Musicals, concerts and more to see in Seoul for the next few months

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Published: 28 Mar. 2024, 14:35 Updated: 28 Mar. 2024, 18:47

Musicals, concerts and more to see in Seoul for the next few months

SWAN LAKE
LG Arts Center Seoul

March 29 ― 31: The Korean National Ballet presents the timeless ballet classic “Swan Lake.”

Of the many versions of “Swan Lake,” the national ballet company will perform the work of choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, who is called a living legend in the ballet world.

Grigorovich’s version cuts out some parts that could be felt as less dynamic and adds more dance sequences such as pas de deux and folk dance to maximize the fun of watching the ballet performance.

The music of Tchaikovsky is arranged more rhythmically compared to other versions.

Unlike the original story that ends with a tragic ending, this version has a happy ending where the protagonists fight off the main villain Evil Genius.

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 3 p.m. on weekends.

Tickets are priced from 5,000 won ($3.8) to 100,000 won.

Magongnaru Station, line No. 9, exit 3 or 4

IL TENORE
Blue Square, Shinhan Card Hall

A scene from Korean musical ″Il Tenore″ [OD COMPANY]

March 29 – May 19: Korean musical “Il Tenore,” which means tenor in Italian, is being staged at the Blue Square in central Seoul. This is an original Korean musical that follows med-student-turned-opera-singer Yun I-seon, anti-Japanese activist and opera director Seo Jin-yeon and activist and stage designer Lee Su-han, who each have dreams that they must fight to keep as they come together to stage an opera that will spread the message of Korean independence without being censored by the Japanese. It is inspired by pioneering tenor Lee In-seon (1906-1960).

The book is by Hue Park and Will Aronson. The score was composed by Aronson with lyrics by Park. Helming the show is director Kim Dong-yeon, best known for directing the musical “Death Note.”

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 160,000 won.

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

KING LEAR
National Theater of Korea, Daloreum Theater

March 29 - April 7: The National Changgeuk Company is staging “King Lear,” a traditional Korean opera version of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.

The famous tale of “King Lear” was recreated as a traditional Korean opera changgeuk. It was written by playwright Bae Sam-sik, who also wrote “Trojan Women” for the 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, particularly through his comparisons of life and water.

Using Bae’s storyline, pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) composer Han Seung-seok composed 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 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.

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

Tickets range from 20,000 won to 50,000 won.

Dongguk University Station, line No. 3, exit 6

SEVENTEEN TOUR "FOLLOW” AGAIN TO INCHEON
Incheon Asiad Main Stadium

Boy band Seventeen performs during its ″Follow to Seoul″ concert at the Gocheok Sky Dome in Guro District, western Seoul in July last year. [PLEDIS]

March 30 and 31: Boy band Seventeen is holding a two-day concert in Incheon.

The upcoming concerts are an encore of its "Follow” world tour in a new series titled "'Follow' Again."

Seventeen's EP "FML" made it to No. 1 on the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry's (IFPI) Global Album Chart for 2023, which was released on Feb. 28. "Super,” the lead track of "FML,” also sold over 6.29 million copies since its release in April of last year, becoming the only K-pop artist to sell over 3 million copies of an album on the day of its release.

Seventeen debuted in 2015 under Pledis Entertainment, one of HYBE's labels. It has 13 members: S.Coups, Jeonghan, Joshua, Jun, Hoshi, Wonwoo, Woozi, DK, Mingyu, The 8, Seungkwan, Vernon and Dino. The band is known for hit songs such as "Very Nice," "Clap," "Super" and “God of Music.”

The concert begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday and at 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets range from 132,000 won to 198,000 won.

Asiad Stadium Station, line No. 2 of the Incheon Subway, exit 4

MAE MULLER LIVE IN SEOUL
Yes 24 Live Hall

April 23: In January, English singer-songwriter Mae Muller announced that she'll be taking a break from her music career due to the "pressure of chasing hits.” However, she announced she would be visiting Korea for her first solo concert next month. She is known for her song "Better Days” (2021), a collaboration she did with American rapper Polo G and Swedish music collective Neiked.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets cost 99,000 won.

Gwangnaru Station, line No. 5, exit 2

MATTHEW BOURNE'S "ROMEO + JULIET”
LG Arts Center Seoul

May 8 ― 19: Matthew Bourne's reinterpretation of "Romeo + Juliet” is coming to Korea this May. One of the most popular choreographers at the moment, Bourne has transformed this tragic Shakespearean story into a tale of the “raw passion and vitality of the youth fiercely resisting established norms,” according to LG Arts Center.

The backbone of the Shakespearean story is still there, along with the music of Prokofiev's ballet, but the choreographer transposed the story into an asylum for young people. It's set in the Verona Institute, which looks like a mental institute.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on weekends.

Tickets range from 30,000 won to 140,000 won.

Magoknaru Station, line No. 9, exit 3 or 4

ORCHESTRE DE CHAMBRE DE PARIS WITH SUNWOO YEKWON
Lotte Concert Hall

Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon [MAST MEDIA]

June 12: Pianist Sunwoo Yekwon will be accompanying Orchestre de Chambre de Paris for a concert at Lotte Concert Hall in June. Yekwon rose to international stardom after winning the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017. The French chamber orchestra will be visiting Korea with Russian maetro Maxim Emelyanchev. He is currently the chief conductor of Il Pomo d'Oro.

The program includes Mozart's "'Don Giovanni’ Overture,” Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58,” and "Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55 'Eroica.'”

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 150,000 won.

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

HEDWIG
Charlotte Theater

Through June 23: A dynamic mix of rock music and monologue, this eight-time Tony-nominated musical follows the life of a band called The Angry Inch. The Korean production of the musical premiered in 2005.

The story revolves around a boy named Hansel living in East Germany in 1988.

One day, a U.S. lieutenant proposes to marry Hansel if he changes his gender to female. Hansel eventually decides to adopt the name Hedwig and undergoes a sex change operation, but it fails. He flies to Kansas only to find that he has been dumped.

Undeterred, Hedwig starts wearing wigs and makeup, forms a band called The Angry Inch and becomes a rock star.

The Korean production of this musical features musical performers Jo Jung-suk, Yu Yeon-seok and Jeon Dong-seok, who alternate the main role.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays; at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends; and at 3 p.m. on public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 150,000 won.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 3

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

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