Beethoven Virus
| Beethoven Virus | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Beethoven Virus | |
| Genre |
|
| Written by |
|
| Directed by | Lee Jae-kyoo |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language(s) | Korean |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Oh Kyung-hoon |
| Producer(s) | Park Chang-shik |
| Location(s) | Korea |
| Cinematography |
|
| Production company(s) | Kim Jong-hak Productions |
| Release | |
| Original network | Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation |
| Original release | September 11, 2008 – November 12, 2008 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Beethoven Virus (Hangul: 베토벤 바이러스; RR: Betoben Baireoseu) is a 2008 South Korean television series starring Kim Myung-min, Lee Ji-ah, and Jang Keun-suk.[1] The show drew attention for being the first Korean drama to depict the lives of classical musicians, an orchestra and ordinary people who dream of becoming musicians.[2][3] It aired on MBC from September 10 to November 12, 2008 on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 21:55 for 18 episodes.
Synopsis
Kang Gun-woo (or Kang Mae) is a world-renowned orchestra maestro who is a perfectionist in his work. He is not an easy person to work with and is feared by all his players. By chance, he comes across Du Ru-mi, a violinist, and a young cop who has the same name as his and discovers that even without formal training, the young Kang is a music genius. The three soon get tangled in a love triangle as Kang Mae attempts to salvage a local orchestra.
Cast
Main characters
- Kim Myung-min as Kang Gun-woo/Kang Mae (Conductor)
- Kang Gun-woo is an orchestra conductor who is a single forty-year-old man that lives with a dog named Toven (named after Beethoven). He is very talented and famous for his excellent skills in music. Conductor Kang feels that classical music is for the nobility and to play the noble classics, the talent of players should be brilliant. Because he believes in this, he insults many musicians who do not match his perfection. However, he has shown jealousy and hatred in the past for those who are naturally talented, or those who are prodigies in music, such as Maestro Jung. He also has shown that he hated the trumpet player Kang Gun-woo for being a genius in the beginning of the drama.
- Kang Mae is notorious for his aggressiveness and sharp tongue. His nickname is "orchestra killer." His personality is mostly written in his face when he encounters trouble and he smirks to show he isn't weak. The reason that he has spent most of his time overseas is because he had once refused to perform in front of a large audience, which included the president.
- Lee Ji-ah as Du Ru-mi (Violin)
- Du Ru-mi is the concert mistress of the project orchestra. Despite her delicate appearance, she is actually hot-tempered, moody, and optimistic about everything. Her headaches and tinnitus are the symptoms of a tumor that is impinging on her cochlear nerve, an acoustic neuroma, perhaps, which will eventually cause complete hearing loss. Now, she has a resolute goal to continue to play the violin and continue to perform on stage until she loses her hearing completely.
- Jang Keun-suk as Kang Gun-woo (Trumpet)
- Kang Gun-woo is a traffic officer with a strong sense of justice. To help a pregnant woman get to the hospital, he moves a car by crashing it into another car, which causes him to be suspended from his position. Even though he cannot read music, he has a natural talent for playing the trumpet and for music itself. The project orchestra that he joins through Ru-mi’s recommendation gives him an opportunity to open his eyes and ears to music and conducting.
Supporting characters
- Lee Soon-jae as Kim Gab-yong (Oboe)
- Juni as Ha Yi-deun (Flute)
- Song Ok-sook as Jung Hee-yeon (Cello)
- Park Chul-min as Bae Yong-gi (Trumpet)
- Jung Suk-yong as Park Hyuk-kwon (Double Bass)
- Lee Bong-gyu as Park Jin-man
- Kim Young-min as Jung Myung-hwan
- Jo Se-eun as Kim Joo-yeon
- Park Eun-joo as Kim Joo-hee
- Lee Han-wi as Kang Chun-bae
- Park Kil-soo as Kim Kye-jang
- Hwang Young-hee as Hyuk-kwon's wife
- Baek Jae-jin as refugees' leader (ep 10)
- Kim Ik as doctor (ep 10)
Production
At the drama's press conference prior to airing, Kim Myung-min, who plays the talented yet difficult maestro Kang, actually conducted Ennio Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe, and Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dances with a full orchestra in front of reporters and fans who came to the venue.[4] Kang is based on real-life conductor Shin-ik Hahm.[5]
Several famous musicians made cameo appearances in the drama, including pianist Dong-Hyek Lim and violinist Richard Yongjae O'Neill.[6]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | |
Best Drama | Beethoven Virus | Nominated |
| Best Actor (TV) | Kim Myung-min | Won | ||
| Best Director (TV) | Lee Jae-kyoo | Nominated | ||
| Best Screenplay (TV) | Hong Jin-ah and Hong Ja-ram | Nominated | ||
| | Special Award, Drama category | Song In-hyuk and Hong Sung-wook | Won | |
| | Most Popular Drama in 2008 | Beethoven Virus | Won | |
| | Best Performance in Broadcasting | Kim Myung-min | Won | |
| |
Grand Prize (Daesang) | Kim Myung-min | Won | |
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | Kim Myung-min | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actor | Jang Keun-suk | Nominated | ||
| | Best Drama | Beethoven Virus | Won | |
| |
Grand Prize (Daesang)[8] | Kim Myung-min | Won | |
| Top Excellence Award, Actor | Kim Myung-min | Nominated | ||
| Excellence Award, Actress | Lee Ji-ah | Nominated | ||
| Golden Acting Award, Supporting Actor | Park Chul-min | Won | ||
| Golden Acting Award, Veteran Actress | Song Ok-sook | Won | ||
| PD Award | Lee Soon-jae | Won | ||
| Best New Actor | Jang Keun-suk | Won | ||
| Best New Actress | Juni | Nominated | ||
| Writer(s) of the Year | Hong Jin-ah and Hong Ja-ram | Won | ||
| Special Award, PD category | Lee Jae-kyoo | Won | ||
| Viewer's Favorite Drama of the Year | Beethoven Virus | Won | ||
| 2009 | | Best Actor | Kim Myung-min | Won |
| |
Runner-up, Best Miniseries | Beethoven Virus | Won | |
| Best Actor | Kim Myung-min | Nominated | ||
| | Special Award for Foreign Programs | Beethoven Virus | Won | |
International broadcast
The series aired in the Philippines on Q Channel 11 beginning April 12, 2010, on Mondays to Fridays at 2:00 p.m.[11] It aired in Japan on Fuji TV beginning February 1, 2011, on Mondays to Fridays, at 2:07-3:57 p.m.[12]
It aired in Thailand on Channel 3 beginning July 21, 2012, on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30-4:00 a.m.[13]
References
- ↑ "Beethoven Virus Interview with Kim Myung-min". MBC Global Media. September 26, 2008. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
- ↑ Chung, Ah-young (January 1, 2009). "Beethoven Virus Still Goes On". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ Kwon, Mee-yoo (February 19, 2009). "Beethoven Virus Fails to Spread". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ Han, Sang-hee (September 9, 2008). "Dramas Bring Hero, Gamblers and Orchestra". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ Han, Jane (March 7, 2010). "Maestro Hahm Shin-ik's Humble Journey to Fame". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Musicians to make cameo appearance". The Korea Herald via Naver. August 22, 2008. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ Chung, Ah-young (November 2, 2008). "Actor Kim Wins Top Prize at Korea Drama Festival Awards". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ "MBC Should Be Ashamed of Farcical Awards". The Chosun Ilbo. January 2, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ Han, Sang-hee (September 13, 2009). "Seoul Int’l Drama Awards End With Promise". The Korea Times. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Beethoven Virus Wins Japan Award". The Korea Times. October 20, 2009. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Beethoven Virus airs now in the Philippines". MyungMin International. April 25, 2010. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ↑ "Beethoven Virus comes to Fuji TV Japan in February!". MyungMin International. January 20, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ↑ "เรื่องย่อ ทำนองรัก สัมผัสใจ". Kapook.com (in Thai). August 1, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
External links
- Beethoven Virus official MBC website (Korean)
- Beethoven Virus at HanCinema
- Beethoven Virus at the Internet Movie Database
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