For the past decade, I have been fortunate enough to work close enough to the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) that I can go there for afternoon breaks. Usually I just sit and take it all in. The outdoor plaza and fountain water that dances to music. Performing arts students passing by in letterman jackets emblazoned with “Piano” instead of a varsity number. Empty halls that echo with last night’s performances.
From Korean soprano Sumi Jo and the classical Ahn Trio to Italian violinist / conductor Fabio Biondi & Europa Galante and
the 2014 Bolshoi Theater Soloists Gala Concert, the SAC boasts a powerhouse lineup for 2014. This representative arts complex of Korea stages about 1,500 performances and more than 100 exhibitions a year for almost 2 million visitors.
The SAC has multiple spaces. The Opera House is a main venue and includes the Opera Theater, Towol Theater and Jayu Theater, all of which are for a wide genre range of performing arts. The Opera House is affectionately called the “Big Hat” for how the upper part of the building was designed to resemble a gat, or a traditional Korean hat for men. Other spaces include the Music Hall, Seoul Calligraphy Art Museum, Hangaram Art Museum and Hangaram Design Museum.
But the SAC is just one of Korea’s many arts centers and concert halls. After all, Korea is a cultural power that not only churns out top artists but attracts the best from all over the world. Here’s a rundown of four other great facilities where you can catch musicals, operas, art exhibitions and much more.
Chungmu Art Hall
Located in the Jung-gu area of Seoul, Chungmu Art Hall is now staging the musical “Frankenstein,” 0the play “Hero of My
Heart” and more. With five spaces — the Grand theater, Black theater, Blue theater, Chungmu Gallery and Convention Center — this venue is known for its sophisticated lighting and sound system and presents diverse genres of music, musicals, plays and ballet.
Sejong Center for the Performing
Arts Opened in 1978, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is where you can hear, watch and enjoy renowned Korean art groups including the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra, Seoul Metropolitan Chorus, Seoul Metropolitan Opera and Seoul Metropolitan Theatre. From chamber music and K-pop to photography and calligraphy, this is a venue that lets you explore art and history in the most inspiring of ways, in the heart of Seoul.
Daegu Opera House
Shaped like a grand piano, the Daegu Opera House is a landmark of Daegu and where visitors from near and far can enjoy
world-class operas as well as classes on how to enjoy opera. The venue, located in Daegu, the capital of North Gyeongsang Province, also holds the popular Daegu Opera Festival every year.
Seongnam Arts Center
Located in the city of Seongnam, this arts center includes the Opera House, Concert Hall and Ensemble Theater. On the program for this year are the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, a play by Victor Hugo called “Mille Francs de Recompense,” a performance by Korean conductor/cellist Han-Na Chang and much more. The center also runs two multipurpose art halls. With top notch sound/stage facilities and even lecture rooms for diverse genres of art, the Seongnam Arts Center is the ideal place to indulge the artist in you.
Source : Invest Korea
