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Sonata of a Flame
광염소나타
Official English Title
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SOURCE
novel
SETTING
Korea
BOOK
adaptation
Based on Kim Dong-in, Sonata of a Flame
Korean Premiere
2017
Korean Premiere Theatre
Daehakro Artone Theater 1, Seoul
Further Korean run reference: https://namu.wiki/w/%EA%B4%91%EC%97%BC%EC%86%8C%EB%82%98%ED%83%80(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
The Musical search cue — “광염소나타(뮤지컬)”
Summary
A Korean original thriller musical inspired by Kim Dong-in’s novel, blending live chamber music and psychological horror in the story of a composer who gains inspiration through death.
Origin & Development
Premiered in 2017, produced by Asia Bridge Contents, based on the novel 광염소나타 by Kim Dong-in. The musical was first introduced through a tryout production in February 2017 before its official premiere two months later. Scored for piano, violin, and cello performed live onstage, the show emphasizes the destructive pursuit of artistic genius, with actors playing instruments as part of the staging. Subsequent Korean revivals were produced by Synth Wave and later by Yeonwoo Stage and Romantic Barricade. 2017 – Premiere, Asia Bridge Contents, JTN Art Hall 1.
Recurring revivals: 2019 (Synth Wave, SMTOWN Theatre), 2020 (Synth Wave, Daehakro Uniplex 1), 2023 (Yeonwoo Stage and Romantic Barricade, Dream Art Center 1), 2024 (Yes24 Stage 1). Developed from a 2017 tryout at Art One Theater 1. Known for continuous restagings with new casts and live trio accompaniment.
Partial Synopsis
J, a young composer once hailed as a prodigy, has not written a single piece since his acclaimed debut work. Obsessed with surpassing his past success, he turns to the renowned Professor K for guidance, but continues to fail under pressure. After witnessing a fatal accident, J experiences an overwhelming surge of inspiration and completes the first movement of a new sonata overnight. K realizes that J’s creativity is triggered by death and urges him to kill again in order to finish the work. As J’s sanity breaks and the murders escalate toward the final movement, his longtime friend S becomes the next target. The musical asks whether a masterpiece born from blood can ever be called art.
狂炎ソナタ
2024
2024-02-02
to
2024-02-11
Country:
Japan
City:
Tokyo
Production Type:
Licensed
Language:
Japanese
Venue:
Shinagawa Prince Hotel Stellar Ball
Directed by Watanabe Satsuki and starring Hiroki Ino, Taishi Sugie, and Hiroshi Hatanaka, the official Japanese premiere featured live piano, violin, and cello and highlighted the musical's cult status in Korea and its blend of classical motifs with psychological descent.
狂焰奏鸣曲
2024
2024-07-06
to
2024-07-31
Country:
China
City:
Shanghai
Production Type:
Licensed
Language:
Chinese
Venue:
Star Theater Dome
Promoted as a dark suspense musical combining live performance with thriller-driven staging, the production was positioned as a high-intensity music drama for crossover audiences, with standard commercial pricing of 299–499 RMB and marketing focused on its psychological tension and Korean origin.
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