Since 2013, Seoul Arts Center has been at the forefront of popularizing high-quality performing arts in the country with its ‘SAC on Screen’ service, through which the venue films art shows and distributes the videos for free to those who have not been able to enjoy great art performances due to high ticket prices and limited opportunities. (Image: Seoul Arts Center)
SEOUL, April 17 (Korea Bizwire) – Performing arts are now one step closer to South Korean audiences thanks to screening services from major art venues including the National Theater of Korea and Seoul Arts Center, which bring the latest international classical concerts, plays and ballets all the way to Seoul on screen.
Since 2013, Seoul Arts Center has been at the forefront of popularizing high-quality performing arts in the country with its ‘SAC on Screen’ service, through which the venue films art shows and distributes the videos for free to those who have not been able to enjoy great art performances due to high ticket prices and limited opportunities.
So far, more than 200,000 viewers have watched screenings of 24 performances including the Korean National Ballet’s rendition of the Nutcracker, the South Korean musical the Last Empress, and Seoul Arts Center’s original musical the Magic Flute, with plans to add nine new shows this year including the Bamberg Symphony’s version of Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 “Pastoral”.
“We are trying our best to bring the moving experience of all the great performances through our service in 4K Ultra HD with 5.1 surround audio,” an official at Seoul Arts Center said.
Since its launch in 2014, the National Theatre Live service at Seoul Arts Center has proven particularly popular, as the arts center has priority rights to screen some of the best art performances Britain can offer. Through the service, South Korean audiences have been able to enjoy sold-out shows at an affordable ticket price of around 15,000 won, including the stage version of Frankenstein starring Hollywood actor Benedict Cumberbatch.
National Theatre Live films are highly acclaimed as they manage to convey a sense of being at the venue while the performance is taking place, while advanced filming technology allows viewers to be able to watch performers closely to the point where even beads of sweat are visible.
Through the service, South Korean audiences have been able to enjoy sold-out shows at an affordable ticket price of around 15,000 won, including the stage version of Frankenstein starring Hollywood actor Benedict Cumberbatch. (Image: Catherine Ashmore)
IT companies like Naver are also appearing to join the trend of bringing renowned art performance to the screen.
Since the launch of a classical music channel on its live streaming service ‘V Live’ last November, Naver streamed performances of Cho Seong-jin, the very first South Korean winner of the International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition.
Despite worries that video streaming services could impact ticket sales, the promotional aspects of being streamed through major online platforms like Naver are seeing a surge in both demand and supply as more industry experts begin to view the trend positively.
M.H.Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
