2022 March 23 Ticket

Ticket

Published: 22 Mar. 2022, 15:40 Updated: 22 Mar. 2022, 18:12

2022 March 23 Ticket

KING LEAR
National Theater of Korea, Daloreum Theater

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea presents the famous tale of "King Lear," which has been recreated into Korea's traditional opera known as changgeuk. [NTOK]

March 22 – 30: The famous tale of “King Lear” has been recreated as a traditional Korean opera or changgeuk. It’s a new piece written by playwright Bae Sam-sik, who wrote “Trojan Women,” which has become one of the company’s hit repertoire after its premiere in 2016.

According to the National Changgeuk Company, the tragic life of a human being depicted in Shakespeare’s original story is woven together with the teachings of Lao Tzu, an ancient Chinese philosopher, in particular his comparisons to life and water.

Using Bae’s storyline, pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) composer Han Seung-seok created the lyrics for the singers while the music is written by Jung Jae-il. Han said he concentrated on creating sounds that contain hatred, madness and ruins and used some parts of Gyeonggi minyo, or folk songs from the Gyeonggi region, to create them. Jung said he combined the sounds from Korean traditional and Western instruments using virtual musical instrument software to create a new kind of sound for the upcoming work.

Popular pansori singer Kim Jun-su plays the role of Lear.

Tickets range from 20,000 won ($16.40) to 50,000 won.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 3 p.m. on weekends. There’s no performance on Mondays.

Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6

DEATH NOTE
Chungmu Art Center, Grand Theater

April 1 - June 26: The Korean production of the musical “Death Note” will be staged at the Chungmu Art Center in central Seoul for the first time in five years. The musical is based on the Japanese manga series of the same title by Tsugumi Obha and Takeshi Obata. With music by Frank Wildhorn and lyrics by Jack Murphy, the musical premiered in Korea in 2015.

The story follows a high school student named Yagami Light, who stumbles upon a notebook that kills those whose names get written in it.

Actors Hong Kwang-ho and Ko Eun-sung alternate the role of Yagami Light, while Kim Jun-su and Kim Seong-chul alternate the role of L. Former Lovelyz member Kei is alternating the role of Amane Misa with Jang Min-je.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

Sindang Station, line No. 6, exit 9

YUKI KURAMOTO AND HIS FRIENDS
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater

Japanese pianist Yuki Kuramono will organize a concert to perform an array of his music that suits the season of spring. [LEE SANG-WOOK]

April 3: Japanese pianist Yuki Kuramoto will stage a playful performance this spring. He’s been showcasing a concert every Christmas, but this year, he’s prepared a spring concert and lined up the program with light-hearted music, such as “Dawn,” “Lake Louise,” “Romance,” “Meditation” and “I Suppose Flowers Will Fall Down.”

For the upcoming concert, he’ll invite cellist Hong Jin-ho, who is also a member of Hoppipolla, a band that won JTBC’s hit audition show “Superband” (2019), to join him on stage. They’ll perform “I Giorni,” “Playing Love,” “Oblivion” and “Libertango,”together among others.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won.

The concert starts at 3 p.m.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

ALEXANDRE KANTOROW PIANO RECITAL
Lotte Concert Hall

April 19: French pianist Alexandre Kantorow will be holding his first piano recital in Korea. The pianist won the first prize, gold medal and Grand Prix at the 16th International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019.

Often described as “Liszt reincarnated,” the pianist will play Liszt’s Annees de pelerinage, Deuxieme annee: Italie, S. 161, No. 5. “Sonetto 104 del Petrarca,” and No. 7 “Apres une lecture du Dante: fantasia quasi sonata” as well as “Abschied, S. 251” and “La Lugubre Gondola, S. 200 No. 2.” He’ll also play Schumann’s “Piano Sonata NO. 1 in f sharp minor, Op, 11” and Scriabin’s “Vers la Flamme, Op. 72.”

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 90,000 won.

The recital begins at 7:30 p.m.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2

LE CORSAIRE
Seoul Arts Center, Opera Theater

Korean National Ballet presents ″Le Corsaire″ that has been newly interpreted by the company's young dancer and choreographer Song Jung-bin. [KNB]

April 20 - 24: The Korean National Ballet will present one of its popular shows, “Le Corsaire.” It is based on “The Pirates,” an epic poem by Lord Byron.

The state-run ballet company staged a reinterpretation of “Le Corsaire” for the first time in 15 years in November 2020, which was highly praised by both audience members and critics.

When the ballet company performed “Le Corsaire” years ago on home soil, it was based on the original choreography by French dancer and choreographer Marius Petipa, but the troupe has added its own flavor this time with choreography by young ballet dancer Song Jung-bin. Song has been presenting works through the KNB Movement Series, which is designed to nurture choreographers within the Korean National Ballet.

“Le Corsaire” depicts the journey of a pirate ship steered by Conrad the captain, in search of his love Medora, who has been captured by slave trader Lankendem.
Park Seul-ki, Kim Li-hoe, Park Ye-eun, Sim Hyun-hee and Cho Yeon-jae will alternate the role of Medora while Lee Jae-woo, Kim Ki-wan, Park Jong-seok, Ha Ji-seok and Heo Seo-myeong alternate the role of Conrad.

Tickets range from 50,000 won to 100,000 won.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

SOMETHING ROTTEN!
Universal Arts Center

Through April 20: Set in the Renaissance period, comedy musical “Something Rotten!” depicts the struggles of two brothers — Nick and Nigel Bottom — who endeavor to write their own masterpiece to outdo their archrival, William Shakespeare.

Premiered on Broadway in 2014, the musical was acclaimed by critics and audiences alike upon its release.

For this Korean production, Kang Pil-suk and Kim Dong-wan alternate the role of Nick while Lee Chung-ju and Yang Yo-seop of boy band Highlight alternate the role of Nigel Bottom. Choi Jae-rim and Seo Kyung-soo play the character Shakespeare.

The musical starts at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.

Ticket prices range from 70,000 won to 140,000 won.

Achasan Station, line No. 5, exit 4

JEKYLL AND HYDE
Charlotte Theater

Through May 8: Popular musical “Jekyll and Hyde,” which tells the tale of an epic battle between good and evil, has been loved in Korea since its first performance in 2004.

The cast includes Ryu Jeong-hwan, Hong Kwang-ho, Kai and Shin Seong-rok in the roles of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde, and Yoon Gong-ju and Ivy Seon-min for the role of Lucy Harris.

Until this month, evening performances will begin at 7 p.m. There are additional performances on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

Jamsil Station, Line No. 2, exit 3

AIDA
Blue Square, Shinhan Card Hall

May 10 – Aug. 7: Musical Aida returns after three years. Set in ancient Egypt, the story follows a love triangle between three protagonists: Radames, an Egyptian military commander, who enslaves the people of Nubia including Aida, the princess of Nubia, and Amneris, the daughter of Pharaoh and the fiancée of Radames.

On his way home from the victory against Nubia, the long-time enemy of Egypt, Radames develops an interest in Aida. Without knowing that Aida is the princess of Nubia, Radames sends her as a gift to Amneris. Soon after, Radames and Aida fall for each other and Aida tries to find a balance between her love for Radames and her responsibility to her people.

The musical, also known as “Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida” is based on an opera of the same title.

Aida stars Yoon Gong-joo and Jeon Na-young as Aida; Kim Woo-hyung and Choi Jae-rim as Radames; Ivy and Min Kyung-ah as Amneris.

Performances start at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends.

There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

Hangangjin Station, line No. 6, exit 2 or 3.

LIM DONG-HYEK PIANO RECITAL
Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall

May 24: Pianist Lim Dong-hyek is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his debut. To celebrate, he will be holding a recital presenting two of Shubert’s final pieces — Piano Sonata No. 20 in A Major, D. 959 and No. 21 in B flat Major, D, 960. The two pieces are included on Lim’s upcoming sixth album, which will drop on March 10.

Lim has often expressed that Shubert’s music “fits him like my own dress” and that he feels “this great sense of unity” with the Austrian composer.

Lim first stole the limelight in the world’s classical music scene after becoming the youngest top prize winner of 2001 Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud International Piano Competition in Paris and has gone on to forge a stellar career.

The recital begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 100,000 won.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]