Affordable arts in winter

Art does not have to be pricy. Despite ticket prices soaring well above 200,000 won for the most-talked about concerts, there is always room for affordable tickets and events for art lovers on tight budgets.

“A cheaper ticket price doesn’t mean that the content or the quality of the show is poor,” said Park Min-kyoung, spokeswoman at the Goyang Cultural Foundation. “Of course, some of the artists’ names might be less influential than household names, but they are still highly acclaimed performers. The reason for the less expensive tickets is our policy of prioritizing wider public access to cultural events,” she explained.

November and December are the perfect months for art lovers to enjoy art.

“The air is chilly and crisp, just right for people to stay indoors and finally enjoy something,” said Jake T. Ryu, a music critic.

Here are some “affordable” cultural events for people to enjoy throughout November and December in Seoul and the surrounding areas.

Concerts

Kumho Art Hall holds “Portrait of the Artist” concerts every Thursday, introducing young musicians to classical music lovers. The ticket prices range from 8,000 won (for student ID holders) to 30,000 won.

On Nov. 29, violinist Lim Jae-hong will perform followed by cellist Park No-eul on Dec. 6 and violist Yoon Jin-won on Dec. 13. 

“Each musician was asked to choose his repertoire and show off his world of music. We wanted to offer them an opportunity to meet the audience and let music fans indulge in music without budget concerns,” said Lee Ji-young, a spokeswoman of the music hall.

For more information, call (02) 6303-1977.

The Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra is holding a concert, “One Day,” at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts at 6 p.m. on Dec. 8.

The orchestra will feature “a day” in the event, starting with Grieg’s “Morning” from “Peer Gynt” followed by Tchaikovsky’s “Valse des fleurs” from “Nutcracker” and Granados’ “Spanish Dance,” showing morning. Bizet’s “Overture” from “Carmen” will represent noon, followed by Stravinsky’s “L’oiseau de feu”; Bizet’s “Les Pecheurs de Perles”; Wagner’s “O du Mein Holder Abendstern,” from “Tannhauser”; Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma,” and close with Stravinsky’s “V.Berceuse” as a lullaby.

Ticket prices range from 5,000 won to 30,000 won. Reservations can be made at www.sejongpac.or.kr and www.interpark.com. For more information call (02) 399-1792.

Seongnam Arts Center stages “Amazing Grace,” a concert by soprano Park So-heon and bass baritone Kang Hyeong-su at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 27 at the Ensemble Theater. The duo will be performing pieces by Donaudy, Mozart, Handel, Mendelssohn, Offenbach, Dvorak and Nicolo. All tickets are priced at 20,000 won.

For more information call (02) 543-7352.

The Goyang Cultural Foundation in Gyeonggi Province is presenting two affordable but classy concerts in December. The first is the Korea Soloist Orchestra Concert held at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1 at the Aramnuri Haydn Hall. The ensemble will feature pieces by Borne, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Anderson. Tickets start from 11,000 won with the most expensive not exceeding 45,000 won.

The second is “Beethoven vs. Brahms,” with noted conductor Kim Dae-jin leading the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra at 8 p.m. on Dec. 14 at the Goyang Aramnuri Haydn Hall in Gyeonggi Province. As part of the Aramnuri Symphonic Series 2012, the orchestra will play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 and Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.1 in D minor, Op. 67.

Tickets are priced between 20,000 won and 40,000 won. For more information, call 1577-7766 or visit www.artgy.or.kr.

Performances

As part of Seoul Arts Center’s effort to nurture stage plays, “Thursday Romance” will be staged at the Jayu Theater. Celebrated actor Jo Jae-hyun and actress Bae Jong-ok will take the leading roles.

The romantic comedy follows a three-decade romance between the couple who have loved, fought and done everything they can, showing that love itself does not change, but only seems to.

The show is staged at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Thursdays; 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; and 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 25. The theater is closed on Mondays. The tickets are rather affordable, ranging from 35,000 won to 50,000 won with a 30 percent discount for a group of more than 20.

Reservations are available at www.saceticket.co.kr or call (02) 580-1300.

The Universal Ballet will present all-time favorite “The Nutcracker” on Dec. 21-31 at the Universal Arts Center. The show time differs every day, delivering the very essence of the holiday spirit.

Ticket prices range from 10,000 won to 100,000 won. For reservations, call 1544-1555 or visit www.uac.co.kr or ticket.interpark.com.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions are more affordable than concerts or performances, and there are plenty of good ones for free.

Seoul Photo Festival held from Nov. 21-Dec. 30 will take people back to the good old days. The old but still not-so-long-ago photos will be exhibited at three venues in Seoul, including the Seoul Museum of Art, the principal exhibition venue of the festival, the lobby of the new Seoul City Hall and Seoul Museum of History.

A total of 500 photographs taken by ordinary Seoulites are expected to bring smiles to older generations and elicit curiosity from the young ones, the organizers said.

Gallery Hyundai invites modern art fans to the world of French sculptor and painter Philippe Pasqua’s “Carnal Universe” until Nov. 30. Pasqua, one of the most popular modern artists, will introduce the visitors to the world beyond human body and to a new universe, the organizers said.

The gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. For more information, call (02) 519-0800 or visit www.galleryhyundai.com.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)