Seai Unhyeong Cultural Foundation Hosts 'Opera Bucket Concert Making the World Beautiful'

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] The Se-Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation announced that it will hold the '2021 Opera Bucket That Makes the World Beautiful' concert without an audience at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall and will broadcast it online via Naver TV and YouTube at 7 p.m. on the 20th.

Hosted by the Se-Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation, 'Opera Bucket That Makes the World Beautiful' is the sixth regular concert embodying the wishes of the late Chairman Lee Un-hyung of the Se-A Group, who has long loved and supported opera. Since 2015, the Se-Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation has continuously engaged in patronage activities by carefully selecting opera works that resonate with and can be enjoyed by the public and holding classical performances.

In particular, despite the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic causing consecutive cancellations of classical performances in Korea, the Se-Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation decided to hold an untact (contactless) performance for artists and audiences who love opera. All performers in this concert are composed of domestic vocalists, expected to bring warm energy to the struggling domestic arts community.

This year's concert will stage Mozart's opera 'The Marriage of Figaro.' Unlike other operas filled with sorrow and grief, 'The Marriage of Figaro' is a cheerful opera that conveys themes of 'hope,' 'harmony,' and 'forgiveness' through the resolution of conflicts among the characters.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19 and ensure audience safety, the Se-Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation plans to broadcast the performance online. To access the online broadcast of the '2021 Opera Bucket That Makes the World Beautiful,' search for 'SeAiUnhyungCulturalFoundationConcert' on Naver TV and YouTube.

The performance will be played by the Korean Symphony Orchestra, guest-conducted by Kim Kwang-hyun, the principal conductor of the Wonju City Symphony Orchestra, and directed by Jang Jae-ho, who has received acclaim for numerous operas including productions by the National Opera Company. Bass Jang Se-jong, a 'Figaro specialist' who debuted at La Scala conducting 'Salome' with Zubin Mehta and Riccardo Chailly in February, and soprano Park Ha-na, known for her clear tone, will play Figaro and Susanna, respectively. Additionally, leading domestic vocalists such as baritone Kang Hyung-kyu, soprano Hong Ju-young, mezzo-soprano Kim Jeong-mi, and soprano Ra Ha-young, sponsored by the Se-Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation, will also participate.