March 23

Music & The Arts

As a music major, I could not have left out the music scene in Korea, specifically classical music and theater! In Seoul, there is the Seoul Arts Center, which hosts events like operas, musicals, and galleries. I ended up going there multiple times to enjoy photographs by various artists and famous musicals! In this blog, I will give you a highlight of the events hosted at these art centers. 

The first event I want to highlight is the musical “Hero”. Set in the time of the Korean Independence Movement, this musical follows Dr. Ahn Joong Geun in his journey as an advocate for Korean independence. This musical draws on all aspects of the movement, including the heroic advocates, the violence of the Japanese soldiers, the Korean and Japanese spies on either side of the movement, and all the emotions mixed in this journey to independence. “Hero” is a very popular musical among Koreans, as it celebrates their heritage and all the efforts our ancestors put in to bring us this cultural freedom. Hence, it was presented in the largest opera hall in the center. The hall was four stories high with balconies on all floors except the first (which would be the orchestra section). With the huge volume of the opera hall, the acoustics were amazing with the voices of the actors/singers ringing through the hall. When I watched the musical, there were many young students attending as a school field trip, as this was quite a historical lesson. There were also many older adults leaving in tears as they reminisced of the times they or their parents were involved in this nation-wide independence movement (including my grandparents…). 

On a lighter note, this arts center also hosts fine arts galleries for upcoming and established artists. One I really enjoyed was a photograph exhibition by Erik Johansson. What’s really unique about his work is that his photographs aren’t just photographs; they’re compilations of multiple photographs edited together to make a message that can either be comical, expressive, or satirical. One of the pieces I really enjoyed was called “Iron Man.” This was a photograph of a man literally ironing himself to be flat! Because his work was so different from your usual photograph gallery, it was really enjoyable to look through his works slowly. Each room had a different theme that had an explanation of what the collection meant, written by Johansson. 

 

I really suggest you check out some of his works HERE

In this arts center, they also have a hall for classical music, including orchestras and famous soloists. Some famous musicians you may/may not recognize are Cho Seong-Jin (winner of 2015 Chopin Intl’ Competition), Yekwon Sunwoo (Winner of 2017 Van Cliburn Intl’ Competition), Ray Chen (violinist), and Evgeny Kissin (he’s just a legend). Tickets run out very quickly for events with famous soloists coming to town (or city) and for popular musicals, so it’s essential you have the right apps downloaded to purchase your tickets on time! It does pose a challenge for older adults who are not as apt with technologies, but call-services still exist, thankfully. 

When you come to Korea, be sure to make a visit to appreciate the arts! 

 

Image Links

https://english.visitseoul.net/comm/getImage?srvcId=MEDIA&parentSn=16808&fileTy=MEDIA&fileNo=1&thumbTy=L

https://www.korea.net/upload/content/editImage/180109_musical_article.jpg

https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/201907/a0d81aa27a7f4351bf9bbfc098982175.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize

https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/newsV2/images/201904/527b0421f5f14ff3bcf6fdf17e05b9f3.jpg

 


Posted March 23, 2020 by exk96 in category Uncategorized

4 thoughts on “Music & The Arts

  1. Caitlin Grabowski

    I love listening to classical music when I’m doing homework or relaxing in a calm mood. I’ll have to check out the some of the musicians you mentioned!

    Reply
  2. Lizzy

    The Arts Center looks absolutely beautiful! I really liked this blog as it not only reflects the culture you are passionate about, but your hobbies that you are passionate about!

    Reply
  3. trt5178

    That theatre is so gorgeous!!! I loved learning about the musical Hero, and some of the history/ culture behind it- it sounds amazing. I am about to check out the photographer you mentioned, his work sounds really cool.

    Reply
  4. Rayhan

    Wow I didn’t know you were a music major, that’s so cool. I never heard of this musical Hero but it just furthers my desire to watch Korean art. People already love K-pop, Korean drama shows, and now with movies like Parasite, Korean film as well. Interesting read

    Reply

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