Guri City to Stage "Concert Opera Carmen" Performance

Bizet's Beloved Masterpiece for All
Staged as a Concert Opera
A Fusion of High-Quality Music and Dramatic Scene Commentary

Guri City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor: Baek Kyunghyeon) announced on August 14 that the Guri City Opera Company (Director: Shin Gyehwa) will stage the opera 'Carmen' in a concert opera format at the Cosmos Grand Theater of Guri Art Hall at 7 p.m. on September 9.

Opera 'Carmen' poster. Provided by Guri City

'Carmen,' a masterpiece by Georges Bizet, is set in 19th-century Seville, Spain, and depicts a fatal love and tragedy involving the free-spirited gypsy woman Carmen, the soldier Don Jose who is drawn to her, and the toreador Escamillo. The opera is especially beloved for its collection of iconic arias, including 'Habanera' and the 'Toreador Song.'

This performance will feature top-class vocalists active on domestic and international stages, including mezzo-soprano Choi Seunghyun, tenor Lee Hyungseok, baritone Lim Heeseong, and soprano Kim Minji, as well as flamenco dancer Choi Wonkyung and the Phiatones Ensemble with electone player Baek Sunjae. The artistic director of the Guri City Opera Company will provide commentary to enhance the audience's understanding of the work.

Directed by Heo Bokyoung, this production will focus on the music rather than a full staging, presented in a concert opera format to more vividly convey the characters' psychology and musical details. As a result, the performance is expected to offer a stage that combines high-quality music with dramatic scene explanations, providing an opportunity to enjoy the essence of opera without burden.

Shin Gyehwa, director of the Guri City Opera Company, stated, "This performance is a refined cultural event that can be enjoyed not only by Guri residents but also by audiences from across the metropolitan area," adding, "It will deliver the greatest emotional impact to both classical music lovers and those experiencing opera for the first time."

Only those aged 8 and older who have made a reservation in advance will be admitted to this performance.