On the 14th at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall
Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation to Present "Rusalka"
A Night of Opera Featuring Leading Artists and a Touching Fairy Tale
The Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation will hold the '2025 Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation Concert' at 7:30 PM on the 14th at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center.
The Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation was established to carry on the legacy of the late Chairman Lee Unhyung of the SeAH Group, who cherished and supported opera during his lifetime. Since 2015, the foundation has carefully selected and presented opera works so that more people can love and enjoy opera, and this will be the tenth regular concert.
At the 2025 Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation Concert, the foundation will present 'Rusalka,' a representative opera by the Czech master Anton?n Dvo??k. The work, which beautifully portrays the love, desire, and resulting conflicts experienced by the water fairy Rusalka through lyrical music and a poetic story, premiered in Prague in 1901. The lead role of Rusalka is considered one of the most challenging roles, requiring both high acting skills and outstanding vocal ability.
The opera Rusalka is based on Slavic folklore and mythology and deals with the universal theme of love between humans and fairies. In particular, Rusalka’s conflicts and hardships after falling in love with a human prince, as well as her longing and sacrifice for love, deeply resonate with and move the audience. Dvo??k’s unique lyrical yet powerful music vividly depicts Rusalka’s poignant emotions and dramatic situations.
The production will be directed by Pyohyeon Jin, known for his stylish and sophisticated stage direction. David Lee, an artist sponsored by the Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation and the artistic director of the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, will conduct the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, one of Korea’s top orchestras, and the Neu Opera Chorus.
Soprano Seo Sun-young, who won the female vocal category at the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition, will perform the role of Rusalka, and bass Park Jong-min, the male vocal category winner of the same year, will appear as Rusalka’s father, Vodnik. Tenor Son Ji-hoon, the 2023 Tchaikovsky Competition winner and a sponsored artist of the Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation, will take on the role of the prince. Additionally, internationally active mezzo-soprano Guadalupe Barrientos, mezzo-soprano Kang Eun-hyun, professor of vocal music at Gachon University, and young sopranos Kim Do-yeon, Moon Hyun-joo, and Park Sung-eun, all sponsored by the foundation, will also appear on stage.
A representative of the Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation stated, "The foundation, which has been devoted to opera with sincerity for over ten years, will deliver a touching story like a fairy tale. We hope this will convey a warm message of comfort and healing to everyone living in these uncertain times."
Applications to attend the performance can be submitted by filling out the application form through the ticket application link on the Sae Ai Unhyung Cultural Foundation’s website and Instagram. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and will close at 3 PM on the 10th. Successful applicants will be notified individually via text message after the application period ends.
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