[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The musical 'Mozart!', celebrating its 10th anniversary since its Korean premiere, will open this June at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, featuring a star-studded cast of top domestic musical stars including Kim Junsu, Park Eun-tae, Shin Young-sook, and Kim So-hyun.
The musical 'Mozart!' is a work created by the legendary musical duo of playwright Michael Kunze and composer Sylvester Levay, who also created 'Elisabeth', 'Rebecca', and 'Marie Antoinette'. It premiered in Vienna, Austria in 1999 and has since been performed over 2,200 times in nine countries worldwide including Germany, Sweden, Japan, Hungary, and Korea, attracting more than 2.4 million viewers.
In Korea, it premiered in 2010 and has undergone five changes over the past decade, being introduced in three major versions domestically. The 2020 musical 'Mozart!' 10th anniversary commemorative performance features director Yoo Hee-sung, who directed the 2010 premiere as well as the 2011 and 2012 productions, as the artistic director, and director Adrian Osmond, who enhanced the artistic quality with a new approach in 2014, as the director. Osmond said, "This production will combine the best elements from each season, making it the most successful storytelling across all seasons."
From the left, Kim Junsu, Park Kanghyun, and Park Euntae as Wolfgang Mozart Photo by EMK Musical Company
The cast is also spectacular. Kim Junsu, Park Kang-hyun, and Park Eun-tae will play the role of 'Mozart', the genius composer yearning for freedom and the protagonist of the musical 'Mozart!'. Especially for Kim Junsu, 'Mozart!' holds special meaning as it was his debut musical stage. Kim Junsu shared, "I had the honor of performing in the premiere of 'Mozart!' at the Sejong Center 10 years ago, and it is a great honor to stand on the same stage again after 10 years. I am also celebrating my 10th anniversary since my musical debut, and I feel deeply moved and happy to participate in this special work that made the current Kim Junsu possible."
'Mozart!' is also a special work for Park Eun-tae. He was first cast as the lead in the premiere of 'Mozart!' and performed a total of 64 shows until the 2014 production, holding the record for the most performances as Mozart. Park Eun-tae expressed his excitement, saying, "I have grown alongside Mozart and have now aged ten years. I am very happy and deeply moved to play Mozart again. I will do my best to create an enjoyable stage."
Mozart will appear as a unique character resembling a rebel and rock star of the era, wearing torn jeans and a red jacket.
Kim So-hyang, Kim Yeon-ji, and Haena have been cast as Constanze Weber, Mozart's free-spirited and charming wife. Kim So-hyang will play Constanze for the third consecutive time. Kim Yeon-ji successfully debuted on the musical stage last year as Magritte in 'Marie Antoinette', and Haena has recently gained attention as a next-generation musical actress through her roles in 'The Bodyguard' and 'Jekyll & Hyde'.
Min Young-ki and Son Jun-ho will play Archbishop Colloredo, who views Mozart as a divine task and tries to bind him. Min Young-ki will take on the role of Archbishop Colloredo for the sixth time.
From the left, Min Young-ki and Son Jun-ho as Archbishop of Colorado, Shin Young-sook and Kim So-hyun as Baroness von Waltherstetten Shin Young-sook and Kim So-hyun will appear as the Baroness von Waldst?tten, a noblewoman and patron who opens the door to freedom and success for Mozart. Shin Young-sook, who has been responsible for all seasons since the premiere, will appear on the 'Mozart!' stage for the sixth time.
Additionally, Yoon Young-seok and Hong Kyung-soo will play Mozart's father, Leopold Mozart. Jeon Soo-mi and Bae Da-hae have been cast as Mozart's sister, Nannerl Mozart, and Kim Young-joo and Joo-ah will play Cecilia Weber, Constanze's mother who tries to use Mozart. Moon Sung-hyuk will appear as Emmanuel Schikaneder, the producer of the opera The Magic Flute, and Lee Sang-jun will play Count Arco, Archbishop Colloredo's right-hand man who adds flavor to the play.
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