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2023
ベートーヴェン Secret
Beethoven; Beethoven Secret (베토벤; Beethoven Secret) is EMK’s Korean original musical about Ludwig van Beethoven, created by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay and premiered in Seoul in 2023. It exported to Japan in December 2023 as a licensed semi-replica by Toho, followed by a 2024 regional tour.
English:
Beethoven; Secret
Korean:
베토벤; Beethoven Secret
Country: Japan | Language: Japanese
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Year: 2023. Creators: book/lyrics Michael Kunze; music/arrangements Sylvester Levay. Producer: EMK Musical Company. Premiere location: Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater (Jan 12–Mar 26, 2023), with a “Season 2” run at Sejong Center Grand Theater (Apr 14–May 15, 2023). Co-directed by Wang Yongbeom and Gil Mehmert with music direction by Kim Moon-jeong; conceived from the outset for international licensing.
STORY
Set in early-19th-century Vienna, the musical frames Beethoven’s genius and isolation through his relationship with Antonie (“Toni”) Brentano and his struggle with progressive hearing loss. Themes include love’s power and limits, class and independence from patronage, and the transformation of Beethoven’s motifs into theatre songs that trace his descent into silence and the legacy of his “Immortal Beloved.”
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2023 – premiere (EMK Musical Company), Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater; Season 2 at Sejong Center Grand Theater with adjustments to characters and numbers
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
Japan, 2023–2024
Licensed adaptation – Japanese-language semi-replica by Toho Co., Ltd.
Japanese premiere at Nissay Theatre, Tokyo (Dec 9–29, 2023), starring Yoshio Inoue and Mari Hanafusa, followed by a tour to Fukuoka Sun Palace (Jan 4–7, 2024), Aichi Misonoza (Jan 12–14, 2024), and Hyogo Performing Arts Center (Jan 19–21, 2024). Press materials highlighted the Kunze & Levay pedigree (Elisabeth, Mozart!, etc.), refreshed costume/visual designs versus the Seoul production, and strong audience interest.
REFERENCES
NamuWiki – Beethoven (musical) overview
https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%B2%A0%ED%86%A0%EB%B2%A4(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
Toho – Beethoven official page (Japan)
https://www.tohostage.com/beethoven/
Engekisengen feature (cast/announcement, 2023-05-15)
https://engekisengen.com/genre/musical/56613/
CJK News – EMK announces semi-replica licensing to Japan
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