National Opera head vows to create fairer environment for opera productions

The Korea National Opera's newly appointed artistic/general director Park Hyung-sik speaks during a press conference at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korea National Opera

By Anna J. Park

Korea National Opera's newly appointed Artistic / General Director Park Hyung-sik, 66, vowed to create a fairer environment in the country's opera community. Park, a former opera singer and former CEO of major theaters and arts foundations across the country, was appointed by the culture ministry for a three-year-term earlier this month.

During a press conference held at Seoul Arts Center Tuesday, Park unveiled his goals and principles that he plans to execute during his term that ends in September 2022. One of the major changes he wants to bring is for a new artistic director to be appointed each season to enhance fairness and foster diversity in opera productions.

“By appointing artistic directors for each season, I hope to provide more equal and fair opportunities for a wide spectrum of artists and staffs to be part of the Korea National Opera, as the appointed artistic directors will have their own authority and responsibility for casting singers and production staff,” Park said.

“As the previous artistic director has already completed the performances for the next year, this new policy will begin to be applied from 2021.”

Performances for each season will also be decided at a committee. Park stressed that while he will be in charge of the overall management of the opera company in both artistic and business perspectives, much of his given roles and authorities will be delegated to a wider number of people in each production to bring out a fairer environment for all.

Park also vowed to launch a consultative program among universities, private opera companies and the national opera to establish collaborative networks. Through such a move, he aims to strengthen the opera's role in leading the opera industry in a more transparent direction, including systematizing more transparent auditions and raising performance fees to a realistic level.

Another focus will be given to create original Korean opera repertoires by Korean artists.

“The Korea National Opera aims to boost competitive original productions for sustainable growth of the opera industry in Korea. This will create not only quality jobs in the nation, but also build a bridge for the Korean opera productions to advance into foreign markets,” he said. “I will do my best to present opera works that can give comfort to the public.”

Opera singers, director and conductor for “The Tales of Hoffmann” pose for a photo during the press conference at the Seoul Arts Center in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Korea National Opera

The next production by the Korea National Opera, meanwhile, is J. Offenbach's French-language opera “The Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes D'Hoffmann),” to be held during the four days from Oct. 24 to 27.

German maestro Sebastian Lang-Lessing and French director Vencent Boussard join the production; famed tenors Jean-Francois Borras and Oliver Kook will alternate the role of Hoffmann, while sopranos Cristina Pasaroiu and Yoon Sang-ah will alternate the challenging multi-roles of Hoffmann's lovers.