Opera 'Cavalleria Rusticana' from 'Daebu 3' at Gwanghwamun Square

Seoul Opera Company Outdoor Opera Performance on June 11-12

Sejong Center for the Performing Arts announced on the 22nd that it will present the outdoor opera "Cavalleria Rusticana" at the Gwanghwamun Square Playground on June 11-12.

This is the second outdoor opera performance by the Seoul Opera Company following last year's "Carmen." "Cavalleria Rusticana" is a one-act opera composed by Italian composer Pietro Mascagni (1863?1945) when he was 26 years old. It is a verismo opera set in Sicily, Italy, and its intermezzo is widely known as it was featured in the movie "The Godfather Part III," which is also set in Sicily.

"Cavalleria Rusticana" tells the love story of four men and women. Two men end up dueling, and one loses his life. Contrary to the opera's dramatic content, the intermezzo is famous for its very peaceful and lyrical melody. Besides The Godfather, it was also included in Martin Scorsese's film "Raging Bull." Additionally, the chorus piece "Gli aranci olezzano" ("The Orange Blossoms Scent the Air") is well known.

Photos from the 1st Outdoor Opera 'Carmen' Performance at Gwanghwamun Square in 2023
[Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts]

Former Seoul National University professor Kim Deok-gi will conduct, and Eom Sook-jung will direct. The cast includes soprano Jo Seon-hyeong, tenors Jeong Ui-geun and Lee Seung-mook, baritones Yoo Dong-jik and Park Jeong-min, mezzo-soprano Song Yoon-jin, and Jeong Se-ra.

Following last year, a citizen arts troupe selected through an open recruitment will participate. While 79 members joined the citizen arts troupe for last year's Carmen performance, this year the number has increased to 123.

Admission to the performance is free. Sejong Center will begin accepting advance viewing applications through its website from 2 p.m. on the 27th. Reservations are limited to two tickets per person for one performance, and 2,000 seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Last year, all 2,000 seats were sold out within five hours of the advance reservation opening. Ticket holders can collect their seat tickets at the ticket booth in the Gwanghwamun Square Playground on the day of the performance. If tickets are not collected by 30 minutes before the performance, they will be transferred to on-site waiting attendees. Detailed information is available on the Sejong Center website.

Sejong Center President Ahn Ho-sang said, "I was amazed by the high level of performance appreciation culture among citizens who attended last year's first outdoor opera performance," adding, "I hope that all Seoul citizens can enjoy these long-loved classic operas together."