2021 Aug. 10 Ticket

A Midsummer Night's Dream | Spiritual Reflections: Stephen Kim | Billy Elliot | Disney in Concert| Clara-Jumi Kang & Kim Sun-wook's Beethoven Complete Violin Sonatas | Blue Concert with Nada | Quinteto Astor Piazzolla | Marie Antoinette | Hedwig |

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM CJ Azit Gwangheungchang

Mixed pop band Yeven performs its debut concert at CJ Azit Gwangheungchang last year after releasing its debut album ″Six Colors of Night.″ [CJ CULTURAL FOUNDATION]

Aug. 14:The CJ Cultural Foundation has organized a special concert to introduce two relatively new bands: The Blowers and Yeven. The two groups will be sharing the stage together this weekend at the CJ Azit Gwangheungchang in Mapo district, western Seoul. They will both present songs they wrote about summer, nature and their dreams. Both groups, composed of members who study music at UC Berkeley, have been supported by the CJ Cultural Foundation.

The Blowers was created in 2020 by keyboard player Han Yu-jin. Han does all the songwriting and producing and invites different musicians to perform with her. For the upcoming performance, she’ll be inviting five other artists — drummer Song Da-bin, bassist Park Ji-on, guitarists Jeon Hye-jeong and Jeong Hee-jeong, and vocalist Park Eun-ji.

Yeven is a six-member mixed pop band that create a spectrum of music from standard jazz to fusion and pop. Keyboard player Eun Jeong-ah leads the band. Yeven released its debut album “Six Colors of Night” last year.

The concert begins at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost 15,000 won ($13).

Gwangheungchang Station, line No. 6, exit 5

SPIRITUAL REFLECTIONS: STEPHEN KIM Seoul Arts Center, Recital Hall

Aug. 22: Violinist Stephen Kim, who has been gaining international recognition since winning the third prize at the 2019 Queen Elizabeth International Violin Competition, will be holding his first recital at the Seoul Arts Center. The recital is being organized as part of Sejong Soloists, a project that introduces young and rising solo artists in Korea.

The violinist has drawn up the program himself to capture his very personal thoughts.

The program includes Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber’s “Passacaglia in G minor for violin solo from the Rosary Sonatas (Feast of the Guardian Angels),” Shinuh Lee’s “Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano, ‘Till Dawn,’” which is having its world premiere, followed by Eugène Ysaÿe’s “Sonata No. 5 in G major for solo violin, Op. 27 No. 5.”

The recital begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets cost 50,000 won.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

BILLY ELLIOT D-Cube Arts Center

Aug. 31 – Feb. 2, 2022: “Billy Elliot” is back.

The story takes place in the 1980s, during a coal miners’ strike in Northern England. Billy happens to stumble across ballet during one of his boxing classes, and his life is changed forever after he discovers his love, and talent, for dance.

“Billy Elliot” is a heartwarming and humorous story about a young boy and his family trying to fulfill their dreams through music and choreography.

The kids who have been cast to alternate the role of Billy are, Kim Shi-hoon, Lee Woo-jin, Jeong Kang-hyuk and Joo Hyun-joon.

Ticket prices range from 60,000 to 150,000 won.

The show starts at 8 p.m. on weekdays, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends.

Sindorim Station, lines No. 1 and 2, exit 1 or 5

DISNEY IN CONCERT: A DREAM IS A WISH Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater

Sept. 2 – 3: Since its Korean premiere in 2014, “Disney in Concert” has been continuously gaining popularity. Children attend the concerts dressed in their favorite Disney characters' costumes, making it an annual ritual. For the upcoming concert, Disney classics, "The Little Mermaid," "Cinderella," "Beauty and the Beast," "Lion King" as well as "Frozen" and "Frozen 2" will be performed accompanied by the Ditto Orchestra.

A new number “Speechless” in "Aladdin" will be performed for the first time by foreign singers for “Disney in Concert,” heightening the anticipation of the regular “Disney in Concert” fans.

Admission is not allowed for children below 48 months.

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. on both days.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won.

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

CLARA-JUMI KANG & KIM SUN-WOOK’S BEETHOVEN COMPLETE VIOLIN SONATAS Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall

Sept. 12, 14 and 15: Violinist Clara-Jumi Kang, who recently challenged herself by recording Bach's "Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin" (BWV 1001-1006), is preparing for another challenge. This time she'll perform Beethoven’s complete violin sonatas with pianist Kim Sun-wook.

The two artists recorded the album together last year to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. The album will also drop in September.

On Sept. 12, the two artists will perform No.s 1, 4, 8, and 7, followed by No.s 6, 3, and 9 (Kreutzer) on Sept. 14. On the final day of the concert on Sept. 15, they will perform No. 5 (Spring) and No.s 2 and 10.

The concert begins at 5 p.m. on Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 and 15.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 110,000 won.

Nambu Bus Terminal Station, line No. 3, exit 5

BLUE CONCERT WITH NADA Unplugged Hongdae

Korean rapper Nada [WORLD STAR ENTERTAINMENT]

Sept. 25: Rapper Nada is gearing up for a concert for a good cause.

Nada will not only be performing her new single “Spicy” but also her hit songs like “Trippin’,” “Ride,” “Dozer,” and “My Body” among many others.

Proceeds from the concert organized together with PG& Pictures, will go to the Children’s Cancer Foundation.

The concert begins at 4 p.m. and at 7 p.m.

Tickets cost 77,000 won.

Hongik University Station, line No. 2, exit 6

QUINTETO ASTOR PIAZZOLLA Lotte Concert Hall

Sept. 28: Latin Grammy-winner Quinteto Astor Piazzolla will be visiting Korea for a concert next month. The quintet had its Korean debut two years ago when it visited the country in celebration of Astor Piazzolla's 100th birthday.

The upcoming concert is a part of the quintet's international tour which started in Columbia before making stops in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy before making its ways to Korea.

The program includes toe-tapping tango music such as “Biyuya,” “Celos,” “Fuga y Misterio,” “Milonga Loca,” “La Muerte del Angel” among many others.

The concert begins at 8 p.m.

The ticket ranges from 50,000 won to 150,000 won.

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 1 or 2

MARIE ANTOINETTE Charlotte Theater

Through Oct. 3:The Korean production of the hit musical Marie Antoinette is being staged at the Charlotte Theater in Jamsil, southern Seoul.

The musical tells the story of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, but some fictional characters have been included, like Margrid Arnaud, to add more drama to the life of the queen who was put to death by guillotine.

The nearly three-hour-long performance takes place in several settings, from the Palace of Versailles to Tuileries Garden to the Marais district, and the show will jump from place to place by using a revolving stage.

Musical actor Kim So-hyun again has been cast in the role of Marie Antoinette. Kim So-hyang will alternate as the queen.

Kim Yeon-ji and Jung Yu-ji have been cast to play the role of Margrid, who begs for money on the street but later becomes a revolutionary leader.

The male protagonist Fersen will be alternated by four actors — Min Woo-hyuk, Lee Seok-hoon, Lee Chang-sub, and Kim Do-young.

The show starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and national holidays, and 3 p.m. on Sundays.

With toughened social distancing rules, 3 p.m. shows have been moved up to 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in July.

There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 70,000 won to 150,000 won.

Jamsil Station, lines No. 2 and No. 8, exit 3

HEDWIG Chungmu Arts Center

The Korean production of a hit musical ″Hedwig″ is being staged at the Chungmu Arts Center in central Seoul, featuring star actors who alternate the role of Hedwig including Jo Seung-woo, above. [SHOWNOTE]

Through Oct. 31:A dynamic mix of rock music and monologue, this eight-time Tony-nominated musical follows the life of a band called The Angry Inch. The Korean production of the musical premiered in 2005.

The story revolves around a boy named Hansel living in East Germany in 1988.

One day, a U.S. lieutenant proposes to marry Hansel if he changes his gender to female. Hansel eventually decides to adopt the name Hedwig and undergoes a sex change operation, but it fails. He flies to Kansas only to find that he has been dumped.

Undeterred, Hedwig starts wearing wigs and makeup, forms a band called The Angry Inch and becomes a rock star.

The Korean production of this popular musical features musical performers Oh Man-seok, Jo Seung-woo, Lee Kyu-hyung, Go Eun-sung, and Ren from K-pop boy band Nu’est, who alternate in the main role.

Tickets range from 55,000 won to 110,000 won.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. There are no shows on Mondays.

Sindang Station, line No. 6, exit 9

*Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]