Soprano Lee Ji-young to Play Supporting Role in `Fidelio'

Photo courtesy of MuAk Opera

Lee Ji-young, who wowed the local audience as a guest singer in Placido Domingo’s Seoul recital in January, will appear as Marzelline in MuAk Opera's production of ``Fidelio,'' which will be staged Thursday through Sunday at Seoul Arts Center.

Some felt baffled that the rising U.S.-based soprano accepted the minor part, but Lee expressed great affection for the production.

``I was initially reluctant about appearing in the opera, not because it was a supporting role -- Marzelline’s part actually suits my voice better than Leonore’s -- but because I debuted here only recently (in Domingo’s recital),’’ she told The Korea Times, Friday in Seoul. A graduate of Domingo’s prestigious Young Artist program, she received critical acclaim for a lead in the Washington National Opera.

But she was ultimately drawn to the visions of the newly founded Muak Opera and the initiative of the project, which also coincides with the celebration of the 120th anniversary of her alma mater Yonsei University. ``I think the `how’ or `why’ part, rather than `what’ you do, is more important,’’ she said.

Originally a classically trained pianist, Lee began singing at a very late age, her senior year in high school. ``I had never heard an opera until then,’’ she chuckled. ``But in college, I fell in love with `La Boheme’ through Prof. Kim Kwan-dong (MuAk Opera’s artistic general director).’’

Afterward, Lee headed to the U.S. for further study. The road to her blooming success, however, was far from easy, as visa problems postponed the launching of her career. Domingo’s program was the only one that granted visas to participants, and Lee entered what she calls a ``great turning point.’’

``I was almost 10 years older than most people in the program, but everyone has their own path. Before, I used to feel anxious about becoming a diva and making it big. But I prayed a lot to God and rediscovered my reason for singing,’’ she said.

Marzelline is certainly a minor part, but Lee said she is a most crucial character that uplifts the dark story and helps the protagonist. On the opening night of the Washington National Opera’s ``Daughter of the Regiment,’’ Domingo himself had presented Lee as ``the daughter of the opera house.’’ Indeed, Seoulites will be able to see Lee shine through, as this reporter did in a rehearsal of ``Fidelio,’’ for quality reigns over quantity.

``Fidelio’’ begins at 8 p.m. except for Sunday, which will be a 4 p.m. matinee show. Thursday and Saturday productions will be in Korean, while the ones on Friday and Sunday will be in German. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 150,000 won. Call (02) 720-3933.

Beethoven’s `Fidelio’ to Be Staged in 17 Years

(Photo courtesy of MuAk Opera)

Seoul’s classical music scene is becoming increasingly diverse, but operas remain mostly limited to the standard repertoire of Mozart, Puccini and Rossini. MuAk Opera presents Thursday through Sunday a rare production of Beethoven’s ``Fidelio’’ -- for the first time here in 17 years and for the first time in the original German.

Beethoven’s unique opera, ``Fidelio’’ has been seldom revived since its 1805 premiere in Vienna under the German master’s own baton. Johan Simons brought the piece back into focus last fall through a modern reinterpretation at the Opera Garnier in Paris.

``Fidelio’’ debuted here in 1970 but wasn’t restaged until 1992 due to the strict military regime of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Set in 18th-century Seville, Spain, it traces a faithful wife Leonore’s efforts to save her husband Florestan, who had been illegally imprisoned for revealing the corrupt acts of Don Pizarro. She disguises herself as a man and enters the prison as a guard under the alias Fidelio and schemes to rescue Florestan from death row -- ``Prison Break,’’ anyone?

``We chose to stage `Fidelio’ rather than more popular works such as `Tosca’ because we felt a responsibility to introduce novel works to opera lovers,’’ said artistic general director Kim Kwan-dong in a recent press conference in Seoul.

``It isn’t light entertainment, as it depicts human sufferings. But the universal messages are relevant in modern society and shows that light shines in darkness,’’ he said. ``The story is dark but it is ultimately a happy ending,’’ said director Choi Ji-hyung. Indeed, the opera celebrates the triumph of love, justice and freedom. It also has some comic relief in the tradition of Shakespeare’s ``Twelfth Night,’’ where a young girl, Marzelline, falls in love with Fidelio.

The visuals will reflect the stark realism of the story, but MuAk Opera promises spectacular music, especially for the famous ``Prisoners’ Chorus’’ with an impressive cast of over 100 singers from the Grande Opera Choir. ``We did not want to compromise the work’s artistry for economic factors,’’ said the director.

``I’ve had the pleasure of hearing maestro (Choi Seung-han) conduct the chorus, and it’s one of the most beautiful sounds I’ve heard. From the quiet pianissimos to the triple forte, it had perfect diction and the most beautiful sound,’’ said American tenor Steven Harrison, who will share the role of Florestan with the popular Han Yoon-seok. Meanwhile, sopranos Na Kyung-hye and Susan Anthony will alternate the part of Leonore.

``Fidelio’’ begins at 8 p.m. except for Sunday, which will be a 4 p.m. matinee show. Thursday and Saturday productions will be in Korean, while the ones on Friday and Sunday will be in German. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 150,000 won. Call (02) 720-3933.

Beethoven Galore

In addition to ``Fidelio,’’ other pieces of music by Beethoven will fill local halls throughout the month. The Seoul Spring Festival of Chamber Music, under the theme ``Beethoven Plus,’’ presents the composer’s chamber works through May 18 in various venues around the capital. Visit www.seoulspring.org.

On May 23, virtuoso pianist Kim Sun-wook will join his former teacher, pianist-conductor Kim Dae-jin, for Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra’s special two-part concert featuring Beethoven’s complete Piano Concertos, at Gyeonggi Arts Center in Seoul’s satellite city, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Call (031) 288-2813~5.

Video Art to Capture Flight of `Madame Butterfly’

The Trieste Verdi Theater will stage what is expected to be a visually stimulating rendition of Giacomo Puccini’s ``Madame Butterfly’’ for its first tour in Korea. The original cast and crew of the top Italian theater will present the opera next week at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

The performance is part of the Trieste Verdi’s cultural exchange with the Sejong Center -- a welcoming news since the theater is known here as the debut stage of Korean prima donna Sumi Jo. Lorenzo Fratini, who will conduct the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, said in an email interview with The Korea Times that the project is an ``extremely important endeavor’’ and ``will help the growth of two major theaters of the East and West.’’

Director Giulio Ciabatti
Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

``Madame Butterfly’’ has been among the most frequently staged repertories since its premiere in 1904, but the upcoming production will be unique and in sync with modern times by featuring digital stage sets inspired by the video art of the late Paik Nam-june. Art director Pier Paolo Bisleri said he is an ardent fan of the world-renowned Korean artist. Moreover, director Giulio Ciabatti explained that the medium expresses the essence of the story and fulfills both artistic and technical purposes.

The director aims to focus on the romance and despair of Madame Butterfly rather than on cultural or political issues that mark the original piece. ``The most important reason for choosing video art is because I wanted to express the noble human spirit rather than Asian customs and character. I also wanted to depict loneliness and emptiness of the human condition rather than the spatial manifestation of time,’’ he said. >>More

March Offers Special Opera Feast

March will be a special treat for local opera fans, with three must-see productions coming to the stage. Seoul Arts Center's Opera Theater makes its grand reopening March 6-14 with a star-studded production of ``Le Nozze di Figaro.'' The National Opera restages ``The Magic Flute,'' March 10-15 and Italy's Trieste Verdi Theater performs for the first time in Korea with ``Madame Butterfly,'' March 12-15. >>More

Indulge in Imaginative Operas on Small Stages

The Seoul Opera Ensemble is staging “Mozart and Salieri” as part of its opera festival at the National Theater of Korea through July 27. / Courtesy of Seoul Opera Ensemble

Last month, the Seoul Opera Ensemble Company staged a hip version of Verdi's ``Rigoletto'' at the Towol Theater, Seoul Arts Center. Such small stages will continue to host operas that flirt with experimental structures and bring audiences closer to the genre.

The Small Theater Opera festival, currently ongoing through July 27 at the National Theater of Korea, features rare-to-see pieces such as Rimsky-Korsakov's ``Mozart and Salieri.'' The work dramatizes the supposedly fatal rivalry between the two composers in 18th-century Vienna, and inspired the critically acclaimed Milos Forman movie ``Amadeus'' (1984).

Accompanying the show are works by the Mozart and Salieri themselves, ``Der Schauspieldirektor (The Impresario)'' and ``Prima la musica e poi le parole (Music Comes Before Speech),'' respectively. At the time, it is said that the emperor assigned the two to write an opera about the birth of opera, and Salieri's piece was preferred over Mozart's satirical criticism of the corrupt music scene.

Tickets for each opera cost from 30,000 won to 50,000 won. Call (02) 6223-5312 or visit www.seoulopera.org. Located near Dongguk University station, line 3, exit 6.

While Seoul Arts Center prepares for its Opera Theater's reopening in mid-December with ``The Nutcracker,'' the Towol Theater will continue to resound with operatic arias. The National Opera of Korea invites first-time opera-goers and avid fans to watch Bizet's Spanish love story ``Carmen'' July 23-Aug. 1.

Tickets cost from 10,000 won to 50,000 won Students and children can receive special discounts up to 50 percent, with the lowest reservation price costing 5,000 won. Call (02) 586-5282.

In August, Seoul Arts Center presents Mozart's ``The Magic Flute'' from Aug. 9 to 24. This is part of the center's annual best-selling summer vacation treat for families. The fantastic visuals and storyline featuring nymphs and singing flutes will captivate children and adults alike. Under the baton of Christopher Lee from Austria, the Seoul Arts Center Festival Orchestra and the country's top singers will deliver a night of magic with the stellar Queen of the Night aria.

Tickets cost 30,000 won to 50,000 won. Call (02) 580-1300 or visit www.sac.or.kr (Korean and English). The center is located near Nambu Bus Terminal station, subway line 3, exit 5.