Curtain comes down on disgraced 'Again 2024 Turandot'
Troubled run ends in refunds, canceled finale, ongoing disputes
Once a highly anticipated opera, "Again 2024 Turandot" will conclude its turbulent run at Coex Monday night, one day earlier than scheduled, marred by controversy, confusion, and criticism.
The production company, Again 2024 Turandot, said on Monday that the final performance, originally scheduled for Tuesday, had been canceled due to poor ticket sales. Refunds were issued to ticket holders.
Tuesday's show had been planned as a New Year's Eve event, starting at 9:30 p.m. and concluding just before midnight with a countdown to welcome the new year.
Kicking off on Dec. 22, the ambitious production led by artistic director Park Hyun-jun aimed to recreate the success of the 2003 outdoor opera performance in Seoul. With a staggering 20 billion won ($13.6 million) budget, it initially drew attention for its grand scale and star-studded cast, including opera legends Placido Domingo and Jose Cura as conductors.
However, the sudden exits of director Davide Livermore and conductor Paolo Carignani, coupled with poor mismanagement, sparked a wave of criticism. Ongoing disputes between the production team and creative staff have continued to fuel controversy.
With reports emerging of unpaid fees, the legal battles surrounding the opera may be far from over.
Departure of high-profile figures
Carignani, one of three conductors for 'Again 2024 Turandot,' withdrew from the production on Sunday, becoming the latest high-profile departures from the embattled show.
His exit is the second "official" withdrawal following that of Italian opera director Davide Livermore, who pulled out just nine hours before the production's opening on Dec. 22, citing disputes over creative direction and unpaid fees.
Carignani's team said, 'From Dec. 16 to 25, Maestro Carignani conducted rehearsals not at the Coex venue but elsewhere. From Dec. 18 onward, he was left waiting in his hotel without a fixed conducting schedule, making it impossible for him to perform his duties.'
The production initially boasted a trio of acclaimed conductors -- Carignani, Domingo and Cura. Carignani, an Italian maestro with more than 35 years of experience, has led performances at some of the world's most prestigious venues, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera and the Zurich Opera House.
'Carignani requested a finalized conducting schedule nine times, but all his requests were ignored. Even on Christmas Eve, Artistic Director Park Hyun-jun failed to provide a clear response,' the statement added.
Carignani was originally scheduled to conduct five performances -- on Dec. 22, 24, 27, 29 and 31 -- according to the organizer's program. Cura was scheduled to lead three performances, while Domingo had two.
Following continued silence from the production team, Carignani's representatives issued a formal notice through their Korean agent, raising concerns over unpaid contractual fees and requesting confirmation of the conducting schedule by Dec. 24. The agency claims it was unilaterally informed that Cura would conduct the Christmas Eve performance. Carignani subsequently terminated his contract on Dec. 24 and left the country the following day.
Although no official announcement was made, Aleksandrs Antonenko, one of the four singers who play the lead tenor role, Calaf, left the country after reportedly falling ill with a cold. He had previously withdrawn from the Dec. 25 performance.
However, Livermore and Carignani still remain listed on the official website for "Again 2024 Turandot."
Refund demands, payment disputes
The production company is also facing strong criticism from audiences.
The company needs to address refund requests from affected customers, including those who were unable to attend the premiere due to seating changes made unilaterally by the organizers.
On Dec. 22, the organizers reduced the seating from 6,800 to 4,000 without prior notice, leaving many attendees to discover the changes only upon arrival at the venue. The audience was allegedly either given seats that had been arbitrarily changed by the organizers or instructed to "sit anywhere."
The performance, originally scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., finally began 23 minutes late, as hundreds of ticket holders were unable to enter because they had not been given their pre-booked tickets.
The organizers had promised to refund those who missed the performance.
With the final performance was abruptly canceled, further disputes over unpaid fees are expected.
The production was originally set for 10 performances from Dec. 22 to Tuesday, but organizers reportedly informed the choir and orchestra members on Saturday that they would only honor payment guarantees for nine shows, following the cancellation of the final performance.
Ticket sales have been suspended on platforms such as Interpark since that day with no mention of the show's cancellation.
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