Jenkins sheds light on Korean opera talents

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Jenkins sheds light on Korean opera talents

Posted : 2014-10-20 17:10

Updated : 2014-10-20 18:03

The Korea National Opera presents Verdi's "Otello," conducted by Graeme Jenkins, in celebration of the 450th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare at Seoul Arts Center from Nov. 6 to 9. / Courtesy of Korea National Opera

Conductor Graeme Jenkin

By Lee Yeon-joo

Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Otello," based on English playwright William Shakespeare's play "Othello," will be staged at the Opera House of Seoul Arts Center from Nov. 6 to 9 in honor of the 450th anniversary of the birth of Shakespeare.

Renowned English conductor Graeme Jenkins, in collaboration with director Stephen Lawless and the Korean Symphony Orchestra, will take on one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.

Following a rehearsal session, Jenkins sat down with Korea Times for an interview. Having studied at the University of Cambridge and Royal College of Music, he made his conducting debut with the Dallas Opera in 1992 and became its music director. He worked with the company for 20 years before returning to England.

"Othello" tells the story of an evil man Iago, who out of jealousy and hatred persuades his master Othello that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with Othello's number one lieutenant, Cassio. Othello falls into the trap and drives into insanity, killing both his wife and himself.

Jenkins summarized the opera as a "slow drip of irony from Iago that acts like a slowly enveloping cobweb and crushes Otello." Indeed, the dramatic opera will take viewers on a journey through the spectrum of human nature, from love and lust to greed and hatred. Yet, in a country like Korea where the mainstream interest seems to be inclined towards K-pop, the question of whether this opera can attract young audiences remains.

Jenkins noted that in places such as Vienna, where there are three opera houses with sold-out performances every night, watching the opera is a rather "cool thing." But elsewhere, watching the opera seems to be a rarity. He commented, "It has become increasingly hard for high culture to get a look-in. Television doesn't cover it and it's the same in movies. You watch an old film noir. The scenes there are quite lengthy. You watch all these American series and it's all cut, cut, quick thing. There's no length and plot development is done through cutting."

He attributed an increasing lack of attention span in young people as one possible explanation for the declining popularity in opera. Opera requires patience, both for the audience and performers. While talent shows these days such as "The X-Factor" can turn aspiring singers into overnight sensations, it takes nearly seven years to really be able to sing opera. Jenkins explained, "It's not just the voice, but the stagecraft, being able to act, fight, to have the languages."

Surprisingly, while the "hallyu," or the Korean Wave, has been sweeping globally, Korean opera singers have also been making some impressions overseas. Jenkins commended the level of diligence and talent in Korean singers. He noted that two years ago, he conducted a big German music competition and in the finals, there was one German and everyone else was Korean.

He said, "I was really, really impressed by the quality and also how the youngsters are now beginning to act with their faces. Young Koreans I've worked with, they are really hungry to do it."

In the second cast of "Otello," Korean tenor Rudy Park will play the protagonist. Jenkins was not shy to praise him. "This young tenor is going to be very, very famous. He is doing Otello for the first time. He has a fantastic voice, really fantastic."

Jenkins himself did not come from a musical family, but gained interest in opera when he was 17 after going to see "Don Giovanni," as recommended to him by the English department in his school. He eventually went to Cambridge to study economics, but sang everyday as a choral scholar. It was the play Amadeus, which really triggered him to pursue a career in conducting.

With some education, increased awareness and information regarding opera, maybe more Koreans will develop an interest in the art form and gain an appreciation for it. As for the upcoming performances of "Otello," Jenkins expressed his wishes that young people come see the show and that viewers "sympathize with Othello because it's absolutely not his fault that he kills his wife. It is this terrible man Iago who all the time goes ‘My Lord, she is having an affair, she's been to bed with that man'... and Othello goes absolutely berserk."

Jenkins will be conducting four days in a row, but asserts that his adrenaline will always be running with the growing intensity and excitement of each scene and performance. The music and stage performance will all come together to relive one of Verdi's and Shakespeare's works of genius.

Tickets cost from 10,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, visit www.sac.or.kr.

The writer is an intern for The Korea Times.

yjwlee@gmail.com