Park Hyo-shin and Hong Kwang-ho Lead the Musical Beethoven in Double Casting

EMK Musical Company has unveiled the full cast for its original musical Beethoven, set to open on June 9 at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.

This season removes the subtitle “Beethoven Secret,” streamlining the title to Beethoven while sharpening its focus on the inner world and artistic anguish of Ludwig van Beethoven. Set in Vienna in 1810, the production centers on the composer’s psychological depth and creative struggle.

Musical Beethoven casting. Photo by EMK Musical Company.

The staging and direction have been fully reimagined. From royal ballrooms and Vienna streets to rose gardens and a stock exchange, the production constructs a layered period landscape. Beethoven’s signature works, including the “Moonlight,” “Pathétique,” and “Appassionata” sonatas, as well as Symphony No. 9 “Choral,” are fused with newly composed numbers, delivering a hybrid musical language that bridges classical and contemporary sensibilities.

Park Hyo-shin returns to the title role following critical acclaim in the original run, bringing heightened musical precision and emotional depth. Hong Kwang-ho joins the production with a commanding presence shaped by Jekyll & Hyde, Death Note, and Moulin Rouge!, offering a dynamic interpretation of Beethoven’s inner conflict. He reportedly underwent more than four hours of daily piano training for six months to prepare.

Yoon Gong-ju, Kim Ji-hyun, and Kim Ji-woo share the role of Antonie Brentano, Beethoven’s spiritual confidante. Yoon reprises her role, anchoring the narrative with emotional clarity, while Kim Ji-hyun emphasizes warmth through nuanced performance, and Kim Ji-woo introduces a fresh tonal layer with stable vocals.

As Kaspar van Beethoven, Shin Sung-min and Kim Do-hyun portray the composer’s brother, navigating tension and affection. Shin focuses on restrained emotional complexity, while Kim amplifies dramatic intensity with a resonant vocal presence.

Additional cast members include Park Si-won and Choi Ho-jung as Franz Brentano, Sung Min-jae and Yoo Yeon-jung as Bettina Brentano, Lee Sang-jun as Baptiste Fitzock, and Kang Sang-bum as Prince Kinsky.

Beethoven will run from June 9 through August 11 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.

Reported by News Culture [e-mail]