEENEY TODD
Charlotte Theater
To Oct. 3: People in Korea often go to see horror movies to escape the hot weather, but one musical is trying to lure people into the theater instead.
“Sweeney Todd” tells the story of a barber who, with the help of accomplice Mrs. Lovett, attempts to get revenge on the fiendish Judge Turpin.
The musical gained popularity on Broadway after its world premiere in 1979 and has been remade over the years, winning multiple Tony Awards.
The star-studded cast of this production includes Jo Seung-woo and Yang Jun-mo as Todd, as well as Ock Joo-hyun and Jeon Mi-do as Mrs. Lovett.
The show starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays; and 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
[TRADITIONAL PERFORMANCE]
SCENT OF INK
Main Hall Hae, National Theater of Korea
Oct. 6-8: Tradition meets the modern with “Scent of Ink,” which offers a whole new perspective on Korean dance.
The performance expresses the spirit of scholars by focusing on four men who feel as if they are in an ink painting.
The group performs the four seasons. It’s a traditional dance, but the company adds modern elements to counter the impression that old is inherently stuffy or antiquated.
The show starts at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Tickets range from 20,000 to 70,000 won.
Dongkuk University Station, line No. 3, exit 2 for the shuttle bus.
Bus 02 or 420, The National Theater of Korea bus stop.
2016 ANDONG MASKDANCE FESTIVAL
Andong, Northern Gyeongsang Province
Sept. 30 to Oct. 9: The traditional form of Korean mask dance known as talchum will be showcased at this festival in Andong, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Unlike other forms of dance, viewers are invited to participate during performances of talchum, which is one of the form’s unique characteristics.
The area around the festival is known for being home to 317 Korean cultural assets, including numerous seowon (traditional education centers).
A timetable for the festival will be available at www.maskdance.com, available one month before the festival begins.
Visitors can purchase tickets at the venue.
Tickets cost 7,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for students and seniors.
[FESTIVAL]
ARCADIA KOREA
Jamsil Olympic Stadium
Sept. 2-3: This unique, spectacle of an electronic dance music festival is taking place at Jamsil Olympic Stadium in September. ARCADIA is the only show in Seoul where audiences can experience a combination of state-of-the-art technology, dynamic performances, world-renowned DJs, powerful special effects and laser shows that light up the night sky. Beginning in Bristol, England, ARCADIA has evolved into one of the world’s major music festivals. With its intense energy, the event is known for featuring underground drum and bass, techno and house artists.
The show starts at 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Tickets range from 88,000 won to 138,000 won.
Sports Complex Station, line No. 2, exits 6 and 7.
Olympic Park, 88 Jandi Madang
Oct. 22 and 23: The Grand Mint Festival, which offers a combination of music and nature, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Fifty artists will perform across four stages, including famous indie musicians like 10cm, Daybreak, Kwak Jin-eon and Broccoli. Attendees can also participate in various attractions. Entrance will be free for fans that have attended every year thus far, who will also receive a special gift. The festival starts at 12 p.m.
One-day passes cost 99,000 won and a two-day pass is 158,000 won.
Olympic Park Station, line No. 5, exit 3, or Mongchontoseong Station, line No. 8, exit 1.
*Event information collected from the Korea Tourism Organization. Tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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