Participating companies include the state-funded Korea National Opera and four private opera companies _ New Seoul Opera Company, Grand Opera Company, Nuova Opera Company and Seoul Opera Company. They will present well-known works like “Les Contes d’Hoffmann,” “La Traviata,” “Tosca” and “Le Nozze Di Figaro.”
The main purpose of this event is to increase the popularity of home-grown works, some of which will be presented by the Korea National Opera (KNO) to conclude the festival. The KNO will present 12 pieces it has created in the last 50 years to close the festival on June 7 and 8.
The executive director of Korea National Opera, Kim Eui-joon said, “I hope that not only famous European operas but also local creations will become more important to audiences through the gala shows.” Performances of the KNO will include scenes from “Opera Chunhyang,” the first local opera produced in 1950 and “Prince Hodong.“ Both are inspired by folk stories of young lovers who become obstacles.
The KNO recently feted its 50 years with a production of Puccini’s tragic love story “La Boheme,” in collaboration with Chung Myung-whun’s Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra (SPO) accompanying a cast of established and up and coming vocalists.
It has been 63 years since Korea staged its first opera ― Verdi’s tragic “La Traviata” ― in the heart of Myeong-dong. Since then, opera’s increasing popularity has led to the establishment of major opera festivals here in the 2000s. The Daegu Opera Festival was organized in 2003 as Asia’s first international opera festival.
KNO said, ”We will organize the festival to honor the 200th anniversary of the birth of Verdi in 2013.“
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