From 'Chunhyang' to 'Prince Hodong,' ballet and opera incorporate traditional Korean sounds
A scene from the “The Love of Chunhyang” / Courtesy of the Universal Ballet
By Dong Sun-hwa
One of the most notable trends in the performing arts field these days is that the performances originating in the West frequently incorporate traditional Korean sounds, blending different cultures to produce fascinating hybrids that can appeal to a wider audience.
At the forefront of this trend is the Universal Ballet, which is scheduled to stage “The Love of Chunhyang” from March 18 to 20 at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea (NTOK) located in central Seoul.
“The Love of Chunhyang” is based on the story of “Chunhyangga,” from the traditional Korean genre of musical storytelling called pansori. It tells the love story of Seong Chun-hyang, the daughter of a “gisaeng” named Wolmae, and Yi Mong-ryong, the son of a government official. Gisaeng refers to a female entertainer of male customers in the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty.
Although a greedy magistrate named Byeon Hak-do tries to take Seong as his concubine while Yi is away, Seong refuses to do so and is imprisoned for her refusal. But she is rescued by Yi in the end, and the two achieve a happy ending.
For the Universal Ballet's upcoming offering, “Chunhyangga” will meet Russian composer Tchaikovsky's ballet hits so as to create a unique harmony. First premiered in 2007, “The Love of Chunhyang” has been garnering rave reviews from numerous critics for its “remarkable combination of the Eastern and the Western cultures.”
“It will be crucial for us to strike a balance between classic and contemporary, while paying extra attention on various elements ranging from choreography to music,” the Universal Ballet General Director Julia Moon said. “The tale of Seong, a progressive woman who did not give up her love despite hardships, will be able to give people an important lesson. Our upcoming performance will attempt to highlight this and reveal our artistic prowess at the same time.”
A scene from “Prince Hodong” / Courtesy of the Korea National Opera
“Prince Hodong” by the Korea National Opera is another new show that has grabbed people's attention for incorporating the sounds of traditional Korean instruments like “Haegeum.” The performance, which hit the stage on March 11 and 12 at the Haeoreum Grand Theater, is based on a Korean folk tale about the star-crossed lovers, Prince Hodong, a son of the third king of Goguryeo (37 B.C-668 A.D.) ― one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea ― and Princess Nakrang of the Nakrang Kingdom.
At the request of Hodong, Nakrang destroys a drum that automatically warns people of her kingdom's invasion, leading Goguryeo to conquer Nakrang. The princess is later killed by her father for what she did.
Premiered in 1962, “Prince Hodong” is a creation that laid the foundation for Korean operas and captures the characters of Korean shows without ditching the essential elements of an opera.
“We tried to add a modern twist to our history and the well-known folk tale, so that we can stretch people's imagination,” director Han Seung-won said.