Singing miracle
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A scene from “The Tenor: Lirico Spinto” / Courtesy of More In Group
A story of opera singer who once lost his voice will hit the screen
By Baek Byung-yeul
Poster for “The Tenor: Lirico Spinto”
A biographic film, focusing on Korean opera singer who made a successful comeback after losing his voice due to thyroid cancer, will hit the screens at the end of this year.
“The Tenor: Lirico Spinto” tells the story of a talented tenor Bae Jae-chul, who once regarded as one of the world’s top opera singers, performing in numerous European operas. However, at his career peak, Bae was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2005 and went through an operation that cut his nerves of vocal cords to prevent spread of cancer cells, accepting risk of possibility of losing singing ability.
Though the operation was successful, he remained unable to even speak. With an introduction from a Japanese music producer, he regained his voice after going through another surgery to recover his voice. Now, Bae can sing only half of his full voice of his heyday, but his story has become an inspiration to many.
In the film, veteran actor Yoo Ji-tae features as Bae and actress Cha Ye-ryun takes a role of Bae’s wife.
“This film tells the story of how the top tenor, who was in his peak, falls into bottomless pit and recovers from it,” Yoo said to reporters at a theater in Seoul on Nov. 25.
“Before shooting the film, I had a chance to meet with Bae. As soon as I encountered him, I felt like there is a big lion in front of me. He was very charismatic.”
The 38-year-old actor, who rose to stardom after taking a villain role in 2003 film “Old Boy,” added that he decided to takes the starring role right after he read the draft of the film.
“I decided to appear in the film as soon as I read the scenario. I was so excited about the life of Bae though the whole film making process was challenging,” he said.
To become an opera singer, Yoo had practiced singing like an actual singer for more than a year.
“Yoo is such a perfectionist. He went to practice singing everyday for more than a year and mastered every opera song he sings in the film,” actress Cha, who took a role of Bae’s devoted wife in the film, said.
Director Kim Sang-man said he intended to name the title of the film as “Miracle” in a pre-production.
“I gave a title of this film as ‘Miracle,’ but changed it into ‘The Tenor: Lirico Spinto’ as I thought the word miracle discloses the result of the whole story,” Kim said.
“Though I thought the word ‘lirico spinto’ would be unfamiliar with Korean audiences, I used it because that title could arouse the audiences’ curiosity.”
Lirico spinto, Italian for “pushed lyric,” refers to a tenor voice that is versatile enough to sing in the style of a lirico, a singer with a softer voice and a spinto, one with dramatic voice. Bae was talented enough to manage both.
Including pre-production and planning, it took about 18 months to complete “The Tenor.” With a multinational cast including Japanese actor Yusuke Iseya, who takes a role of a Japanese music producer Koji Sawaya and Serbian actress Natasa Tapuskovic, the miracle story of Bae was shot in Korea, Japan and Serbia.
“The Tenor” has been well received in the international film festivals. It was premiered at many international film festivals including the 17th Shanghai International Film Festival and this year’s Busan International Film Festival and Taiwan’s Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards.
“The Tenor Lirico Spinto” will be screened nationwide from Dec. 31. Rated 12 and over. Runs 114 minutes. In Korean.