Australian production receives standing ovation for the first Seoul show Some 1,700 people, many dressed in “witch-like” green and black, packed Seoul’s major musical theater venue on Thursday night. The huge crowd was in attendance of the opening night of “Wicked” in Seoul, one of the most highly anticipated musicals this year. The show is another ambitious project by musical production house ...

Also planning to take to the stage are Beady Eye, Elvis Costello and the Imposters, James Blake, Nell, Apollo18, the Black Skirts and Hollow Jan. Tickets run at 250,000 won for a 3-day pass and 150,000 won for a one-day pass at the gate. Starting May 30, there will be 1,000 one-day tickets available for 130,000 won. Official internet booking starts on June 5 and three-day tickets are 225,000 won...

Theater “La Cage aux Folles”: Award-winning musical star Jung Sung-hwa (“Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Hero: the Musical”) is returning as a gay man in the first Korean run of the 1983 Broadway musical “La Cage aux Folles.” The six-time Tony Award-winning musical pivots around the story of gay couple Georges, who owns a nightclub called “La Cage aux Folles,” and Albin, the star drag queen of his p...

Spektor charms despite missteps on new CD Regina Spektor “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats” (Sire/Warner) From the opening moment of “What We Saw from the Cheap Seats,” Regina Spektor enchants. On the first song, “Small Town Moon,” her beautiful vocal range is buoyed by rock-heavy interludes and coupled with uplifting lyrics that give the song a surprising amount of depth. But there are a co...

U.S. star to kick off world tour in Korea’s Busan, Nami Island U.S. singer-songwriter Jason Mraz has chosen Korea to kick off his world tour this year, joining a growing number of world stars including Lady Gaga, who launch their concert tours or world premieres here. Indeed, Korea has long been considered a test-bed for foreign artists and companies making inroads into Asia. Yet, Mraz says he’...

25-year-old pianist explores the life of Beethoven by recording his 30 sonatas in a debut album The country’s classical music scene was surprised at first when EMI Classics, a major record label, signed an exclusive recording contract with young pianist Lim Hyun-jeong, a first for a Korean artist since pianist Lim Dong-hyek did so 10 years ago. Lim, now backed by the full-fledged support from t...

For those who reminisce on the good old ’70s and ’80s, a festival sure to conjure up old memories and exhibit the culture of the time is to be held next month. The music festival “Arirang Fest,” themed around the music of the ’70s and ’80s and makgeolli, one of Korea’s favorite alcoholic beverages, will be held for the first time from June 8-10 at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. Well-known ...

Pop singer Justin Bieber is being investigated for battery after allegedly hitting a paparazzo who tried to take pictures of him, California authorities said. The incident happened Sunday afternoon outside the Calabasas mall The Commons, TMZ.com reported. Police said Bieber and his girlfriend Selena Gomez were leaving the mall when a photographer, whose name was not reported, attempted to take ...

Versatile classical music artist Caroline Fischer says she wishes to collaborate with K-pop stars For Caroline Fischer, an acclaimed pianist born to a Korean mother and a German father, being biracial is something she feels proud of. The classical musician has been travelling around the world promoting the cultures of both countries and, more importantly, bridging them. “I am very proud of bei...

Local scene gets busy, with major shows to hit Seoul The long, hot and humid summer may not be favored by everyone in Seoul, but some are excited by the seasons’ arrival. Local musical fans would certainly be among them. Three of the most anticipated shows of the year are finally going onstage in Seoul this summer ― all for their first runs ― to the delight of the musical goers here. This Thu...