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Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'The Rising World' - a message-driven opera that wades through cloudy narrative
While not perfect, 'The Rising World' marks a bold and promising step for the Seoul Arts Center. "Tick, tick, tick, tick ..." A chorus encircles a giant ticking clock as they chant. Inside is a figure -- an artisan who sacrifices herself to restore order. Her act saves the princess and many others from a world submerged by water. What follows, the scene shows, is left to those who remain. One might read this as an allegory -- a warning about climate change, or a meditation on the power of unconditional sacrifice. In its first-ever original opera production, the Seoul Arts Center on Sunday premiered 'The Rising World,' composed by Mary Finsterer with a libretto by Tom Wright. While the music -- performed by the cast and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Steven Osgood -- was solidly executed, the narrative's arrival at that core message required the audience to wade through water -- slow and murky. The new opera presents a female-driven drama performed by top singers, soprano Hwang Soo-mi and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi, set in an imaginative world that suffers from rising water after the princess becomes possessed by a water spirit. It offers no explanation of why the princess is possessed. That lack of exposition might have been forgivable -- even compelling -- had the narrative flowed with greater emotional momentum. A dramatic scene in which court advisers argue over how to handle the princess' possession stretches on without a dramatic payoff. One wonders if, with tonal variation -- even humor -- this segment could have landed more effectively. Musically, the score feels accessible and at times gently textured. Fluidity runs through the opera, echoing the motif of water throughout its orchestration, but it falls short of a powerful moment of catharsis. Visually, the aesthetic of the set and costumes evokes Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" -- a world defined by slate grays and deep blues. The stage is minimal yet symbolic, evoking ancient ruins. With this work, the Seoul Arts Center signals its ambition to reach global audiences through an English-language opera, backed by an international creative team -- including director Stephen Carr, who ensured that the production also incorporated culturally resonant elements for Korean audiences, such as traditional jars, the melancholic twang of the geomungo, and chants delivered in Korean. "The Rising World" will be presented two more times on May 29 and 31. gypark@
Korea Herald
18-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Korea's opera scene to fill with fresh energy this spring
This spring, South Korea's opera scene will be brimming with fresh energy, featuring the world premiere of 'The Rising World: Spirit of Water,' the Korean premiere of metaopera 'Amopera,' a sleek modern take on 'The Marriage of Figaro' and a fusion of opera and theater with 'Faust.' SAC's 'The Rising World: Spirit of Water' The Seoul Arts Center will present the world premiere of its new opera, 'The Rising World: Spirit of Water,' this May. The production blends traditional Korean themes with a contemporary sensibility in an English-language work. This is the first time the SAC has produced an original opera, from the libretto to the score. The production brings together internationally acclaimed talents. Mary Finsterer, one of Australia's foremost opera composers, composed the score, while playwright Tom Wright wrote the libretto. Steven Osgood, celebrated for his work at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where he conducted "Dead Man Walking" and "Grounded," will lead the Korean National Symphony Orchestra. The opera tells the story of a princess entranced by a water spirit and a female water clock artisan determined to change the kingdom's fate, presenting a universal narrative that bridges East and West. By highlighting the compelling journey and sacrifices of a princess and an artisan, the production breaks away from the trope of women as victims. The production features an impressive lineup of internationally renowned opera singers, including Soprano Hwang Su-mi, who stars as the Princess, a future ruler transformed through the chaos of the story; and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi, who takes on the role of the Artisan, crafting the water clock to save the kingdom. Tenor Robin Tritschler, a seasoned performer at Covent Garden's Royal Opera House and the Salzburg Festival, plays the Apprentice while bass-baritone Ashley Riches, a globally celebrated recitalist, portrays the King. Countertenor Jung Min-ho, an early music specialist active in both Korea and Europe, plays the Spirit of Water, infusing the production with an air of mystique. 'The Rising World: The Spirit of Water' will have its world premiere at the SAC's Opera House on May 25, followed by performances on May 29 and 30. National Opera Company's star-studded "The Marriage of Figaro' The National Opera Company of Korea opens the 2025 season with Mozart's masterpiece 'The Marriage of Figaro.' This opera buffa, filled with satire and criticism of the aristocracy, has entertained audiences for centuries. Now, under the creative vision of French director Vincent Boussard -- acclaimed for his reinterpretation of Mozart's Da Ponte trilogy at the Berlin State Opera (2021-2022) -- and designer Pierre Yovanovitch, celebrated for his luxurious French aesthetic, the latest production offers a fresh, contemporary interpretation with visual sophistication. Notably, this production marks Yovanovitch's debut as a costume designer. He will merge traditional Korean elements, such as knots and hanbok influences, with 1920s-30s fashion, crafting 53 unique costumes that blend history and modernity. 'The Marriage of Figaro' presents an exceptional ensemble, featuring Yang Jun-mo and Lee Dong-hwan as Count Almaviva and Hong Joo-young, and Choi Ji-eun as Countess Almaviva. Lee Hye-jung and Son Na-rae will take on Suzanna. The role of Figaro will be shared by Kim Byung-gil and Park Jae-sung. David Reiland, artistic director of the Korean National Symphony Orchestra, will lead the National Opera Company of Korea. Seoul Metropolitan Opera's 'Faust' Seoul Metropolitan Opera's 'Faust' blends opera with theater, elevating the dramatic intensity of the play by Goethe and the opera by Gounod. The production builds on the success of 'Faust: The Devil's Whisper,' which premiered as part of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' 2022 Sync Next Season, a festival that pushed the boundaries of genres. Following its acclaimed debut, the "O'Play" concept now expands to a larger stage, featuring a star-studded cast. Veteran actor Jung Dong-hwan, with 55 years of stage experience, takes on the role of the elderly Faust in Act I, adding depth and dramatic intensity to the production. For the role of Mephistopheles, bass-baritone Samuel Youn and bass Jeon Tae-hyun will take the stage, while tenors Kim Hyo-jong and Park Seung-joo portray Faust. Sopranos Son Ji-hye and Hwang Su-mi will bring Marguerite to life, with baritones Lee Seung-wang and Kim Ki-hoon playing Valentin. 'Faust" will be performed four times at the Sejong Center Grand Theater from April 10 to April 13. 'Amopera' by Daegu Opera House '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, which premiered in November 2022 in Austria, is a collaboration between the Austrian contemporary music ensemble Klangforum Wien and the internationally acclaimed Belgian arts collective Needcompany. By intertwining musical, visual and literary components, 'Amopera' presents audiences with captivating and unfamiliar experiences, according to the opera house in Daegu, a city that has promoted itself as a hub for musical productions and operas by introducing new works. The title "Amopera" carries dual meanings. The first interpretation, "amor opera" ("love opera"), suggests a thematic focus on love, while 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.
