Classical music

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. The older brother Dong-min 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 to 120,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266 or visit kimf.co.kr. 

Korea International Wind Band Festival: A weeklong festival of wind music will take place next month in Seoul and its surrounding cities. It will start with a free opening concert at Gwanghwamun Square on Sept. 12. Highlights include three special concerts at Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 14, 15 and 17, featuring composer and conductor Johan de Meij, trumpeter Joe Burgstaller and clarinetist Helen Goode-Castro. A big Marching Show will mark the grand finale on Sept. 18 at the 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 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.

DITTO encore recital: Two months after this year’s DITTO festival, which was themed around Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the four members of the ensemble DITTO, led by violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, are reuniting for an encore recital. The Grammy Award-winning Parker Quartet and oboist Ham Gyeong will join the concert on Aug. 31 at Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall. The program consists of three compositions by Mozart, including Divertimento for String Trio in E-Flat Major, K.563, and Oboe Quartet in F major, K.370/368b. Tickets cost 30,000 won to 80,000 won. For details, call 1577-5266.

Theater

“Autumn Sonata”: Based on the 1978 Swedish drama film of the same name, written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ingmar Bergman, “Autumn Sonata” is reinterpreted by Korean director Lim Young-woong to commemorate the 60th year of his directorial debut. The play centers on the troubled relationship between Charlotte, a celebrated classical pianist, and her neglected daughter Eva. Charlotte visits Eva, the wife of a village pastor, for the first time in seven years, and they struggle to break the ice after an extended separation. As they confront their broken relationship, they learn about each other and some of misunderstandings. “Autumn Sonata” will run through Sept. 6 at Daehakro Arts Theater near Hyehwa Station on Line 4. Tickets are 30,000 won, 40,000 won and 50,000 won. For details, call (02) 577-1987.

“The Devil”: An original Korean musical with a 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 casts 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. 

“Dracula”: One of the most anticipated musicals this season, “Dracula” raised the curtain on July 15 for its Korean premiere. With a score by Frank Wildhorn of “Jekyll & Hyde,” the musical is based on the original Victorian novel by Bram Stoker of the same title. Kim Jun-su, the hottest musical star in the scene, plays Count Dracula, who loves one woman for more than 1,000 years. Veteran actor Ryu Jung-han shares the role with Kim. It runs through Sept. 5 at Seoul Arts Center’s Opera House. Ticket prices range from 50,000 won to 140,000 won. For details, call (02) 580-1300.

“42nd Street”: The classic Broadway tap dance musical “42nd Street” is getting a Korean revival. Veteran actors and actresses Nam Jyung-joo, Kim Young-ho, Park Hae-min and Hong Ji-min have teamed up for the show, well known for its beautiful score and synchronized tap ensembles. It runs through Aug. 31 at CJ Towol Theater at Seoul Arts Center, southern Seoul. For tickets and inquiries, call (02) 580-1300.

“Priscilla”: A jukebox musical from Australia, “Priscilla” is getting a Korean premiere. Full of well-known pop songs like “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.

“Wicked”: A Korean rendition of Broadway hit 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 two are 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.

Festivals

Jangsu Hanurang Sagwarang Festival: This festival promotes popular agricultural products of Jangsu ― apples and hanwoo, Korean beef. The small town in North Jeolla Province with a population of 23,000 produces the country’s top-quality apples and beef. This year’s festival runs from Aug. 29-31 at Uiam Park and other venues throughout the town. Selected as one of the best festivals by North Jeolla’s provincial office, it provides diverse programs including apple and beef tasting, throwing apples at an Angry Birds figure, apple fishing and folk plays. Other highlights include camping on the grass in front of the Nongae Memorial House. Nongae was a Jangsu-born female entertainer who embraced a Japanese general and threw herself off a cliff with the general in 1593 during the Japanese invasion of Korea (1592-1598). For more information, visit www.jangsufestival.com (Korean only). 

Chungju World Martial Arts Festival: The 2014 edition of this annual martial arts festival will stage martial arts of Korean and foreign origins, including the traditional Korean martial arts taekkyeon, taekwondo and hapkido. Foreign martial arts teams will demonstrate their skills. Little-known martial arts will be introduced such as Brazilian capoeira, Russian sambo and Cambodian bokator. Officially sponsored by UNESCO, the festival will be held from Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 at the World Martial Arts Park in Chungju. For more information, visit www.martialarts.or.kr.

Yukuijeon Festival: The festival offers a chance to revisit the old market that flourished in Jongno and the adjacent Cheonggye area during the Joseon era. Yukuijeon were stores that sold six items including paper, linen, silk, cotton and fish. Organizers will set up stalls selling the six items on the streets in the area. Cultural programs including traditional performances and craftsmanship classes will add to the festive mood. Food stalls will delight visitors seeking Korean traditional tastes. The festival will be held from Sept. 20-21 along the Cheonggyecheon Stream. For more information, visit www.yukuijeon.com (Korean only).

Exhibitions

“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 Alberto Giacometti’s skeleton-like sculpture 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.

“Matrix: Mathematics ― Heart of Gold and the Abyss”: The exhibition commemorating the 2014 International Congress of Mathematicians in Seoul attempts to ease discomfort with math in an artistic way. For many, the thought of solving math problems doesn’t bring positive feelings but evokes memories of stress from agonizing over equations. Instead of equations and graphs, the exhibition “Matrix: Mathematics ― Heart of Gold and the Abyss” features artistic aspects of mathematics in the form of paintings, sculptures, design, media, sound and architecture. The 11 artworks by 15 artists seek to showcase the beauty of mathematics and its application to everyday life. The exhibition runs through Jan. 11, 2015. For more information, call (02) 3701-9500, or visit www.mmca.go.kr.

“Shinseon Play”: This outdoor summer cooling spot, installed in the front garden of the Seoul Museum of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea, is an architectural installation by Moon Ji Bang, a group of three architects that won the prestigious Young Architects Program run by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The installation is comprised of more than 30 white balloons which create shade in which visitors can rest while sitting on benches. A mist of water from sprinklers cools off the hot summer air in a forest of high-rise buildings. It is on exhibit until Oct. 5. For more information, visit www.mmca.go.kr.

“Edvard Munch and the Modern Soul”: This exhibition presents 99 works by Munch created in diverse mediums throughout his artistic career, ranging from oil paintings, drawings and lithographs to photographs. They include Munch’s most famous works: “The Scream,” “Madonna,” “The Dance of Life” and “Starry Night.” The exhibition will be a good chance to gain insight into the artist’s life. The panoramic view of his works shows how his style changed over the course of his career, highlighting his gift to express emotions and characters in symbolic images. The exhibition will run until Oct. 12 at Hangaram Museum in the Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 15,000 won for adults, 12,000 won for teenagers and 10,000 won for children under 12. For more information, visit www.munchseoul.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 being imprisoned for refusing to be a governor’s mistress during her husband’s absence. The show runs from Sept. 27 to 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.

“Prince Hodong”: The Korean National Ballet is slated to restage its production of “Prince Hodong,” an original work based on the traditional Korean tale “Princess Nakrang and Prince Hodong” ― a dramatic cultural tale of love, war and death. The ballet is a modernized retelling of the classic tale, combining elements of Western artistic culture with traditional Korean culture. “Prince Hodong” will be staged on Aug. 29 and 30 at the Sungnam Arts Center in Seoul. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“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 “Seventh Seven” score and the classic choreography of “The Right 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 to 19 at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera Theatre. Tickets range from 5,000 won to 80,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

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, 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 managed to launch themselves into the mainstream spotlight 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 for the show are listed as 77,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“John Legend: The All of Me Tour”: The globally recognized 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 the 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.