[From Ryu Taehyung's Guest Seat] Let's Go to the Festival Cities Daegu and Busan

Published 22 Sep.2022 16:20(KST)

Updated 22 Sep.2022 17:01(KST)

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Siegfried from The Ring of the Nibelung. Photo by Maximilian Borchardt

A refreshing autumn breeze is blowing through the classical music scene in regions emerging from the long tunnel of COVID-19. The festivals in Daegu and Busan stand out in particular. Introducing the Daegu International Opera Festival, which has prepared a rare feast of opera, and the Busan International Classic Music Festival, where you can enjoy chamber music ensembles by top-tier performers. It might be a good idea to plan trips to Daegu and Busan this fall to listen to classical music.

A 58-Day Opera Feast - Daegu International Opera Festival

The 19th Daegu International Opera Festival, held from September 23 to November 19 for a total of 58 days, carries the theme of ‘Solidarity and Diversity.’ The splendid opening work is the opera Turandot (9.23-24), a co-production between Daegu Opera House and Gwangju City Opera Company. It reunites on the festival stage after 8 years since 2014. Directed by Plamen Kartaloff, director of the Sofia National Theatre in Bulgaria, and conducted by Julian Kovatchev, the principal conductor of the Daegu Symphony Orchestra, the performance showcases Daegu’s musical capabilities with participation from the Daegu Symphony Orchestra and Daegu City Choir. Soprano Lee Yoon-jung and Kim Ra-hee, regarded as the top Turandot performers in Korea, sing alongside tenors Yoon Byung-gil and Lee Jung-hwan, who play Prince Calaf, the character who challenges to win Turandot’s love. Notably, this production is a collaboration with the Gwangju City Opera Company and will be presented to audiences in Gwangju on November 25 and 26, promoting harmony between the Yeongnam and Honam regions.

The Ring of the Nibelung: 'Das Rheingold'. Photo by Christiankleiner

The second production is Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni (10.7-8). Selected by The New York Times as ‘the greatest opera,’ it features beautiful music and high artistic value. Based on the legend of the womanizer Don Juan, it includes famous arias such as ‘Hand in Hand’ and ‘Catalogue Aria.’ This production is a co-production with the Italian Ferrara City Opera House, boasting over 200 years of history. The latest production, stage costumes, and main cast from Italy are invited to perform alongside Daegu Opera House’s resident ensemble, the Dio Orchestra, and Daegu Opera Choir.

Long before the opening, the production that has generated the most buzz in this festival program is Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung series. While it has been common to perform or present concerts of individual operas from the Ring cycle such as The Rhinegold or The Valkyrie, presenting all four operas at once is a first in Korea.

National Opera Company La Traviata. Photo by Daegu International Opera Festival

Particularly noteworthy is the invitation of over 230 people, including the orchestra, choir, and principal cast from the Mannheim National Theatre in Germany. This is a production directed by Korean director Yona Kim, who was named ‘Director of the Year’ in 2017 by the opera magazine Opernwelt, and it is the latest production performed at the Mannheim National Theatre in July this year. The four operas?The Rhinegold (10.16), The Valkyrie (10.17), Siegfried (10.19), and Twilight of the Gods (10.23)?will be staged exactly as produced locally. Domestic Wagnerians, who also perform overseas, are gathering in Daegu.

Following this, the National Opera Company’s production of Verdi’s masterpiece La Traviata (10.28-29) will be staged. Directed by Arno Bernard in 2014, it features soprano Kim Sung-eun and Kim Soon-young, tenor Kim Dong-won and Lee Beom-joo, and baritone Yang Jun-mo and Lee Seung-wang.

Opera Turandot performance scene. Photo by Daegu International Opera Festival

On November 4 and 5, the Yeongnam Opera Company, boasting over 30 years of experience, will perform Rossini’s opera Cinderella, filled with beautiful melodies and witty humor. Based on Charles Perrault’s fairy tale Cinderella, this comic opera was completed by the genius composer Rossini in just three weeks. This Cinderella will be performed in the original Italian with Korean adaptation added.

Finally, the festival will conclude magnificently with the Daegu Opera House’s production of Yoon Isang’s opera Simcheong (11.18-19). Commissioned by G?nter Rennert, general director of the Bavarian State Opera, for the 1972 Munich Olympics cultural festival, the libretto was written by German playwright Harald Kunz, inspired by the Korean pansori Simcheongga. The 21st-century premiere is prepared by conductor Choi Seung-han and director Jung Gap-gyun, who led the 1999 performance. Sopranos Yoon Jung-nan and Kim Jung-ah play the title role ‘Simcheong,’ while baritones Je Jang-chul and Kim Byung-gil perform as ‘Simbongsa.’ Various concerts and events are also planned.

Hansoojin, Senior Artistic Deputy Director. Photo by Busan International Classic Music Festival

Great Transformation and Inclusion - Busan International Classic Music Festival

From November 16 to 25, pre-concerts for the Busan International Classic Music Festival (BICmf) will be held across various venues in Busan. The subtitle is ‘Great Transformation and Inclusion.’

Led by artistic director Oh Chung-geun, who has performed on European concert hall stages, violinist Han Su-jin (the youngest Korean to win 2nd place at the Wieniawski International Competition) serves as the chief artistic deputy director. Violinist Kim Jae-won (former second violinist of the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra), violist Kim Kyu-hyun (violist of the Novus Quartet), clarinetist Baek Dong-hoon (principal of the Eurasia Ocean Philharmonic Orchestra), and others participate as artistic deputy directors. Representing Korea, performers including Lee Kyung-sun (violin), Kim Sang-jin (viola), Song Young-hoon (cello), Son Jeong-beom (piano), Song Ji-won (violin), and Son Min-su (piano), the teacher of Im Yoon-chan, gather in Busan.

The festival begins on the 16th at the Busan Cultural Center’s Small Theater. The opening stage features masters who have led the classical string world performing with the BICmf Chamber Orchestra. Violinists Baek Jae-jin (professor at Dong-Eui University) and Lee Kyung-sun (professor at Seoul National University), violist Kim Sang-jin (professor at Yonsei University), and cellist Lee Myung-jin (professor at Dong-A University) perform Elgar’s Introduction and Allegro for Strings, opening the festival, followed by Handel’s Harp Concerto with soloist Hwang Se-hee. In the second part, Lee Kyung-sun and Kim Sang-jin perform Atterberg’s Suite No. 3 for violin, viola, and string orchestra, concluding the day with Britten’s Simple Symphony.

On the 17th, pianist Son Min-su (professor at Korea National University of Arts) will hold a recital of Liszt’s 12 Transcendental Etudes at the Busan Cultural Center Chamber Hall. On the 19th, a chamber music concert to enjoy autumn will be held at the same venue. Pianist Son Jeong-beom (the first Korean to win the Munich ARD International Competition), violinist Song Ji-won (winner of the Leopold Mozart Competition), and cellist Lee Jung-hyun (winner of the Yoon Isang International Music Competition) perform Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 1. In the second part, violist Shin Kyung-sik (winner of the Johannes Brahms International Competition) joins to interpret Brahms’ Piano Quartet.

On the 22nd, the deputy directors will perform together on the Busan Cultural Center Chamber Hall stage. The BICmf Soloists will perform Schubert’s grand Octet D.803. Clarinetist Baek Dong-hoon, bassoonist Jang Hyun-sung, horn player Kim Hyung-joo, along with violinists Han Su-jin and Lee Woo-il, violist Kim Kyu-hyun, cellist Lee Won-hae, and double bassist Jo Yong-woo will join. Listening to the second movement, where the clarinet sings a lovely melody with violin and horn, will allow you to fully enjoy the deepening autumn.

Ryu Taehyung Music Columnist

On the 25th, a special concert looking forward to next year will be held at Nurimaru APEC House, a special landmark in Busan. The ensemble ‘Song Young-hoon and Friends,’ consisting of four cellists Song Young-hoon, Shim Jun-ho, Kim Dae-yeon, and Lee Kyung-jun, will present a special ensemble with four cellos resembling the human voice.

This Busan International Classic Music Festival pre-concert marks the beginning of a bigger dream. It heralds the birth of next year’s Busan International Classic Music Festival, which will be accompanied by the magnificent sea, more splendid than any other festival in the world. Artistic director Oh Chung-geun said, “We will strive to establish this festival as a symbol of the future of ‘Art City Busan,’ envisioning the citizens of Busan enjoying high-end quality at the Busan International Art Center and Busan Opera House, which will be built in Busan, while praying for the successful bid for Expo 2030 Busan.”