By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
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.
Mozart's ``Le Nozze di Figaro'' will grace the reopening of Seoul Arts Center's Opera Theater. Even though the comic opera was recently staged by the National Opera, operagoers can expect something different in the upcoming rendition by celebrated and uncompromising Scottish director David McVicar.
The Royal Opera House production, staged in 2006 for Mozart's 250th birthday and a recording of which was chosen as the Best DVD of the Year by Deutsche Grammophon, will be revived here under the direction of Justin Way.
Top singers will appear, including internationally renowned soprano Shin Young-ok in the role of Susanna, young Italian baritone Giorgio Caoduro as Figaro and critically acclaimed countertenor David Dong Qyu Lee ― rather than a mezzo-soprano ― as Cherubino.
Baritone Yun Hyung will play the role of Count Almaviva, while Sara Jakubiak, a rising soprano from the United States, will be the Countess. The National Chorus of Korea will join the singers and Ion Marin will conduct the Korean Symphony Orchestra.
The opera will be staged March 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 at Seoul Arts Center, near Nambu Bus Terminal. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 200,000 won. Call (02) 580-1300.
The National Opera of Korea's popular production of ``The Magic Flute" will be restaged. Despite the tide of big budget operas, this small but high quality franchise has consistently drawn a sizable family audience.
Mozart's fantastic story, featuring the famous Queen of the Night Aria, will come to life under the direction of Michael Ashman, complete with colorful costumes and sets. Johannes Stert will conduct the TIMF Ensemble.
``The Magic Flute'' will be staged March 10-15 at LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 100,000 won. Call (02) 586-5282.
The Trieste Verdi Theater, one of the top four Italian troupes, will give its first performance in Korea. The original cast and crew of the 207-year-old theater present Puccini's beloved love story ``Madame Butterfly."
Sopranos Raffaella Angletti and Mina Yamazaki will share the role of Madame Butterfly, while tenors Mario Malagnini and Roberto De Biasio will alternately play Pinkerton. Giulio Ciabatti directs the production, while Lorenzo Fratini will conduct the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra and Trieste Verdi Theater Choir, part of Trieste Verdi Theater's cultural exchange program with the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, which gave sell-out performances of ``La Trivia'' in the Italian theater last December. Korea's foremost soprano, Sumi Jo, is also known for making her opera debut there.
The opera will run four times March 12-15 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets cost from 30,000 won to 250,000 won. Call (02) 399-1114.
The National Opera of Korea plans to stage an original opera at the end of the year that will enhance Korea's national brand image, and is accepting synopses from Feb. 23 to March 6.
Anyone can submit original opera synopses based on the themes of nature, cycles, healing, Asian identity, sacrifice, destruction, death and resurrection. Prizes range from 500,000 won to 5 million won.
In addition to the competition, the National Opera also plans to recruit talented writers and composers. For more information, visit www.nationalopera.org or call (02) 586-5282.