Pop music

“2013 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival”: The Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival is an annual three-day music festival that features some of the hottest acts in the international and local music scene. Since its inauguration year in 2006, the festival has been responsible for bringing in top acts such as Muse, The Black Eyed Peas, The Strokes, Korn, Hoobastank and many others. This year’s festival will be held at the Incheon Songdo 23 Geunrin Park from Aug. 2 to 4 and will feature headlining acts including Fall Out Boy, Suede, Deul Guk Hwa, Porno Graffitti, Glasvegas, Mama Guns and more. Ticket prices are 89,100 won for a one-day pass, 128,700 won for a two-day pass and 148,500 won for a full three-day pass. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“2013 Shinhwa Grand Finale: The Classic”: Korea’s longest running idol group Shinhwa will be celebrating its 15-year anniversary with a special two-day concert performance in Seoul as part of the group’s Asia tour. The six members of Shinhwa recently released their eleventh album, “The Classic,” on May 16 and the album’s lead track “This Love” landed them the Triple Crown on M! Countdown as well as eight other first place titles on various TV music programs. Shinhwa will hold their upcoming concert at the Seoul Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on August 3 and 4. Tickets to the show range from 66,000 won to 143,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Hyundai Card Super Concert 19 City Break”: Joining the club of blowout summer music festival, this year the Hyundai Card Super Concert 19 City Break two-day music festival is bringing some of the hottest bands in the rock music industry. The line-up for the City Break rock fest includes headlining acts Metallica, Muse, Iggy and the Stooges, Limp Bizkit, Rise Against as well popular local bands Jang Ki-ha and the Faces, Kwon Soon-kwan and much more. The two-day music Hyundai Card Super Concert will be held on August 17 and 18 at the Jamsil Sports Complex. Ticket prices range from 250,000 won for a two-day pass and 165,000 won for a one day pass. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“Super Sonic 2013”: The annual two-day music festival will be held this year on Aug. 14 and 15 at Olympic Park and will feature an all-star line-up that includes British pop duo Pet Shop Boys; Earth, Wind & Fire; John Legend and Cho Young-pil. Cho’s performance will mark the 63-year-old veteran singer’s first-ever performance at a rock festival, while the performance by Earth, Wind & Fire, which is widely considered one of the most iconic and influential bands in American music history, will mark the group’s 44th year in the music industry. Also performing at the upcoming music fest is the electronic band Two Door Cinema Club, solo artist Willie Moon, and Korean artists 10cm and the semifinalist of “Superstar K4” Dickpunks. Tickets to the show range from 99,000 won to 160,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

Classical music

“La Fantasia”: The Sumi Jo Park Concert “La Fantasia” will take place at the 88 Lakeside Stage in the Olympic Park, Seoul, on Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. the acclaimed Korean soprano will perform along with two-time Grammy Award-nominee violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill and Vocal Ensemble Rottini. Conductor Ariel Kim will lead the Ditto Orchestra. The program will include a mix of classical songs, pop songs, and movie soundtracks such as Ennio Morricone’s “Nella Fantasia,” Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm,” Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Waltz No. 2,” John Williams’ “Star Wars,“ and more. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won to 80,000 won while family seats for four cost 200,000 won. Inquiries and ticket purchases can be made at www.clubbalcony.com or 1577-5266.

“BACH for SOLO” and “Code Name: BACH”: Ensemble Ditto will be holding two additional performances, on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, in response to the popularity of last month’s seventh “Ditto Festival.” “BACH for SOLO” on Aug. 31 will feature solo pieces by Bach, including Partita No. 3 for violin in E major, BWV 100 and Partita No. 1 in B flat major, BWV825. The program for the next day’s “Code Name: BACH” includes works that are thought to have continued Bach’s musical style such as Mozart’s Violin Sonata No. 22 in A minor, K. 305, and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 2 in C minor, Op. 66. Ensemble Ditto is a project chamber ensemble that started performing in 2007, with Richard Yongjae O’Neill on the viola, Stefan P. Jackiw and Daniel Jung on the violin, Michael Nicolas on the cello, and Ji-yong on the piano. It will be the last performances for Ji-yong. Ticket prices range from 30,000 won to 80,000 won and can be purchased at www.clubbalcony.com. For more information, call 1577-5266.

“Great Mountains Music Festival and School 2013”: The Great Mountains Music Festival and School 2013 will introduce works of Nordic composers and musicians as well as commissioned works for the festival and operatic highlights from July 14-Aug. 6 in Pyeongchang, Cheorwon, Wonju and other parts of Gangwon Province under the theme “Northern Lights.” Noted musicians from around the world including pianists Paik Hae-sun, Robert McDonald and Kevin Kenner; violinists Chung Kyung-wha, Kim Nam-yun, Koichiro Harada, Christel Lee and Clara-Jumi Kang; cellists Chung Myung-wha, David Geringas, Gary Hoffman and Jian Wang; violists Roberto Diaz and Hun-Wei Huang; bassist Michinori Bunya; as well as ensembles such as Fantasia Quintet; Novus String Quartet and St. Michel Strings will perform at the remote mountainside resort. They will play pieces by Grieg, Britten, Mozart, Schumann, Paganini, Dvorak, Verdi, Beethoven, Shostakovich and Faure as well as relatively unfamiliar northern European composers including Einojuhani Rautavaara and Dag Wiren. Ticket reservations are open at www.interpark.com. For more information, visit www.gmmfs.com.

“Jazzholic”: Jazzholic will feature performances by key artists in the world of modern creative jazz from July 18 to Aug. 10 in LIG Art Hall’s Seoul Hapjeong and Busan branches. Some of the Korean artists included in the program are the K-Jazz Trio, Lee Won-sul Jazz Chamber Ensemble, and Seoul Meeting Free Music Orchestra. Foreign artists include the legendary Billy Hart Quartet, who will perform in Korea for the first time on Aug. 2 at the Hapjeong branch and Aug. 3 at the Busan branch. Performances during the week will start at 8 p.m. while weekend performances will begin at 5 p.m. Tickets prices range from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. Tickets can be purchased at www.interpark.com, and inquiries can be made at www.ligarthall.com.

Theater

“Elisabeth”: Korea’s EMK Musical Company is once again staging “Elisabeth,” a German musical about the real-life 19th-century legendary Austrian Empress Elisabeth (1837-1898). Starring former girl group FIN.K.L. member-turned-musical actress Ok Ju-hyun, singer and actor Lee Ji-hun, singer Park Hyo-shin, and JYJ member and musical star Kim Jun-su, the musical portrays the life and death of the beautiful yet unhappy empress seduced by the spirit of death. Its first Seoul run, which took place last year, was enormously successful, sweeping many awards including Best Musical at the Musical Awards. “Elisabeth” runs at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theater in Seoul from July 26 to Sept. 7. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call (02) 6391-6333.

“The Moon Embracing the Sun”: Many fell in love with Hwon, the cynical but attractive fictional Joseon king in MBC’s enormously successful TV drama series “The Moon Embracing the Sun” last year. Its fans now have the opportunity to revisit the series, this time onstage. The TV series’ theater adaptation is currently being staged at Seoul Arts Center, featuring local musical star Kim Da-hyeon in the lead. Based on the novel of the same title by author Jung Eun-gwol, the TV series and the musical tell the moving love story between Hwon and a beautiful female shaman ― a daughter from a noble family ― while also dealing with the court intrigues and vying for political power in the royal household. “The Moon Embracing the Sun” runs until July 31 at Seoul Arts Center’s CJ Towol Theater. Tickets range from 60,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, call 1588-5212.

“The Scarlet Pimpernel”: Broadway musical “The Scarlet Pimpernel” is being staged in Seoul featuring local musical stars including Han Ji-sang and Park Gun-hyung. Set in England and France during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, the musical is based on the adventure novel of the same title by Hungarian-born British novelist Emma Orczy (1865-1947), and tells the story of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy and often silly man in London who in fact is the elusive “Scarlet Pimpernel,” a hero who rescues French aristocrats from death in Revolutionary France. Musical actress Kim Sun-young and former girl group S.E.S member Bada share the role of Percy’s love interest. The musical runs from July 2 to Sept. 8 at LG Arts Center in Seoul. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363.

“Avenue Q”: American adult puppet musical “Avenue Q” has its Seoul premiere this summer. The show is a coming-of-age tale featuring the anxieties and struggles associated with entering adulthood. The show, which also features “Sesame Street”-inspired puppets along with the actors and actresses, is famous for its adult-themed subject matter, such as pornography, racism and homosexuality. “Avenue Q” runs from Aug. 23 to Oct. 16 at Charlotte Theater in Seoul. Tickets range from 50,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363.

“American Idiot”: Broadway musical “American Idiot,” an adaptation of punk rock band Green Day’s seventh studio album of the same title, will be staged for the first time in Korea. Green Day’s 2004 studio album enjoyed enormous popularity worldwide, selling over 15 million copies with more than 6 million sold in the U.S. alone. The rock musical album tells the story of three young men and their struggles to make sense of the world and find meaning in their lives post-9/11. The musical follows the album’s plot; its script was co-written by Billie Joe Armstrong and director Michael Mayer. “American Idiot” will be performed from Sept. 5 to 22 at Blue Square’s Samsung Electronics Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Tickets range from 60,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, call 1588-5212.

“Les Miserables”: The all-Korean production of Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary musical “Les Miserables” is being performed in Seoul. Based on 19th-century French writer Victor Hugo’s novel of the same title, the musical tells the story of Jean Valjean, a hapless French peasant who serves 19 years in prison for stealing a piece of bread for his starving family in turbulent 19th-century France. After being released, he manages to assume a new identity and becomes mayor of a town. While trying to avoid being recaptured by Javert, a police inspector, he agrees to take care of Cosette, the illegitimate daughter of Fantine ― a sick, abused prostitute who had to sell her hair and teeth to make a living. “Les Miserables” is currently on an open run at Blue Square’s Samsung Electronics Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul. Tickets range from 90,000 won to 130,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555 or visit www.lesmis.co.kr.

Festivals

“The Great Battles of Hansan Festival”: A reenactment of a heroic sea battle during the Hideyoshi Invasion of Korea more than four centuries ago will be conducted from Aug. 14-18 in the waters off Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province. In the Hansan Daecheop, or Great Battle of Hansan, Korean naval ships led by Adm. Yi Sun-sin destroyed an invading Japanese armada. Over 100 ships will take part in the reenactment, which will be the highlight of the commemorative Hansan Daecheop Festival. For more information, call (055) 644-5222 or visit www.hsdf.or.kr. (Yonhap News)

“Seoul Fringe Festival”: The Seoul Fringe Festival will provide a showcase of independent artists. Individual artists or groups can freely perform drama, dance, mime, music and arts at the festival, which will allow the performers and the audience alike to enjoy the freedom of expression and selection. A total of 140 individual artists and teams will put on performances in various indoor and outdoor venues like small theaters, live clubs, galleries and streets near Hongik University in western Seoul from Aug. 29-Sept. 14. For more information call (02) 325-8150 or go to www.seoulfringefestival.net. (Yonhap News)

“Bucheon International Comics Festival”: The international event for cartoons will be held in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, from Aug. 14-18, introducing Korean and foreign cartoons and contests for cartoonists and aspiring cartoonists. It will exhibit winning pieces from the local Bucheon Cartoon Award and the International Children Comic Artist Awards. Other events include a concert featuring original soundtracks of famous cartoons and a cartoon characters parade. The exhibition will be held at the Korea Manwha Museum in the Bucheon Media and Culture Complex. For more information, visit www.bicof.com (English available).

Dance

“Don Quixote”: The Korean National Ballet is presenting “Don Quixote,” a ballet based on an episode taken from the beloved novel “Don Quixote de la Mancha” by Miguel de Cervantes. The piece, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus, was re-choreographed by local artist Moon Byung-nam. Moon is the associate artistic director for the national ballet troupe. “Don Quixote” runs from Aug. 28 to 31 at Seoul Arts Center’s CJ Towol Theater. Tickets cost 5,000 won to 30,000 won. For more information, call 1566-1369.

“Skirt, Skin”: Inspired by American playwright Eve Ensler’s feminist play “The Vagina Monologues,” three dancers have come up with a dance piece that features explorations of women’s body, sexuality and sense of identity. The piece uses women’s skirts as props, and explores one’s inner self that is often in conflict with outer appearance. Local dancers Park So-jung, Jeong Jeong-ah and transgender dancer Christine Fletcher will deliver the performance, which includes a story of a transgender woman as well as the life of a mail-order bride living in a foreign country. The show runs from Aug. 5-6 at Gangdong Arts Center in Seoul. All tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, call (02) 440-0500.

“This is Modern”: Korea’s Universal Ballet Company is staging its contemporary dance repertoire “This is Modern” this October. The piece is a collection of three contemporary ballets ― “Petit Mort,” “Six Dances” by Czech choreographer Jiri Kylian and “This is Your Life” by Korean choreographer Huh Yong-soon. Compared to classical ballets, the show is said to spotlight the different dancing styles and flair of each dancer. “This is Modern” runs from Oct. 24-27 at Seoul Arts Center’s CJ Towol Theater. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, call (02) 580-1300.

Exhibitions

“Dancers Among Us”: Jordan Matter, a New York-based photographer, has been shooting dancers in everyday settings ― out in a park, on a pedestrian walk, in a subway and restaurant. The dancers’ bodies in motion against the mundane backdrops create images that people have never seen before. The photographs are currently on exhibit at Savina Museum of Contemporary Art in Anguk-dong, Seoul, until Sept. 22. Admission is 8,000 won for adults and 6,000 won for children and teenagers. The exhibition opens from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information, call (02) 736-4371. 

“Calder”: Leeum presents a retrospective of works by Alexander Calder (1898―1976), the American artist who transformed the history of art with his use of unconventional materials and his dramatic re-imagining of space. Co-organized with the Calder Foundation in New York, the exhibition at Leeum, Samsung Museum of Art in Itaewon showcases over 100 works by the artist, spanning from the 1920s through the 1970s. The exhibition continues through Oct. 20. The museum is open from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Mondays. Admission is 8,000 won for adults and 5,000 won for students. English-language docent-guided tours are available on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. For more information, call (02) 2014-6901.

“A Dream I Dreamed”: Daegu Art Museum presents 118 works of Yayoi Kusama, including 30 new works, at the biggest-ever Kusama exhibition held in Asia outside Japan. The exhibition welcomes visitors to the fun, strange world of Kusama with large red balloons covered in white polka dots hanging in the museum lobby. Other signature installations and new painting series are on exhibit. The exhibition runs through Nov. 3 at Daegu Art Museum, which opens from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and closes on Mondays. Admission is 5,000 won for adults, 3,000 won for teenagers and 2,000 won for children. Guided tours are offered twice a day, at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. For more information, visit www.daeguartmuseum.org, or call (053) 790-3000.

“Takashi in Superflat Wonderland”: PLATEAU, Samsung Museum of Art presents a solo exhibition of pop artist Takashi Murakami from July 4 to Dec. 8. As the first retrospective of Takashi Murakami held in Korea, this exhibition allows one to experience and examine the artist’s oeuvre by featuring a broad panorama of his creative endeavors including his anime-inspired figures and paintings that reflect his theory of “Superflat” ― a combination of elements of Japanese traditional painting, manga culture, fine arts and commercialism.

“Gauguin and After: Voyage into the Myth”: Masterpieces of the French post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin are on exhibition in Seoul. The exhibition, which ends on Sept. 29 at the Seoul Museum of Art, is the first-ever comprehensive survey of Gauguin’s artistic career presented to a Korean audience. It showcases about 60 artworks on loan from 30 major museums around the world, created during the two major periods of the artist ― Brittany, France (1873-1891) and Polynesia (1893-1903) ― that include well-known masterpieces “Vision of the Sermon,” “The Yellow Christ,” “Where Do We Come From, What Are We, Where Are We Going,” and some sculptures and paper works. Admission is 13,000 won for adults, 10,000 won for teenagers and 8,000 won for children. The exhibition is closed on Mondays. For more information, call 1588-2618.