By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The Korea National Opera (KNO) has invited operagoers to judge the first two of its original homespun operas in a showcase to be held from Dec. 17 to 20 at Seoul Arts Center's Jayu Theater.
Two operas, ``Jigui'' and ``Arang,'' were selected through an opera script contest for the KNO's ``My Opera Movement'' (MOM), a long-term initiative to encourage local opera productions.
Some 300 judges have been selected on a first-come, first-serve basis to preview and judge the projects, which will be presented back-to-back in condensed, 50-minute versions.
The audience will be required to evaluate the operas and the piece that receives the more favorable review will be staged as a full production next spring.
``The showcase pieces have been prepared through a rigorous incubating process. The opera scriptwriters received mentoring from professionals and took part in workshops, and gave private previews,'' said Lee So-young, artistic director of the KNO.
``The project was launched to further the potential of original local operas, and it will be a chance to view unique operas that not only depict elements of traditional Korean culture but also bring together a young generation of opera producers,'' she said, adding that the opera script contest and showcase will continue next year.
The operas are distinctive for not only their traditional subject matter but also for combining classical music with ``gugak'' (traditional Korean music) and theatrical elements.
``Jigui'' and ``Arang'' were inspired by ancient Korean legends originating from the Silla Kingdom (57 B.C. to A.D.935) and Miryang, South Gyeongsang Province, respectively.
Queen Seondeok, the first queen of Silla, has inspired a hit TV series and will soon be the heroine of a musical. ``Jigui'' tells the story of a young man who loved the stunning Princess Deokman, who would later become Queen Seondeok. Jigui, a royal descendant of the fallen Gaya Kingdom (42 to 562), is desperately infatuated with Princess Deokman. But unable to overcome their differences in social standing, he tragically dies in a fire that was ``ignited'' by his own passion, and turns into a ``hwagui,'' or ``fire ghost.''
Kim Seong-keun composed the music while Lee Yun-seol and Park Mi-kyung worked on the script. Opera director Ahn Ho-won will stage the show while Park In-woock will conduct.
Miryang has become famous in recent years as the backdrop of Lee Chang-dong's award-winning movie ``My Secret Sunshine,'' starring Jeon Do-yeon. This time the small, mist-shrouded town becomes the setting for ``Arang,'' a work of folklore about a girl who dies for unjust reasons.
When a young girl named Arang turns up dead after having gone missing, Miryang's vice-envoys die one after the other. Lee, the newly appointed vice-envoy, sets out to uncover the shocking truth behind Arang's death and to console her spirit.
Gugak composer Hwang Ho-joon provided the original score for the opera based on the script by Kim Min-jeong. Theater director Seo Jae-hyung will direct the production while Jin Sung-soo will wield the baton.
Visit www.nationalopera.org for more information.