Celebration of Verdi
A scene from “Aida,” a large-scale production set in ancient Egypt. / Courtesy of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
Sejong Center's 'Aida' undoubtfully one of the year's highlights in performing arts
By Do Je-hae
Verdi’s “Aida” will be staged at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts on April 25-28.
The Sejong Center for the Performing Arts has joined the global celebration to mark the Verdi bi-centennial by staging "Aida," an opera set in ancient Egypt.
Although it is one of the Italian composer’s finest works, it has rarely been staged in Korea because it is such a large-scale, expensive production.
The production is one of the center’s highlights of the year, according to a briefing by Bagh In-bae, the center’s CEO, Monday.
What is unique about this production is that the audience can participate in it.
Beside the Seoul Metropolitan Choir, an amateur choir will perform on stage during the show. The performance will take place on April 25-28.
The last time "Aida" performed at the center was in 1988, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the cultural landmark.
"We have brought back 'Aida' 25 years after it was first staged at our center. Our focus for this production is to get the audience involved in this magnificent artistic journey," Lee Gun-yong, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Opera said.
The Opera is one of nine art troupes based at the center. It is one of the more successful companies there and has been leading a homegrown opera movement that started in the mid 2000s. Last year, the troupe staged “Yeonseo” or “Love Letter," featuring an original score by Seoul National University professor Choe Uzong and a libretto in Korean to facilitate the understanding of listeners.
Bagh, who was appointed in January 2012 for a three-year term, has focused on advancing the competitiveness of the center's art troupes since the beginning of his appointment. The groups specialize in traditional and modern arts and include the Seoul Metropolitan Opera, the Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra and the Seoul Metropolitan Theater.
To that end, the center has launched a project to encourage the development of musicals, plays and operas by the troupes.
“It is a priority to improve the competitiveness of our arts groups. One of the problems has been that our nine arts groups have yet to produce a work that has staying power," Bagh said.
Public participation and arts education have also been important policy initiatives for Bagh, who has extensive experience in theater as a producer and artistic director.
During the briefing, he said he will continue to focus on delivering the arts to the people through educational activities, particularly through the improvement of the Sejong Arts Academy.
Bagh's core plans also include diversifying the functions of the center, including providing access to the audio-visual center for visitors. The new wing will house more practice spaces and working studios for the nine ensembles that are affiliated with the center.