Four Full-Length Operas to Be Presented Until November 8
Festival Finale: Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice"
The 22nd Daegu International Opera Festival will open on September 26 and run until November 8, featuring four full-length operas, one newly created concertante opera, a gala concert, and more.
This year's festival theme is "Eternity," reflecting the enduring beauty of opera and the immortality of art, and aiming to showcase the power that has resonated with and moved audiences for generations.
The festival will kick off on September 26-27 with Daegu Opera House's own production of Verdi's "Il Trovatore." "Il Trovatore," a tragedy entangled in love, revenge, and family secrets, will be presented in a modern interpretation that adds refined sensibility to the beauty of the classic.
On October 16 and 18, Bizet's "Carmen," performed by the Yeongnam Opera Company at the invitation of Daegu Opera House, will take the stage. This production, selected for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's "2025 Regional Representative Arts Organization Support Project," is a tragedy depicting the human desire for freedom and its fatal consequences. The opera is well-known for its famous arias such as "Habanera" and "The Toreador Song." "Carmen" will also be performed at the Ayang Art Center on November 2.
On October 24-25, Mozart's masterpiece "The Marriage of Figaro" will be performed. This work stands out for Mozart's uniquely lively music and witty comedic development, and also contains satire of the aristocracy of the time. For this performance, the Daegu International Opera Festival was selected for the "2025 Genre-Specific Market Hub Support Project" in the opera category, bringing together top emerging vocalists from around the world.
On October 28, Jin Youngmin's newly created concertante opera "Mi-in" will be staged. Inspired by Shin Yunbok's "Portrait of a Beauty," this work combines imagination and music to tell a story that began with curiosity about the lives and relationships of the figures in the painting, resulting in a creative opera that bridges tradition and modernity.
On October 30, a gala concert titled "Heart of the East, One Stage" will be held, featuring a collaboration between Korea's Daegu Opera House, Japan's Fujiwara Opera Company, and China's National Centre for the Performing Arts, presenting a stage of harmony.
On November 7-8, the festival will close with Daegu Opera House's own production of Gluck's opera "Orfeo ed Euridice." This lyrical work depicts the journey of Orfeo from Greek mythology as he travels between the world of the living and the dead to reclaim his beloved. In July, Daegu Opera House presented "Orfeo ed Euridice" at the Saaremaa Opera Festival in Estonia, receiving enthusiastic acclaim from local audiences.
Daegu Opera House plans to offer a variety of citizen-friendly programs so that everyone, regardless of age or gender, can comfortably enjoy the festival. On performance days, the outdoor plaza of Daegu Opera House will host the "Opera Flea Market," featuring the sale of handmade crafts, caricatures, magic shows, food trucks, and other side events. Inside the venue, "Lobby Concerts" will allow audiences to enjoy arias and ensemble pieces from operas free of charge, with the Daegu Vocalists Association participating in the performances.
Before each of the four full-length opera performances, a special lecture called "Prima Della Prima" will be offered, where experts will provide easy and engaging explanations about the plot, composer, historical background, and key arias of each work. In September and October, "Fringe Concerts" will also be held at major plazas and cultural spaces throughout Daegu.
Prior to the opening, on September 13, Daegu Opera House will host the "Opera Gala Concert 50 Stars V" in collaboration with the Daegu Vocalists Association.
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