Classical Concerts

Opera ‘Arang’
Myeongdong Theater
June 26-27

“Arang,” the winning piece in the Korea National Opera’s scriptwriting contest, will be staged. It is a moving story about redemption that revolves around the spirit of a young girl who has been raped and killed. The mini opera, running an hour-long, will offer a unique mix of traditional Korean music and Western-style opera. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call 1644-2003. Located near exit 6 of Euljiro 1-ga Station on subway line 2 or exit 6 of Myeongdong Station on line 4.

Talk & Concert
Recital Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
June 19

The Seoul Arts Center has invited gifted pianist and composer Yiruma to hold a special concert with his personal stories through conversation with famous Korean announcer couple Son Bum-soo and his wife Jin Yang-hye. The program includes Yiruma’s hit songs ”May Be,” ”Kiss the Rain,” ”River Flows In You” and more. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information call (02) 580-1408.

The Russian Night
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
June 20

Korea W Philharmonic is offering a concert with conductor Kim Nam-yoon and Kim Hye-ryun, a dynamic pianist who is prasied for her deep understanding of her repertoire. The program includes ”Festive Overture in A major, Op.64,” ”Piano Concerto No.2 in G minor, Op.16,” and ”Symphony No.5 in E minor, Op.64.” Tickets cost from 22,000 to 77,000 won. For more information visit www.koreaphil.or.kr.

Julius & Friends 5
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
June 27
Pianist Julius Jeong-won Kim will offer the fifth edition of his annual chamber concert, which has sold out for four consecutive years. Pianist Peter Jablonski, who has a staunch fan base in Korea, will join the group for Mozart’s “Piano Sonata for Four Hands in C major, K.521” among others. Tickets cost from 55,000 won to 99,000 won. For more information, visit stompmusic.com or call 1588-7890.

Dmitri Berlinsky with Boris Slutsky
Youngsan Art Hall
June 24

Violinist Dmitri Berlinsky will hold a concert with pianist Boris Slutsky and Lee Jung-wha, his student who teaches at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. The program includes Beethoven’s “Sonata No. 5 ’Spring,’” Prokofiev’s “Sonata No. 2 in D major, Op. 94a,” Ravel’s “Tzigane” and more. Tickets cost 50,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 586-0945. Located near exit 1 of Yeoinaru Station line 5.

Schumann’s 200th Anniversary Series 1
Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center*
June 26

A vocal performance will be held in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Robert Schuman, featuring songs inspired by the love story between the composer and his wife, pianist Clara. Soprano Jang Hyun-joo, a professor at Yonsei University, and Kim Sae-il, the winning tenor from the 8th International Lied Competition of the Japan Schubert Society, will sing duets including “Liebhabers Staendchen, Op. 34-2” and “Tanzlied, Op. 78-1.” Tickets cost 20,000 won to 30,000.

Duo Recital
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
June 26
As part of the 2010 Ditto Festival, rising star cellist Gautier Capucon and gifted pianist Lim Dong-hyuk will team up to play the works of Chopin and Rachmaninov with their overflowing sensitivity and charisma. Tickets cost 30,000 won to 70,000 won. For more information visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555.

The Very Best
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
June 27

Cellist Gautier Capucon, a top recording artist for Virgin Classics, will team up with “the Paganini of the trumpet” Sergei Nakariakov. Conductor Adriel Kim, who is known as “a young maestro chosen by Panula,” will work with the two soloists. Tickets costs from 30,000 won to 70,000. For more information, call (02) 580-1300

2010 To Know, To Love
Youngsan Art Hall
June 18

Dukyoung Organization is holding a concert in the hopes of embracing Korea’s multicultural community. The Dukyoung Trio will perform Dvorak’s “Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor, Op. 90 ‘Dumdy’”; Ensemble Rhythmico will offer “Holy Mozart” and “Mozart at the Opera”; and the Rainbow Korea Chorus will sing Korean traditional songs. Tickets cost 30,000 won to 50,000 won. Call (02)586-0945. Located near exit 1 of Yeoinaru Station line 5.

Opera ’Don Pasquale’
M Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts*
June 23-27

The Seoul Metropolitan Opera will bring Donizetti’s comic opera “Don Pasquale” to the stage. The opera tells the story of an old bachelor Don Pasquale, who wants to marry in order to disinherit his rebellious nephew Ernesto. Tickets cost 10,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555.

Sweet Yawning
Sowol Art Hall
Through June 28

The Sookmyung Gayageum Orchestra presents a concert specially designed to facilitate prenatal education. The concert will feature modern versions of traditional music used for prenatal education in the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910). All tickets cost 15,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 701-4879. Located near exit 9 of Wangsimni Station on subway lines 2 and 5.

Big Tickets

A Night at the Opera
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center
July 16

Soprano Hong Hei-kyung and tenor Kim Woo-kyung, the first Asian singers to play lead roles at the New York Metropolitan Opera, will perform operatic jewels including Mozart’s ‘’Deh vieni, non tardar” from “Le Nozze Di Figaro,” Gounod’s “Je veux vivre” from “Romeo and Juliette,” Puccini’s “Mi chaiamano Mimi” from “La Boheme” and Verdi’s “Ah, la paterna mano” from “Macbeth.” Tickets cost 30,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, visit wenetwork.net or call (02) 516-1555.

Chang Han-na’s ‘Absolute Classic’
Seongnam Arts Center *
Aug. 14-28

Cello virtuoso and debutant conductor Chang Han-na will hold the 2010 season of “Absolute Classic,” an international music festival for youths. This year, her teacher, world famous Maestro Lorin Maazel, will participate in the event. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, call (02) 2232-1148.

Joshua Bell & St. Martin in the Fields
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
June 22

American Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell will appear with the English chamber orchestra The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. This concert will mark the beginning of the annual classical event 2010 Ditto Festival. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 160,000 won. For more information, call 1577-5266.

Opera ‘Carmen’
Opera Theater, Seoul Arts Center *
July 3-7

The Beseto Opera will stage Bizet’s popular opera “Carmen” as part of the 1st Korea Opera Festival. Mezzo-sopranos Choi Seung-hyeon from Korea and Galia Ibragimova from the Czech Republic will play Caremn. Co-produced with the Prague State Opera, this rendition was shown in the Czech Republic. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 200,000 won. Call (02) 3476-6224.

Museums

Rodin: Retrospective
Seoul Museum of Art
Through Aug. 22

More than 180 sculptures and watercolor sketches will be on show at Korea’s largest ever Auguste Rodin exhibition. Admission is 12,000 won, for more information visit www.rodinseoul.com. Located behind Deoksugung Palace near City Hall Station on subway lines 1 and 2.

The Pulitzer Prize Picture Exhibition
Hangaram Design Museum, Seoul Arts Center*
June 22-August 29

Over 100 pictures that won the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Prize of the media world, are on display. The photographs tell stories in history and everyday life reflecting happiness, anger, sadness and joy by capturing critical moments . Tickets cost from 6,000 won to 10,000. For more information, visit pulitzerkorea.com.

White Porcelain Jars: Embracing the Joseon Ideals and Rituals
Fine Arts Gallery II, National Museum of Korea
Through Nov. 14

The exhibition is designed to show off the unique features of the Joseon ceramics through its jars. Such jars as placenta jar, burial ware and jar with dragon motif were created for specific purposes with the unique culture and the aesthetic of the Joseon royal family at work only within the court. Located at Ichon Station on subway line 4, exit 2.

Pop & Jazz

The King’s Singers in Seoul
Concert Hall, Seoul Arts Center*
June 30

The world famous British a cappella vocal ensemble ― composed of six members ― has more than 2000 songs in their repertoire. They will present new arrangements by the members and other well-known contemporary composers. Tickets cost 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information call (02) 2650-7481.

2010 Bobby Kim Tour Concert
Incheon Culture & Arts Center
July 11
Bobby Kim is holding a nationwide tour with a stopover in Incheon. The rapper/singer will offer songs from his three solo albums as well as tracks by other artists. Tickets cost from 55,000 won to 88,000 won. Call (032) 322-1544. To get there, transfer to Incheon Metro at Bupyeong Station on line 1, and get off at Incheon Culture & Arts Center Station Gate, exits 6 and 7.

Vibe: Vibe in Praha
Olympic Hall, Olympic Park*
June 18,19

Popular R&B duo Vibe is holding a promotional concert for it’s 4th Album “Vibe in Praha.” All four new songs on the album as well as the group’s hit songs will be performed. Tickets cost from 44,000 won to 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3485-8700.

Summer IS+land
Amphitheater, Yonsei Culture and Art Center
July 24

Korea’s top pop artists SG Wannabe, MC Mong, Min Kyung-hoon, Shin Jung-hwan and Maybe will hold a joint concert. Each singer will not only have his/her own stage, but also work with other participating artists to add more excitement to the show. Tickets cost 55,000 to 66,000 won. For more information, call 1544-1555. Located near exits 3 and 4 of Sinchon Station on subway line 2.

Dance

Baby: Battle B-boy
Hongdae B-boy Theater
Open run

This energetic break dance show will offer lots to watch with a great story. An unskilled B-boy, Han, is an outcast in his team. But one day, his life changes when he learns Korean traditional dance from a lovely young girl. Tickets cost 30,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 323-5233. Located near exit 5 of Hongik University station line number 2.

Legend of Flower
Sheraton Grande Walkerhill, Walkerhill Theatre
Open Run

Experience both traditional and modern music through this dance production. The performance will feature four acts under the themes “Flower,” “Water and Fire,” “Wind” and “Golden Earth.” Tickets cost from 60,000 to 300,000 won, including dinner. Visit www.legendofflower.com. To get there, take the free shuttle bus at Gangbyeon Station, line 2, or Gwangnaru Station, line 5.

Plays & Musicals

Rainman
Doosan Art Center
Through June 27

Based on the movie of the same name. Selfish Charlie Babbit’s father left a fortune to his autistic older brother Raymond and they go on a journey in which Charlie unexpectedly discovers a love for his family he never knew he had. Tickets cost 20,000 to 60,000 won. Call (02) 708-5001. Located near exit 1 of Jongno 5 Ga station on subway line 1.

Brothers Were Brave
Coex Artium
Through June 20

The Korean musical is about two brothers Suk-bong and Ju-bong trying to receive their deceased father’s inheritance. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 80,000 won. Call (02) 738-8289. Located near exit 6 of Samseong Station on subway line 2.

The Phantom of the Opera
Charlotte Theater
Through Aug. 8

This Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is one of the world’s best-selling Broadway hits and has prompted huge growth in the Korean musical industry. The show, featuring a dark love triangle, has returned to Seoul after eight years. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 130,000 won. Call (02) 501-7888. Located near exit 3 of Jamsil Station on subway lines 2 and 8.

Billy Elliot
LG Arts Center*
Aug. 13- Open Run

“Billy Elliot” will be staged in Korea as the first non-English production in Asia. In England during the historic 1984-85 miners’ strike, a young boy Billy pursues his dream to become a ballerino in secret. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 130,000 won. Call (02) 3446-9630.

The Mission
Grand Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Through July 6

Based on the original screenplay by Robert Bolt and music by Andrea and Ennio Morricone, “The Mission” is set in South America and depicts the journey of Catholic Jesuit priests in converting the indigenous Guarani population in Paraguay. Tickets cost from 60,000 to 200,000 won. Call (02) 525-1621.

All Shook Up
Hanjeon Art Center
Through June 20

The Korean version of the Broadway jukebox musical “All Shook Up” which was inspired by the hit songs of Elvis Presley, is on stage at Hanjeon Art Center. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 90,000 won. Call 1588-5212. Located near exit 1 of Yangjae Station on subway line 3.

A Chorus Line
COEX Artium
June 26-Aug. 22

A Korean rendition of the award-winning Broadway musical “A Chorus Line” will be produced in collaboration with the original creative team. It will be directed and choreographed by Baayork Lee with a cast of local musical actors. Tickets cost from 60,000 won to 100,000 won. Visit www.achorusline.co.kr or call (02) 747-5811. Located near exit 6 of Samseong Station on subway line 2.