Boundary-breaking metaopera 'Amopera' to premiere in Korea next week
Daegu Opera House hosts two performances next weekend
'Amopera,' a metaopera that reconfigures and reinterprets fragments from 16 operatic works spanning the past century, is set to make its Korean premiere at the Daegu Opera House next week.
The opera is a collaboration between the Austrian contemporary music ensemble Klangforum Wien and the internationally acclaimed Belgian arts collective Needcompany. It premiered in November 2022 in Austria.
Klangforum Wien, a renowned contemporary music ensemble based in Vienna, Austria, comprises 25 musicians from 10 countries, delivering unique sounds that offer audiences fresh experiences. Meanwhile, Needcompany, led by Jan Lauwers, the winner of the Golden Lion Award at the 2014 Venice Biennale, is known for groundbreaking artistic productions that blend performance, literature and visual arts.
The two arts companies joined forces to weave together fragments from 16 operatic literary works, reimagining and reinterpreting them to create new connections and meanings. By intertwining musical, visual and literary components, 'Amopera' presents audiences with captivating and unfamiliar experiences, according to Daegu Opera House in Daegu, a city that has promoted itself as a hub for musical productions and operas by introducing new works.
'We hope this performance provides a rare opportunity to experience contemporary and metaopera, and as we continue our efforts to create new operas, 'Amopera' holds special significance in expanding the genre,' said Daegu Opera House's General Director, Jung Gap-kyun.
The title "Amopera" carries dual meanings. The first interpretation, "amor opera" ("love opera"), suggests a thematic focus on love. However, rather than depicting love in its idealized and purest form, the production delves into its darker dimensions, such as jealousy, betrayal and madness. The second meaning, "I am opera," expands on the idea that every performer on stage -- whether singer, musician or dancer -- embodies the essence of opera itself, reinforcing the production's metatheatrical concept.
The upcoming production of "Amopera" will feature soprano Sarah Maria Sun and baritone Holger Falk under the artistic direction of Jan Lauwers and the baton of Tim Anderson. They will be joined by Grace Chang, Martin Seghers and Paul Blackman from Needcompany, along with the ensemble Klangforum Wien.
The Korean premiere, part of "Amopera"'s Asia tour with a performance in Hong Kong on March 19, is set to take place at Daegu Opera House on March 22 at 5 p.m. and March 23 at 3 p.m. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won ($13.80) to 70,000 won.
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