Some more stills are released of Kim Myung-min taking up the conductor’s wand in upcoming MBC drama Beethoven Virus.

Scenes were shot over two days on August 12 and 13 at the Seongnam Arts Center Opera House as Kim Myung-min commanded a “project orchestra” comprising unruly amateur musicians (in the drama, it’s done purposely to take his character down a peg or two). Performed during these scenes are Rossini’s William Tell Overture, the Gabriel’s Oboe Overture, Beethoven’s Choral (Symphony No. 9), and others.

Beethoven Virus premieres September 10.

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Lee Jia, lead actress for MBC’s upcoming classical-music-themed drama Beethoven Virus, collapsed while filming for the drama and was rushed to the emergency room on August 1.

This came after spending the last two days filming in cold water during the hot summer. While shooting at a film studio in Kyunggi-do early Friday morning, Lee Jia complained of breathing difficulty and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was given a diagnosis suspecting meningitis (!!) and extreme hypothermia.

If the cause turns out to be meningitis, her representatives said, this presents grave problems with filming, so they are waiting to see how her condition progresses as she returns home for some rest.

Filming had begun on the 14th for the drama scheduled to premiere in September. Promo posters (using underwater imagery) were shot on the 30th, and scenes for the drama were filmed on the 31st for an underwater fantasy sequence.

For now, the drama is shooting around their absent leading lady, continuing with male leads Kim Myung-min and Jang Geun-seok instead, but progress is sure to be hampered without her.

Bejeebus, MBC! Take some care for your stars, will ya? They ARE making you all that money, yunno. (Or trying to, at least; it’s not always their fault if the dramas flop.)

Via Sports Chosun

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Kim Myung-min unveils his new curly-top hairstyle for his upcoming role as an orchestra conductor in Beethoven Virus. The classical-music-themed drama also stars Lee Jia as a violinist and Jang Geun-seok as a trumpet player; not loving the casting, but Kim Myung-min will blow them out of the water anyway.

The drama starts filming July 14 and is scheduled to air its first episode on MBC on September 3.

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Joining Kim Myung Min in the upcoming MBC drama Beethoven Virus is Lee Jia, the Korean-American who made a huge splash with her acting debut as Bae Yong Joon’s love interest Sujini in last year’s fantasy-historical epic Legend [Taewangsashingi].

In Beethoven Virus, Kim Myung Min portrays a strong-willed, perfectionist orchestra conductor, while Lee Jia has been cast as a violinist with a “refined” and “feminine” outward appearance but a lively and mischievous personality. She’s started taking violin lessons to appear natural with the instrument. (Aside: If she’s just learning now, she’s going to drive me nuts. It’s a particular pet peeve of mine that people always look so incredibly fake while “playing” the violin.)

The Wednesday-Thursday drama will air in July and is brought to you by some notable people: director Lee Jae Kyu of Damo and Fashion 70s and writers Hong Jin Ah and Hong Jaram. This pair of Hong sisters — not the ones who penned My Girl or Hong Gil Dong — also wrote kpop-centric Over the Rainbow and sports-themed Taereung National Village.

Perhaps the mere topic of classical music has linked the drama in viewers’ minds with popular Japanese manga (and later drama) Nodame Cantabile, which was also popular with Korean fans. That, combined with the high profile of the actors and producers involved, leads to a building buzz around Beethoven Virus.

Via Star News, Sports Chosun

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