[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] The National Opera Company is establishing various video production programs that allow audiences to enjoy performances while maintaining social distancing to overcome the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Through these video production projects, the company plans to revitalize the domestic performing arts scene, which has been stagnant due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, and provide the public with opportunities to enjoy cultural arts.
The National Opera Company will first hold three opera highlight concerts. Audiences can enjoy a balanced selection of arias, ensembles, and choruses from Italian operas most beloved by Koreans in the 'Opera Highlight Concert - Italy I, II' (April 27-28 at Suwon SK Atrium / July 2-3 at Namhansanseong Art Hall), and a concert featuring French and German works titled 'Opera vs Operetta Highlight Concert - France & Germany' (June 1-2 at Mapo Art Center). These performances will be held without an audience, but the produced videos will be released on the National Opera Company's YouTube channel, and some performances will be broadcast live via Naver.
The National Opera Company plans to hold auditions to select performers for the 'Opera Highlight Concert' to provide performance opportunities for vocalists. Approximately 70 performers will be selected in this audition, with a particular focus on emerging vocalists who graduated from university more than three years ago and have experience performing lead or supporting roles. Applications for the audition will be accepted from April 17 to 22, and the auditions will take place on May 6-7 at the National Arts Organization Practice Building N Studio.
Additionally, the company will present the 'Textbook Music Concert in Video' (April 10, Seoul Arts Center Recital Hall), where audiences can experience all the vocal pieces found in textbooks, and the 'New Spring Hope Sharing Concert' (April 23, Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall), featuring opera arias and art songs. These two concerts will be co-hosted with the Seoul Arts Center and will operate a 'spaced seating system' as a pilot program, allowing a limited number of attendees under strict quarantine management.
At the 'Textbook Music Concert in Video,' vocal pieces included in textbooks will be presented in various thematic segments. The produced videos will be streamed online and also developed into online learning content for students, which will be distributed free of charge to educational institutions at all levels. The 'New Spring Hope Sharing Concert' will be broadcast through SBS Culture Relay.
Furthermore, the National Opera Company will stream the 2020 'Opera Gala,' consisting of Verdi's 'Nabucco' and Choi Woo-jung's '1945' (May 15-16, Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater), live on Naver and broadcast it through KBS's relay booth.
Performers for the school opera and regional touring performances, which will resume in the second half of the year, will also be selected through auditions. The National Opera Company's school opera tours nationwide with over 100 performances annually. The program consists of 'Opera Journey in the Classroom' for kindergarteners to lower-grade elementary students and 'Opera School Day - The Elixir of Love' for upper-grade elementary and middle and high school students. Regional touring operas include 'The Magic Flute,' 'The Elixir of Love,' and the 'Opera Gala Concert.' This audition also aims to provide emerging vocalists with opportunities to debut on the opera stage and is open to those who have received professional vocal training beyond university graduation. Applications will be accepted from April 13 to 15, and auditions will be held on April 21-22 at the National Arts Organization Practice Building N Studio Common Studio 1.
The National Opera Company also operates the 'Stay-at-Home! Opera Challenge,' releasing videos of outstanding works performed by the company on its YouTube channel. The videos to be released this time were broadcast through 'KBS Relay Booth' and are produced with Korean subtitles. Masterpieces performed by the National Opera Company, such as the 2019 'The Tales of Hoffmann' directed by Vincent Boussard, which attracted attention for its sophisticated mise-en-sc?ne and outstanding performers, the 2017 grand production 'Boris Godunov' directed by Italy's renowned Stefano Poda, and the 2017 outdoor opera 'Camellia Lady_La Traviata' directed by Jung Goo-ho, will be available weekly on the National Opera Company's YouTube channel over April and May. The company plans to extend the 'Stay-at-Home! Opera Challenge' until the second half of the year, depending on the progression of COVID-19 and user response.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
