2023 Jan. 5 Ticket

Seoul Philharmonic New Year's Concert | Jesus Christ Superstar | Dracula: The Musical | Kim Jae-joong Asia Tour Concert | Vienna Boys Choir | Red | Matilda | Hero | Sweeney Todd |

SEOUL PHILHARMONIC NEW YEAR’S CONCERTSejong Centers for the Performing Arts, Grand Theater

The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will perform its New Year's Concert on Jan. 5. [SPO]

Jan. 5:The Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra is gearing up to present a New Year’s concert under the baton of maestro Gerrit Prießnitz. The concert is titled Waltzes and Polkas.”

The program includes Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Der Zigeunerbaron Overture,” “Pizzicato Polka,” “Kaiserwalzer - Walzer Op. 437,” “Im Sturmschritt – Polka schnell Op. 348,” “Auf der Jagd - Polka schnell Op. 373” and “Rosen aus dem Suden - Walzer Op. 388” as well as Josef Strauss's, “Brennende Liebe – Polka Mazur Op. 129,” “Polka Francaise Op. 57” and “Delirien Walzer Op. 212.”

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets cost 10,000 won ($7.85).

Gwanghwamun Station, line No. 5, exit 8

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTARKwanglim Arts Center, BBCH HallThrough Jan. 15: The Korean production of the hit rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” written by renowned composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice in 1970 is back with Michael Lee and Lim Tae-kyung starring as Jesus. The show is loosely based on the life of Jesus Christ and his relationships with the people around him during the weeks before his crucifixion.

Tickets range from 60,000 won to 150,000 won.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, at 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends and public holidays.

Apgujeong Station, line No. 3, exit 4

DRACULA: THE MUSICALOlympic Park, Woori Art HallThrough Jan. 15: Based on the 1897 novel “Dracula” by Irish author Bram Stoker, the musical revolves around Count Dracula who has been living alone for 400 years after losing the love of his life. One day Count Dracula falls in love with Mina Murray, the fiancée of a young lawyer named Jonathan Harker.

The Intertwined love story of the three — Count Dracula, Mina and Jonathan — unfolds against the backdrop of a Gothic castle.

The Korean production of the musical premiered locally in 1998. For the upcoming production, actor Ahn Jae-wook and singers Jung Dong-ha, Shin Seong-woo and Tei will alternate the role of Dracula.

Tickets range from 80,000 won to 150,000 won.

Tickets will go on sale on Oct. 17.

Olympic Park Station, line No. 5 and 9, exit 3

KIM JAE JOONG ASIA TOUR CONCERT COEX Shinhan Card Artium

The poster for Kim Jae-joong's upcoming concert in Seoul. [C-JES ENTERTAINMENT]

Jan. 28 – 29:Singer Kim Jae-joong is holding a two-day concert in Seoul, titled “J-Party.” He’ll be promoting his third full-length album “Born Gene,” which was released last September. It was Kim’s first music in two years, as well as his first full-length album in six years since “NO.X” in 2016. “Born Gene” has nine tracks including the lead track “Nobody Like You.”

Kim debuted in 2003 as a member of boy band TVXQ. After he left TVXQ with members Kim Jun-su and Park Yoo-chun, the three formed boy band JYJ. Kim launched his solo music career in 2013 with the EP “I.” The concert will also be streamed live via Hello Live.

The concert begins at 6 p.m. on Saturday and at 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets cost 143,000 won.

Samsung Station, line No. 2, exit 5 or 6

VIENNA BOYS CHOIRSeoul Arts Center, Concert Hall

Vienna Boys Choir is returning to Korea in February for the first time in three years for a two-day concert at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul. [LUKAS BECK]

Feb. 4 and 5:Vienna Boys Choir, one of the best known boys’ choirs of sopranos and altos based in Vienna, Austria, is returning to Korea for the first time in three years.

The choir has been visiting Korea almost every year since its inaugural performance in 1969, but could not visit for the past three years due to the pandemic.

The best musicians have worked with the choir, including Schubert, Haydn, Beethoven, Wagner and Straus, who all conducted or dedicated their music to the choir.

The choir covers a variety of genres from classics to popular music, and its performances have entertained the ears of audiences since its establishment in 1498.

Maestro Manolo Cagnin will conduct the choir for the Seoul concerts.

The concert starts at 5 p.m. on both days.

Ticket prices range from 33,000 to 110,000 won.

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

REDSeoul Arts Center, Jayu Small Theater

Through Feb. 19:“Red” is a play by writer John Logan that tells the story of Mark Rothko, an American abstract expressionist artist. The play, which debuted in London’s Covent Garden in 2009, is a two-hander comprising a conversation between Rothko and his fictional assistant Ken.

It Is loosely based on a story from 1958 about Rothko being commissioned to produce several large murals that were to hang in The Four Seasons, a luxury restaurant in New York City, before suddenly breaking the contract after finishing about 40 paintings. The confrontation between Rothko, who represents the old generation, and Ken, illustrating the young, leads the audience to question life.

After debuting in London, the play moved to Broadway in 2010 and received six Tony Awards that year, including the honor for Best Play. It premiered in Korea in 2011.

Actors Jeong Bo-seok and Yoo Dong-geun alternate the role of Rothko while Kang Seung-ho and Yeon Jun-seok alternate the role of Ken.

Tickets range from 40,000 won to 70,000 won.

The play begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on weekends. There are no performances on Mondays.

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

MATILDAD-Cube Arts Center Through Feb. 26:Based on Roald Dahl’s 1988 best-selling novel, this musical tells the story of a gifted young girl named Matilda who possesses telekinetic powers.

While dealing with her insensitive parents, Matilda befriends her school teacher, Miss Honey, and defends her friends from her evil principal Miss Trunchbull.

Four actors –bbLimHa-yoon, Jin Yeon-woo, Choi Eun-young and Ha Shin-bi – play Matilda.

The musical begins at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

There are no shows on Mondays.

Ticket prices range from 70,000 to 150,000 won.

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

HEROLG Arts Center Seoul, LG Signature HallThrough Feb. 28:The Korean musical “Hero,” which centers on the life of Ahn Jung-geun, the Korean independence fighter who was executed in 1910 after assassinating Japanese Resident-General Ito Hirobumi, is being staged at the new LG Art Center Seoul in Magok, western Seoul.

The musical has recently been turned into a film by director Yoon Je-kyun.

The musical stars actor Jeong Seong-hwa who plays the lead character Ahn in the film as well. Musical actor Yang Jun-mo and Min Woo-hyuk will also alternate the role with Jeong.

The musical starts at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays; 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on weekends. There are no shows on Mondays.

Tickets range from 60,000 won to 150,000 won.

Magoknaru Station, line No. 9, exit 3 or 4

SWEENEY TODDCharlotte TheaterThrough March 5:The musical thriller “Sweeney Todd” will be back next month. After its premiere on Broadway in 1979, it became the signature work of American composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim.

When the musical was first unveiled to the public, it was praised by critics. They wrote that “Sweeney Todd” took the musical from a form of entertainment to the realm of art. The musical was instantly dubbed a “sensational masterpiece” and took home eight awards, including Best Musical at the Tony Awards the year it premiered. The Korean production of the musical has been also loved by musical aficionados.

The upcoming production will feature Kang Pil-seok, Shin Seong-rok and Lee Kyoo-hyung as Sweeney Todd while Mrs. Lovett will be alternated by actors Jeon Mi-do, Kim Ji-hyun and Lina.

Set in 19th century England, the musical revolves around a barber named Benjamin Barker, who is played by Cho. He is living a happy life with his beautiful wife and daughter, but everything changes when he is falsely accused of a crime by Judge Turpin. The barber eventually loses his family and is exiled to Australia.

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

Jamsil Station, line No. 2, exit 3 *Most tickets are available at ticket.interpark.com/global or by calling 1544-1555.

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