Latest news with #KoreaNationalOpera
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Prokofiev's satirical opera 'The Love for Three Oranges' to make full-production Korean premiere
Korea National Opera, dedicated to introduce 21st-century works, promises vibrant fusion of global, local talent 'L'Amour Des Trois Oranges,' or 'The Love for Three Oranges,' a satirical opera by Ukrainian-born composer Sergei Prokofiev, will get its first full-scale production in Korea more than a century after its 1921 premiere in Chicago. Adapted from an 18th-century play by Carlo Gozzi, the opera blends absurdist comedy, fairy-tale fantasy and biting political satire. A melancholic prince, cursed by the witch Fata Morgana to fall in love with three oranges, embarks on a surreal quest to find these magical fruits. When he opens them, each orange reveals a princess. Two die of thirst; the third, Princess Ninette, survives. After magical and political mishaps — including a case of mistaken identity and a kidnapping — Ninette and the prince are finally reunited. 'We chose this piece to bring joy to opera lovers, rather than presenting something overly serious or weighty. At the same time, we are committed to introducing 21st-century operas to broaden the repertoire,' said Choi Sang-ho, artistic and general director of the Korea National Opera, at a press conference Monday at the Seoul Arts Center. 'Though its fairy-tale structure and satirical humor may initially feel unfamiliar, audiences will quickly be drawn in by its unique charm,' he added. The upcoming Korea National Opera production promises a vibrant fusion of global and local talent, featuring an international creative team, rising Korean vocalists on the international stage and the national opera company's own soloists, as well as American mezzo-soprano Karis Tucker in the role of Princess Clarice. Originally written in French, the opera has previously been performed in Russian, German and English. However, the Korean production will remain in French, partly to accommodate the cast's familiarity with the language. Returning to the podium is Felix Krieger, who led the opera company's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' last year. He will conduct the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. 'In Prokofiev's imaginative world, the music draws from many different musical languages,' said Krieger. 'It weaves together elements of traditional classical music, modernist experimentation and both poetic and grotesque qualities.' Stage director Lorenzo Fioroni, known for productions at the Nationaltheater Mannheim, Staatsoper Berlin and Luzerner Theater, brings his imaginative vision to this surreal opera under the theme of "a theatrical machine that tells fairy tales for adults" in tandem with set designer Paul Zoller and costume designer Katharina Gault. Fioroni reimagines the prince's quest for three magical oranges as a fantastical road trip, incorporating video footage shot on location on Korean urban streets. 'Korean streets have a surreal, fairy-tale quality that perfectly suits the opera's world,' Fioroni said, adding that he and Zoller have created a highly visual production that integrates fantasy elements with complex technical effects. The cast features two alternating ensembles. On June 26 and 28, bass Choi Woong-jo will perform as Le Roi de Trefles, with tenor Kim Young-woo as the prince. On June 27 and 29, the roles will be performed by bass Kim Il-hoon and tenor Shin Hyun-sik, respectively. 'L'Amour Des Trois Oranges' will be staged June 26 to 29 at the Opera Theatre of the Seoul Arts Center. The performance on June 28 will be livestreamed via Naver TV. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won to 150,000 won.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Prokofiev satirical opera 'The Love for Three Oranges' to make full-production Korean premiere
Korea National Opera, dedicated to introduce 21st-century works, promises vibrant fusion of global, local talent 'L'Amour Des Trois Oranges,' or 'The Love for Three Oranges,' a satirical opera by Ukrainian-born composer Sergei Prokofiev, will get its first full-scale production in Korea more than a century after its 1921 premiere in Chicago. Adapted from an 18th-century play by Carlo Gozzi, the opera blends absurdist comedy, fairy-tale fantasy and biting political satire. A melancholic prince, cursed by the witch Fata Morgana to fall in love with three oranges, embarks on a surreal quest to find these magical fruits. When he opens them, each orange reveals a princess. Two die of thirst; the third, Princess Ninette, survives. After magical and political mishaps — including a case of mistaken identity and a kidnapping — Ninette and the prince are finally reunited. 'We chose this piece to bring joy to opera lovers, rather than presenting something overly serious or weighty. At the same time, we are committed to introducing 21st-century operas to broaden the repertoire,' said Choi Sang-ho, artistic and general director of the Korea National Opera, at a press conference Monday at the Seoul Arts Center. 'Though its fairy-tale structure and satirical humor may initially feel unfamiliar, audiences will quickly be drawn in by its unique charm,' he added. The upcoming Korea National Opera production promises a vibrant fusion of global and local talent, featuring an international creative team, rising Korean vocalists on the international stage and the national opera company's own soloists, as well as American mezzo-soprano Karis Tucker in the role of Princess Clarice. Originally written in French, the opera has previously been performed in Russian, German and English. However, the Korean production will remain in French, partly to accommodate the cast's familiarity with the language. Returning to the podium is Felix Krieger, who led the opera company's production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' last year. He will conduct the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. 'In Prokofiev's imaginative world, the music draws from many different musical languages,' said Krieger. 'It weaves together elements of traditional classical music, modernist experimentation and both poetic and grotesque qualities.' Stage director Lorenzo Fioroni, known for productions at the Nationaltheater Mannheim, Staatsoper Berlin and Luzerner Theater, brings his imaginative vision to this surreal opera under the theme of "a theatrical machine that tells fairy tales for adults" in tandem with set designer Paul Zoller and costume designer Katharina Gault. Fioroni reimagines the prince's quest for three magical oranges as a fantastical road trip, incorporating video footage shot on location on Korean urban streets. 'Korean streets have a surreal, fairy-tale quality that perfectly suits the opera's world,' Fioroni said, adding that he and Zoller have created a highly visual production that integrates fantasy elements with complex technical effects. The cast features two alternating ensembles. On June 26 and 28, bass Choi Woong-jo will perform as Le Roi de Trefles, with tenor Kim Young-woo as the prince. On June 27 and 29, the roles will be performed by bass Kim Il-hoon and tenor Shin Hyun-sik, respectively. 'L'Amour Des Trois Oranges' will be staged June 26 to 29 at the Opera Theatre of the Seoul Arts Center. The performance on June 28 will be livestreamed via Naver TV. Ticket prices range from 20,000 won to 150,000 won.
Korea Herald
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Simcheong reimagined: Genre-bending pansori theater is born
Korean tradition weaved together with opera by boundary-crossing director Yona Kim "Simcheong" is a story every Korean child grows up with — a tale of devotion, sacrifice, filial piety and transformation, told and retold in countless variations. Among them is "Simcheongga," the pansori version — Korea's traditional form of musical storytelling accompanied by a "gosu," or drummer. Even within pansori, multiple versions exist, each offering its own take on the enduring narrative. This year, the story of Simcheong is being reimagined as something entirely new: a pansori theater production that blends operatic structure with traditional Korean storytelling. Spearheading the production is Yona Kim, a Korean director based in Germany, known for her approach of crossing cultures as well as genres. Kim was named director of the year by Opernwelt in 2017, nominated for Germany's prestigious Faust Award in 2011 and 2020 and received critical acclaim for her production of 'Tannhauser' with the Korea National Opera in 2024. 'I've long been someone who has lived outside the boundaries,' Kim told reporters during a press conference on April 10. 'It feels like I'm crossing the borders of genre, like opera, and of language. There's a sense of anticipation, but also a bit of anxiety — like I'm standing on a border.' 'We often think of Simcheongjeon as uniquely ours, but Simcheong is both deeply Korean and universally human. Stories that mirror the structure of Simcheong are everywhere. Societies have always demanded sacrifice from the weak,' Kim explained, citing characters who sacrifice themselves for their blind fathers — such as those in Greek tragedies, like Antigone and Electra, as well as in German fairy tales. Yet this new Simcheong is not merely a victim. Drawing on her experience of reinterpreting classical works on global opera stages, Kim portrays Simcheong as a metaphor for someone who, rather than simply sacrificing for her father, chooses to stand for those even weaker than herself — someone who refuses to give up her beliefs and ideals. The blind father is reimagined as a symbol of patriarchal power and elite privilege, blind to the realities around him, Kim noted. With this production, Kim hopes to provide an outlet for a global audience to immerse themselves in a universal story, regardless of its genre definition. 'I don't want to assign a genre label to this work — not yet. I don't think I can. We're still in the process of discovering what it is.' 'I want even those who know nothing about pansori — regardless of their nationality, background, status, gender or age — to come in, spend about two hours and simply immerse themselves in a different world,' Kim added. "I hope they dive into the sea of storytelling, feel something, think something, and then come back out — that's all I wish for." 'At its core, this is undeniably a theatrical art form that expresses human stories and emotions,' Kim explained. 'So we decided to simply title it 'Simcheong,' and underneath it, we added just one line: Pansori Theater.' Joining the creative team are celebrated European talents: costume designer Falk Bauer, set designer Herbert Murauer, video director Benjamin Lutke and assistant costume designer Frank Schonwald. The production also features music by composer Choe Uzong and vocal compositions by Han Seung-seok. The pansori will be performed by members of the National Changgeuk Company as well as independent performers selected through recent open auditions. Over 130 performers will take the stage in this large-scale co-production between the National Theater of Korea and the Jeonju International Sori Festival. The show will premiere at the Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on Aug. 13 and 14, then move to Seoul's National Theater of Korea on Sept. 3 and 6.
