Pop music

“Sensation: Wicked Wonderland”: “Sensation” is a live music and performance event that was first developed in Amsterdam 13 years ago. Over the years the event, which has been referred to as “the biggest club on earth,” grew in popularity and has been brought all over the world to more than 30 countries and seen by millions. This year’s Sensation with the theme of “Wicked Wonderland” will be held on Nov. 30 at KINTEX in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province, from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online, with prices ranging from 99,000 won to 200,000 won. VIP packages are also available. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“2013 Psy Concert All Night Stand”: Psy will be ringing in the holiday season by holding a special four-day solo concert series in December. The upcoming performances will mark his first concert in Korea in nearly eight months after his globally broadcast “Happening” show in April, where he attracted around 45,000 concert goers and more than 130,000 fans who tuned in online for the live feed. The rapper has been busy this year promoting single “Gentleman,” which was also been nominated for the Video of the Year award at this year’s inaugural YouTube Music Awards. Psy’s special four-day solo concert series will be held from Dec. 20-22 and on Christmas Eve at Seoul Olympic Park’s Gymnastics Stadium. Tickets can be purchased online, with prices ranging from 77,000 won to 165,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“HotSechGodRG Concert: Legend Back”: The 90s are making a return with the project group HotSechGodRG holding its first concert next month. HotSechGodRG is a collaboration group made up of some of the country’s most popular pastime idols Moon Hee-jun and Tony An from H.O.T, Sechs Kies’ Eun Ji-won, g.o.d’s Danny Ahn, and NRG’s Cheon Myeong-hun. The group made its official debut through the release the group’s first music video ― a remake of NRG’s debut song “I Can Do It! ― back in May. The union of the 90s rivaling stars both shocked and excited fans who have now been offered a rare opportunity at taking a live stroll down memory lane. HotSechGodRG first concert will be held on Dec. 24 and 25 at Central City Millennium Hall in Seoul. Tickets are 132,000 won and can be purchased online. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.

“James Blake: Live in Seoul”: James Blake is young singer-songwriter and producer from London whose critically acclaimed eponymous debut album was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2011. Blake released his second studio album titled “Overgrown” earlier this year and it went on to win the 2013 Mercury Prize, surprisingly beating out heavy favorites including the legendary David Bowie. The album was ranked at the top of the U.S. Dance/Electronic Albums Chart and no. 8 of the U.K. Albums Chart. Blake will be performing live in Seoul on Jan. 19 at the Uniqlo AX Hall. Tickets can be purchased online, with prices listed at 88,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3141-3488 or visit www.interpark.com.


Dance

“Into Thin Air”: Israeli choreographer Idit Herman is presenting “Into Thin Air,” a collaborative project with the Korea National Contemporary Dance Company. Featuring a total of nine dancers, the piece was inspired by each artist’s personal experiences. The show runs from Nov. 22 to 24 at CJ Towol Theater of Seoul Arts Center. The featured dancers are: Kim Dong-hyun, Cho Hyun-bae, Ji Kyung-min, Park Seong-hyeon, Lee Hye-sang, Park Myung-hoon, Kim Ho-yeon, Lee So-jin, and Choi Min-seon. Tickets range from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3472-1420 or visit www.kncdc.kr.

“Mother”: Dance Company DTS Ballet is presenting their oldest repertoire, “Mother,” in celebration of their 10-year anniversary. The dance, featuring a mother’s unconditional love and sacrifice, premiered in 2003 as the troupe’s first performance shortly after being founded. Koh Young-hee, a North Korean defector who was a principal dancer for a Pyongyang-based troupe, will join this year’s performance. Koh’s mother and choreographer Bae Geum-ee are said to have been taught by Korea’s legendary modern dancer Choi Seung-hee (1911-1967). The show runs on Nov. 22 and 23 at Arko Arts Theater in Daehangno, Seoul. All tickets cost 20,000 won. For more information, visit www.dts-ballet.com or call 010-3262-4802.

“Schwanengesang”: Local troupe Lee Tae Sang Dance Project is presenting “Schwanengesang,” a dance that deals with young victims of sex abuse. Choreographer Lee’s works have been featured at the International Munchen Festival in Germany, International Kontakt Budapest Dance Festival in Hungary and ImpulsTANZ Vienna Dance Festival in Austria. “Schwanengesang” runs from Nov. 29 to 30 at Gangdong Arts Center in Seoul. All tickets cost 30,000 won. For more information, email ballet0639@hotmail.com.

“The Nutcracker”: Korea’s Universal Ballet Company is getting ready to treat its fans to its popular rendition of “The Nutcracker.” First performed by UBC in 1986, the show is based on 19th-century German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann’s version of the story and French ballet choreographer Marius Petipa’s dance. UBC has cast some 10 of its finest dancers, including principal dancers Hwang Hye-min and Eom Jae-yong. The show, which tells the story of a young girl’s favorite Christmas toy coming alive and whisking her away to a magical kingdom, is one of Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet compositions along with “Swan Lake” and “Sleeping Beauty.” The show runs from Dec. 20-31 at Universal Art Center in Neung-dong, eastern Seoul. Tickets range from 10,000 won to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.uac.co.kr.

Classical music

“Carmen”: The Goyang Cultural Foundation will feature Bizet’s “Carmen” with an all-Korean cast and crew through Dec. 1 at the Goyang Aram Nuri. Accomplished director Yang Jung-ung will lead a group of equally noted singers including mezzo soprano Kim Jung-mi as Carmen and tenor Na Seung-seo as Don Jose. The opera, composed by Bizet, follows the tragic but passionate love story between fiery gypsy Carmen and nave soldier Don Jose. Seats for the 170 minute-performance are priced between 20,000 won and 80,000 won. For more information call 1577-7766.

“Choral”: Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s all-time popular repertoire, Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 “Choral,” will be staged on Dec. 27-28 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. SPO Art Director Chung Myung-whun will take the barton leading the National Chorus of Korea, Seoul Motet Choir, and Anyang Civic Chorale, too. All seats are sold out but the SPO is opening the choir seats to those who want to enjoy the grandeur of the music. For more information, call (02) 3700-6334. 

“Fantasy for Two”: Up and coming violinist Clara-Jumi Kang and pianist Son Yeol-eum will perform in seven cities around the country starting Dec. 7 at Seoul Arts Center. The duo will continue at Suncheon Cultural Center on Dec. 9; Geoje Arts Center on Dec. 10; Nowon Arts Center on Dec. 12; Bupyeong Arts Center on Dec. 13; Ansan Arts Center on Dec. 14 and HHI Culture and Arts Center in Ulsan on Dec. 16. They will perform Mozart’s Violin Sonata No.27; Schubert’s Fantasia for Violin and Piano in D major; Prokofiev’s Violin Sonata No.1 in F minor and Hubay’s “Carmen Fantasie Brillante.” For reservation, visit www.interpark.com and for more information about the concerts call (02) 318-4301.

“Mischa Maisky with Seoul Philharmonic”: Famed cellist Mischa Maisky will be back on the Korean stage with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on Dec. 11 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. They will perform Max Bruch’s “Kol Nidrei for violin and Orchestra,” Saint Saens’ Cello Concerto No.1; and Dvorak’s Cello Concerto. The orchestra will be led by the SPO’s vice-conductor Sung Si-yeon. The Jewish-Latvian cellist gained international stardom, winning various competitions throughout the 1960s and ’70s. In 1972, he settled in Israel and has since trotted around the world to share his love for music ― with or without the best orchestras at the best concert halls ― and has released numerous bestselling records including the Bach suites. Seats are priced between 50,000 won and 150,000 won and the show begins at 8 p.m. For more information, call (02) 599-5743.

Theater

“Space Chicken Opera”: Local troupe Dugonga is presenting “Space Chicken Opera,” a play that deals with vegetarianism in a humorous way. The piece is set in the future, where eating meat is prohibited in every country on earth. Its plot develops as a spaceship arrives with boxes filled with chicken wings to sell. “Space Chicken Opera” runs from Dec. 17 to 29 at Daehangno Areumdaun Theater in Daehangno, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 822-5707.

“Music Show Wedding”: Popular musical producer Song Seung-hwan, whose 1997 nonverbal piece “Nanta” became a global hit, has returned with another foreigner-friendly work. Titled “Wedding,” Song’s latest musical is also nonverbal; its actors and actresses sing, dance, act and play more than 20 musical instruments. The one-of-a-kind performance is specifically designed to draw foreign audiences. The show is a comical theatrical portrait of an ordinary Korean wedding, where the bride’s father isn’t particularly fond of his future son-in-law. Song follows the groom’s hilarious efforts to impress his father-in-law prior to the wedding ceremony, mixed with rhythmic music and dance. “Wedding” runs until Dec. 31 at Music Show Wedding Theater in Hongdae area in Seoul. For tickets and information, call (02) 739-8288. 

“Wicked”: After playing an unhappy Austrian empress (Elisabeth) and a mysterious, obsessive housekeeper (Rebecca), musical actress Oak Ju-hyun has now been cast to play the famous green-skinned witch in Broadway musical “Wicked.” The upcoming run, featuring an all-Korean cast, is the first Korean-language edition of the musical. The musical tells the story of two very different witches in the Land of Oz ― green-skinned, struggling and often-alienated Elphaba and beautiful and popular blonde Glinda. The show is a ravishing spectacle and fantasy, mixed with a touching account of one’s experience of a difficult youth, life-changing friendship and growing up. “Wicked” will open on Nov. 22 at Charlotte Theater in Jamsil, southern Seoul. Tickets range from 60,000 won to 140,000 won. For more information, call 1577-3363.

Exhibitions

“Dream Blossom”: Opera Gallery Seoul presents an exhibition by Korean and French artists currently in the spotlight for their portrayal of beautiful trees. The gallery’s fourth exhibition of the year showcases pine tree sculptures by Lee Gil-rae and imaginative, colorful paintings by Jean Francois Larrieu under the title “Dream Blossom” from Thursday to Dec. 31. Opera Gallery Seoul is located on Dosan Boulevard, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. For more information, call (02) 3446-0070.

“Engrave”: Artist Kang Hyung-koo presents new portraits, clay sculptures and drawings in a solo exhibition at Arario Gallery Seoul until Dec. 20. The highlight of the exhibition includes portraits of Western and Asian cultural icons such as Korean artist Yun Du-suh from the Joseon period, Leonardo Da Vinci, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe. Kang also presents clay sculptures of Auguste Rodin, Vincent Van Gogh and Marilyn Monroe and dozens of caricature-style pencil drawings of famous figures, including Abraham Lincoln, Marilyn Monroe, Auguste Rodin and Mahatma Gandhi, which give a hint of his working process that leads to the completed portrait. For more information, call (02) 571-5701.

“Jesus and Deaf Lamb”: One of the most famous biblical scenes ― baby Jesus in the arms of Mary surrounded by Wise Men from the East ― doesn’t feature the usual Western biblical representation in the late artist Woonbo Kim Ki-chang’s Jesus paintings. At a thatched-roof house, home for commoners in the Joseon period (1392-1910), Jesus appears as a happy child in the arms of Mary, wearing a rainbow-striped jeogori ― the traditional Korean children’s jacket. The Eastern Wise Men worshipping the newborn are dressed in official robes of Joseon ministers. Such paintings interpreting Jesus in Korean culture are on view at Seoul Museum’s “Jesus and Deaf Lamb” exhibition that marks the centennial birthday of the artist Kim Ki-chang (1914-2001) at Seoul Museum in Buam-dong, Jongno, Seoul, until Jan. 19, 2014. For more information, call (02) 395-0100 or visit www.seoulmuseum.org.

“Video Vintage”: An extensive video art collection is on exhibit at the Gwacheon Museum of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea. A total of 72 video works that date from the early 1960s to 1980s examine the birth of video art, its expansion into other media in art and connection with the television era. Highlights include “Button Happening” by Nam June Paik, “The New Wave” by Fred Barzyk, “The Eternal Frame” by ANT FARM and T.R. Uthco. The exhibition continues through Dec. 31. For more information, visit www.mmca.go.kr.

Festivals

“Pyeongchang Trout Festival”: The annual trout fishing event will be held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, known as one of the coldest regions with record snowfalls in Korea. The Pyeongchang Trout Festival invites visitors to try trout ice fishing and a variety of folk and snow spots activities such as riding on four-wheel ATVs on the ice, snow rafting and sleigh trains. The festival will be held from Dec. 20 to Feb. 2, 2014, at Oedaecheon Stream, located in front of Jinbu Bus Terminal. For more information, visit festival700.or.kr (only in Korean), or call (033) 336-4000.

“Boseong Green Tea Light Festival”: A light festival will take place at the famous tea plantation in Boseong, South Jeolla Province, from Dec. 13 to Feb. 2, 2014. The vast tea plantation will be decorated with thousands of colorful light bulbs. One of the highlights of the winter light festival is the 120-meter-high “Millennium Tree,” decorated with more than 100,000 lights, which made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records in 2000. The lights will go on from 5:30 p.m. to midnight every day. Admission is free. An opening ceremony will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 in Yeongcheon-ri, followed by an event that will invite visitors to walk through a long light tunnel. For more information, call (061) 850-5211.

“The Garden of Morning Calm Chrysanthemum Exhibition”: More than 300 kinds of chrysanthemum are on view in the 33,000-square-meter outdoor Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province. The garden is designed to reflect the beauty of a traditional Korean garden in harmony with its surrounding nature. The exhibition ends Nov. 30. For more information, call (031) 584-6701 or visit www.morningcalm.co.kr.