Pop music

“Let’s Rock Festival”: The upcoming “Let’s Rock Festival” is gearing up to feature some of the country’s most notable indie bands in a two-day outdoor rock fest. The festival will include headlining acts Clazziquai Project, Peppertones, Zitten, Sister’s Barbershop, Crying Nut, No Brain, Guckkasten and Rose Motel as well as more than 30 other acts. The two-day indie music festival will be held at the Nanji Hangang Park on Sept. 20 and 21. Ticket prices are listed at 66,000 won for a one-day pass and 99,000 won for a two-day pass. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Mamas Gun: Returns 2014”: The London-based electro-funk band Mamas Gun is slated to return to Korea and hold another solo concert in September. The five-piece English rock band made its debut in 2008 and has released two albums: “Routes to Riches” (2009) and “The Life and Soul” (2011). Although the band has not yet reached the mainstream in the U.K., the bandmates have managed to find success in the Asian market. The solo concert will be held at the Uniqlo AX Hall in Seoul on Sept. 26. Tickets are listed at 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“John Legend: The All of Me Tour”: The globally renowned U.S. R&B singer John Legend is making his way back to Seoul for an intimate acoustic solo concert in September. The nine-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter has released countless hits over his illustrious 13-year musical career, including his most recent single “All of Me.” In 2007, Legend was honored with the Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame. The R&B artist will be performing live at the Uniqlo AX Hall in Seoul on Sept. 28. Tickets for the show are listed at 132,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Grand Mint Festival”: This year’s annual two-day Grand Mint Festival will feature veteran rock band Sister’s Barbershop, popular acoustic duo 10cm, Glen Check, Romantic Punch, Verbal Jint, the Peppertones, Peterpan Complex and many more. The upcoming festival will be held at Olympic Park in Seoul, and will have five different stages. The 2014 Grand Mint Festival will be held on Oct. 18 and 19. Ticket prices are listed at 88,000 won for a one-day pass and 140,000 won for a two-day pass. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Dance

“The Love of Chunhyang”: Korea’s Universal Ballet Company is staging its original ballet “The Love of Chunhyang” in September, in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Based on the famous Korean folktale “Chunhyangjeon,” the ballet tells the story of Chun-hyang, a low-class courtesan’s daughter who is rewarded for staying faithful while imprisoned for refusing to be a governor’s mistress during her husband’s absence. The show runs from Sept. 27-28 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul. Tickets range from 10,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 399-1114.

“The Seventh Symphony & The Rite of Spring”: The Korean National Ballet is prepping for its upcoming staging of the “The Rite of Spring” by Igor Stravinsky and Uwe Scholz’s “Seventh Symphony.” The performance combines the dance performance of Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 7 and the classic choreography of “The Rite of Spring,” which was originally created by the American dancer and choreographer Glen Tetley in 1974. The KNB’s upcoming performance of “The Seventh Symphony & The Rite of Spring” will be staged from Oct. 16-19 at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater. Tickets range from 5,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Cross Cut”: The Korea National Contemporary Dance Company is slated to stage its upcoming return performance of “Cross Cut.” The show is a modern, subjective dance piece that will feature sets of Korean traditional dance, contemporary, ballet and street dancing. This year’s production of “Cross Cut” will be held for one day only at the Bupyeong Arts Center in Incheon on Oct. 1. Ticket prices are listed at 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Theater

“Sad Play:” A play directed and written by Min Bok-ki, president of the Chaimu Theater Company, “Sad Play” returns to the stage for the third time since 2004. The play centers on a married couple preparing to say goodbye to each other, as the husband is slowly dying and the wife is trying to avoid the saddening reality. They listen to an old pop song together, reminisce about the first time they met and reconstruct old memories together while searching for hope and joy amid tragedy. The heartwarming “Sad Play” will run through Nov. 2 at Daehakro Art One Theater, near Hyehwa Station on Line 4. Ticket prices are 35,000 won. For details, call (02)762-0010.

“Happy Bok-hee”: This play, set in a tranquil suburban town on a lake, centers on 20-year-old Bok-hee, who lost her father, a well-respected general. The general’s dying wish to the residents of the town is to take good care of Bok-hee. The neighbors pledge to make Bok-hee happy, but as time goes by they start to care only about their desires and possessions. As the play takes a downward trajectory due to human greed, it offers an understanding of the relationship between evil and good, and between reality and fiction. “Happy Bok-hee” will run through Sept. 21 at Namsan Arts Center, near Myeongdong Station on Line 4. Tickets are 25,000 won for adults and 18,000 won for students. For details, call (02) 758-2150 or visit www.nsartscenter.or.kr.

“The Devil”: An original Korean musical based on the theme of the Faustian bargain, “The Devil” will premiere at Doosan Art Center on Aug. 22. Set in 20th-century New York, it tells the story of three characters ― John Faust, his girlfriend Gretchen and the devilish character “X.” Directed by Lee Gina, with music by Woody Park and Lee Ji-hye, the production stars Michael Lee and Han Ji-sang as X and Cha Ji-youn as Gretchen. “The Devil” will run through Oct. 12 at Yonkang Hall of Doosan Art Center near Exit 1 of Jongno 5-ga Station on Line 1. Tickets are 50,000 won and 80,000 won. For details, call 3444-0677.

“Priscilla”: A jukebox musical from Australia, “Priscilla” is getting a Korean premiere. Full of well-known pop songs including “It’s Raining Men,” “True Colors,” “Material Girl” and “I Will Survive,” the show tells the story of two drag queens and a transsexual who travel from Sydney to a remote town in the Australian desert aboard their lavender bus, Priscilla, to put on a drag show. The cast includes Cho Sung-ha, a TV actor making his musical debut, Korean-American musical actor Michael Lee, 2AM member Jo Kwon and singer-turned-musical actor Lee Ji-hoon. “Priscilla” runs through Sept. 29 at LG Arts Center near Exit 7 of Yeoksam Station. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For details, visit www.musicalpriscilla.co.kr or call 1577-3363.

“Chicago”: The Korean rendition of the timeless Broadway hit “Chicago” is currently being staged at D-Cube Art Center, located near Exit 1 of Sindorim Station, Lines 1 and 2. Singer Ivy plays Roxie Hart, the wannabe cabaret star, opposite charismatic Choi Jung-won as Velma Kelly. It runs until Sept. 29 and ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, call (02) 577-1987 or visit www.d3art.co.kr.

“Rebecca”: A suspenseful musical from Austria, “Rebecca” will be staged in Korea for the second time from Sept. 6 to Nov. 9 at Blue Square in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Based on the 1938 gothic novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier and the movie by Alfred Hitchcock, the musical is written by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay, a duo well-known in Korea for their works “Mozart!” and “Elisabeth.” The tragic tale revolves around Manderley, a stately mansion owned by Maxim DeWinter, who lost his wife, Rebecca, in an accident. Memories of his beautiful dead wife keep haunting him, his new bride and the mansion’s mysterious and obsessive housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers. The cast features some big-name musical actors and actresses including Oh Man-seok, Oak Joo-hyun and Shin Young-sook. Tickets run from 60,000 won to 130,000 won. For details, call (02) 6391-6333.

“Wicked”: A Korean rendition of the hit Broadway musical “Wicked” is currently being staged at Charlotte Theater in Seoul. It tells the story of two different witches in the Land of Oz, the green-skinned, struggling and often-alienated Elphaba and the beautiful and popular blonde Glinda. Kim Sun-young and Park Hye-na play Elphaba opposite Kim So-hyun and Kim Bo-kyung as Glinda. “Wicked” runs until Oct. 5. Tickets range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363 or visit www.wickedthemusical.co.kr.


Classical music

Park Hye-yoon and Antje Weithass violin duo: Violinist Park Hye-yoon, the 2014 artist-in-residence of the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation, will perform alongside her longtime teacher and mentor, Antje Weithass, in a violin duo concert in Seoul on Sept. 18. The concert, which will take place at Kumho Art Hall, will feature a wide spectrum of violin music written by European composers, from 17th-century Frenchman Jean-Marie Leclair to Charles-Auguste de Beriot and Eugene Ysaye from 19th-century Belgium. The two will perform in the southern cities of Busan (on Sept. 19) and Tongyeong (on Sept. 20). Ticket prices for the Seoul concert range from 9,000 won for students to 40,000 won. For details, call (02) 6303-1977. 

Korea International Wind Band Festival: A weeklong festival of wind music will take place next month in Seoul and surrounding cities. It will start with a free opening concert at Gwanghwamun Square on Sept. 12. Highlights include four special concerts at Seoul Arts Center from Sept. 14-17, featuring composer and conductor Johan de Meij, trumpeter Joe Burgstaller, clarinetist Helen Goode-Castro and ensemble German Brass. A big Marching Show will mark the grand finale on Sept. 18 at Olympic Park in Jamsil-dong, Seoul. For more information, visit the festival website at www.windband.or.kr.

German Radio Philharmonic: Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, or the German Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, will perform at Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Sept. 25. Led by British conductor Karel Mark Chichon, the orchestra will play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with Korean pianist Sohn Yeol-eum and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1577-7766 or visit www.artgy.or.kr.

“Romeo et Juliette”: The Korea National Opera will present nightly performances of the French opera “Romeo et Juliette” at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul from Oct. 2-5. Based on William Shakespeare’s play of the same title, the opera by French composer Charles Gounod is most recognized for its four beautiful duets between the lovers, as well as Juliette’s waltz. The upcoming production is directed by Elijah Moshinsky, who helmed the KNO’s “Don Carlos” last year. Renowned tenor Francesco Demuro will sing opposite Russian soprano Irina Lungu as Romeo and Juliette, with the other pair being Korean singers Kang Jung-woo and Anna Sohn. Julian Kovatchev will conduct the Korean Symphony Orchestra. Tickets run from 10,000 won to 150,000 won. For details, visit www.nationalopera.org.

Lim Dong-min and Lim Dong-hyek recital: Brother pianists Lim Dong-min and Lim Dong-hyek will hold their first joint recital in nine years to present the complete Chopin concertos at Seoul Arts Center on Oct. 4. Dong-min, the older brother, will play the first concerto, while Dong-hyek will take on the composer’s second concerto both with Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra and its conductor Sung Shi-yeon. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266.

Festival

Jinju Namgang Yudeung Festival: The festival celebrates lantern customs in the region that date back to 1592 during the Japanese invasion. Lanterns were used as a military ploy to prevent Japanese troops from crossing Namgang River or as a messenger of personal wishes. The festival has celebrated the custom since 2000 with a variety of programs including a lantern parade, a lantern float on a lake and lantern exhibitions. The festival will take place from Oct. 1-12 in Namgang River. For more information, visit www.yudeung.com.

Suncheon Bay Reeds Festival: Well-preserved South Korean wetland Suncheon Bay is holding an annual reed festival from Oct. 17-19. The festival at Suncheon Bay Garden and other venues throughout the city invites visitors to walk along the popular reed path and appreciate the serene landscape. During the festival, craft-making classes using reeds will be held and visitors are invited to stay in a reed hut. Other highlights include a cooking competition for local chefs and a party where visitors are invited to try a variety of local dishes. For more information, visit http://reeds.suncheon.go.kr.

2014 Andong International Mask Dance Festival: The biggest celebration and showcase of the traditional mask dance will be held in Andong Hahoe Village from Sept. 26-Oct. 5. The festival has showcased traditional mask dance performances from the Andong region of North Gyeongsang Province since it started in 1997. This year’s festival will hold lion-themed performances under the theme of “Jumping! Pumping! Lion.” International mask dance troupes are invited as well. The Chinese and Japanese teams will hold a collaborative lion performance with a Korean team. Other programs include outdoor mask dance performances and more than 500 performances held throughout the festival period. For more information, visit www.maskdance.com (English available).

Geumsan Insam Festival: This festival holds diverse programs revolving around ginseng in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, the largest producer of ginseng in Korea. Some of the most popular programs include ginseng spa treatments and health therapies. Visitors can also experience other types of therapies such as an Indian Ayurveda retreat and a Mongolian acupressure treatment. Exhibitions and ginseng food booths will heighten the festival mood. The festival runs from Sept. 19-28. For more information, call (041) 750-2114, or visit www.insamfestival.co.kr.


Exhibition

Ma Liuming: Hakgojae Gallery is presenting a solo exhibition by Chinese artist Ma Liuming until Oct. 5. The exhibition showcases paintings, photographs, sculptures and video works that explore the freedom of the body. A series of photographs shows his nude performance “Fen-Ma Liuming,” about his alter ego. The artist has attracted attention through radical performances such as walking naked on the Great Wall of China. The artist stopped doing performances in 2000 and has since taken images of his performances onto canvas. For more information, call (02) 720-1524.

Gwangju Biennale: The 10th Gwangju Biennale kicked off on Sept. 5 with 413 works by 111 artists from 38 countries under the theme of “Burning Down the House.” The biennale examines the potential of art as a movement by exploring contemporary artists’ efforts to address personal and public issues, according to Jessica Morgan, artistic director of Gwangju Biennale 2014. The exhibition will continue through Nov. 9 at the Gwangju Biennale Exhibition Hall and other venues throughout the city. For more information, visit www.gwangjubiennale.org.

Mediacity Seoul: Korea’s largest showcase of media art will be held at the Seoul Museum of Art from Sept. 2 to Nov. 23. The eighth media art biennale, titled “Ghosts, Spies and Grandmothers,” brings together 452 teams of media artists from 51 countries. The exhibition explores several themes: ghosts stand for the forgotten history and traditions of Asia, spies symbolize memories of the Cold War, and grandmothers are a metaphor for women in the colonial era. On Sept. 1, the Seoul Saenam exorcism, registered as an intangible cultural property of Korea, will be performed to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.mediacityseoul.kr.

“Beyond and Between”: This exhibition to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art, reveals its trove of centuries-old Korean artifacts and modern artworks. The museum seeks to connect the 230 works on display by pairing them according to similar concepts and expressions. Highlights include Buddhist statues and metalwork from the Three Kingdoms period (fourth-seventh centuries) and Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) grouped with a skeleton-like sculpture by Alberto Giacometti and an abstract painting by Mark Rothko in Museum 1. The exhibition runs through Dec. 21. Admission costs 10,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for teenagers. For more information, visit http://leeum.samsungfoundation.org.