Powerful Vocals and Beethoven’s Masterpieces Thrill, But Story Falls Short
Creatrip Team
18 days ago
The renewed musical Beethoven fills the stage with commanding vocals and Beethoven’s famous works but suffers from a straightforward narrative. EMK Musical Company revived the show in Seoul after its 2023 premiere and a Japanese license, now presenting the piece simply as Beethoven. The new version shifts focus from a forbidden romance to Beethoven’s inner life as a struggling artist in 1810, portraying his creeping deafness, social isolation, and the support of a loyal friend. Sound and lighting convey his tinnitus, and iconic pieces like the Pathétique (Piano Sonata No.8) and Moonlight are reimagined in contemporary musical theatre arrangements. New numbers—including a duet weaving the “Pathétique” and the Emperor Concerto—showcase the vocal power of stars such as Park Hyo-shin and Hong Kwang-ho. The production’s climax, featuring the Choral Symphony, gives audiences a thrilling, near-real experience of Beethoven conducting his own work. However, the plot remains linear: loss of hearing, suffering, support, and eventual triumph, without deeper narrative questions or emotional expansion. The run continues at Sejong Center’s Grand Theater in Seoul through August 11.
