Hyesang Park Stars in "The Magic Flute" in Wanju
Lead Role in New York MET Opera's First 2022 Performance
Emerging as a World-Class Soprano
Hope Song for Performing Arts Normalization Amid COVID-19 Crisis
Soprano Park Hye-sang is passionately singing during the dress rehearsal of the opera The Magic Flute. [Captured from Metropolitan Opera YouTube]
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] January 1, 2022. The voice of a Korean vocalist echoed through the Metropolitan Opera House (MET) in New York City.
It was soprano Park Hye-sang. On the first evening of the new year, she proudly took the lead role in the opening performance of "The Magic Flute," receiving applause from the audience for her outstanding vocal power, expressiveness, and acting.
After the performance, Park Hye-sang was visibly excited. Although she wore a mask, instead of fatigue, one could feel the "energy" spreading a "happiness virus."
Park Hye-sang's run of The Magic Flute began on December 10 last year and has one performance left on the 5th. Although her MET lead debut was delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she transformed from a "rising star" to a "star" in the global vocal music scene through her month-long activities.
Debuting is a daunting task, especially on the world's greatest stage. The pressure is natural. Standing as a lead on what everyone recognizes as the "dream stage" is on a different level. There is also the heavy responsibility of continuing the lineage of Korean prima donnas who have conquered the MET, such as Cho Sumi and Hong Hye-kyung.
"On the first day of the performance, I was so excited that I took a walk and meditated by the Hudson River near the theater to calm my mind. I arrived at the theater four hours before the show, sat in the audience seats, and thought about the stage movements and acting while singing all the pieces."
Mozart's The Magic Flute is an opera famous for the aria sung by the "Queen of the Night." Park Hye-sang played the role of "Pamina," the Queen of the Night's daughter, leading the story alongside Prince Tamino and the bird catcher Papageno.
Soprano Park Hye-sang posed to greet Asia Economy readers after completing the performance of The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on the 1st.
While this stage is a personal glory for Park Hye-sang, it symbolizes how Korea's cultural capabilities are spreading beyond pop music and film into New York's classical music scene. Park Hye-sang is the first Asian vocalist to sign an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon, the world's leading classical music record label, and has released the album "I am Hera." Pianist Cho Seong-jin is also an exclusive artist of Deutsche Grammophon.
Park Hye-sang is not a "lightning star" who won a competition first place. She graduated from Seoul National University and The Juilliard School in New York and came to this position through the MET's young artist program. She started at the MET in 2017 with minor roles. She is a passionate young artist who has steadily climbed the ladder.
The prima donna in her early 30s bowed to the audience after her MET lead debut and also bowed to her colleagues every time. It is a sign of respect and consideration for her peers and a promise not to forget her beginnings.
The month-long performances were not easy. The emergence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant before the performances was the biggest variable. Many cast members repeatedly could not perform due to COVID-19 infections. Unlike the first time the reporter attended on December 18 last year, many participants wore masks during the curtain call after this performance.
Park Hye-sang also had to anxiously await her daily COVID-19 test results. Since she was cast solo, there was no understudy. Although the Omicron variant spread rapidly in New York, she postponed the booster shot until after the final performance, considering side effects.
"Performing without a mask made me constantly worried. I was also very concerned that the theater might close. I am so grateful that the stage kept going."
Lincoln Center, including the MET, completely cut off external contact from the early days of the COVID-19 crisis last year. The 20-21 season was entirely canceled. The center of New York's classical arts?opera, ballet, theater?closed for over a year and cautiously reopened to audiences. Lincoln Center cooperated with the Korean Cultural Center in New York to allow singer Han Dae-soo of "Mul Jom Juso" to participate in the "Reopening" event.
American media also praised Park Hye-sang's efforts. The New York Times reported, "Park Hye-sang beautifully sang the voice of Pamina, whom Tamino fell in love with."
Park Hye-sang's stage will head from New York to the world. After The Magic Flute performances, she has a packed schedule with consecutive performances in Hungary, Prague, Seoul Arts Center, and Berlin, Germany until February.
"I don't think I'll even be able to have a 'wrap party' after The Magic Flute performances. I'll go to Europe and then return to Korea. I will greet Korean audiences soon as well. Happy New Year."
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