[On Stage] World-renowned Tenor Lee Yong-hoon "Othello is a Dream Role for Tenors"

Performing in 'Othello' at Seoul Arts Center Starting from the 18th

"Othello is the dream role for tenors. As a tenor, I have long nurtured the dream of performing Othello. I wanted my Korean stage debut to be with Othello."

World-renowned tenor Lee Yong-hoon expressed his deep affection for the role of Othello at a press conference for the opera 'Othello' held on the 5th at the Incheon Art Hall of the Seoul Arts Center.

He will appear as the protagonist Othello in the opera 'Othello,' which will be performed at the Seoul Arts Center from the 18th. This is his second domestic stage after playing Prince Calaf in the opera 'Turandot' performed at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts last year.

Tenor Lee Yong-hoon, who played the lead role of Otello in the opera 'Otello'
[Photo by Seoul Arts Center]

Lee Yong-hoon said he wanted to debut on the Korean stage as Othello. However, as a world-class tenor with a packed schedule of European performances for several years, it was not easy for him to adjust to domestic performance schedules. Lee said, "At least two years in advance, I need to receive an offer to be able to adjust my schedule, but offers for domestic performances often come at short notice." Last year's Turandot performance was possible because the timing coincided perfectly with a two-week gap in his European schedule.

If the Turandot schedule had not matched, Lee Yong-hoon's debut work in Korea would likely have been Othello. He received the offer to perform from Jang Hyung-jun, president of the Seoul Arts Center, in 2022. Lee expressed his desire to perform Othello and coordinated the schedule, enabling him to present Othello on the Korean stage for the first time in two years. He said, "I am very moved and personally very excited" as he prepares for the Othello performance he has long wanted to present domestically.

The opera Othello, based on the Shakespeare play of the same name, features the protagonist Othello, a character who must express dramatic emotional changes.

Othello is a general of the Venetian Republic and a war hero. However, he is also a Moor born in North Africa who harbors feelings of inferiority. He is a tragic figure who, deceived by his subordinate Iago's schemes, suspects his wife Desdemona of infidelity and ultimately kills her, only to realize the truth too late.

Lee Yong-hoon said, "Like other operas, Othello requires a tremendous variety of vocal colors to truly bring out its essence." He added, "You have to express all emotions such as pain, anguish, jealousy, and love through your voice. It is very interesting and enjoyable but also difficult. Because it is difficult, I want to challenge myself and become immersed in this work."

Tenor Theodor Ilincai, who also plays Othello, said, "Othello is the dream role for spinto tenors. Everyone wants to play Othello."

Lee Yong-hoon also compared Othello to Mount Everest. "If Mount Everest were as easy to climb and descend as a hill in your neighborhood, no one would dream of it. Othello is a very difficult work, like Everest."

From the left, soprano Hratchuhi Basents as Desdemona, tenor Lee Yong-hoon as Otello, conductor Carlo Rizzi, tenor Theodor Ilincai as Otello, baritone Nikoloz Lagvilava as Iago, soprano Hong Ju-young as Desdemona.
Photo by Seoul Arts Center

The Othello performed at the Seoul Arts Center is a production ambitiously revived by the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in the UK after 30 years and was first presented in 2017. The Seoul Arts Center stated that this production received acclaim for the Royal Opera House's unique interpretation, symbolic direction, and fantastic casting, and that the stage sets, costumes, and props from the Royal Opera House will be brought over intact for the performance.

The role of Iago will be played by baritones Marco Bratonia and Nikoloz Lagvilava. Bratonia received acclaim for his performance in the 2017 London Covent Garden production.

The role of Othello's wife Desdemona will be performed by sopranos Hratchuhi Bassents and Hong Ju-young. Bassents described Desdemona as "a role representing absolute purity, whereas Iago is the devil." She added, "The Royal Opera House production of Othello features well-expressed psychological portrayals, allowing Desdemona to be portrayed more convincingly."

Othello will be performed five times at the Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater from the 18th to the 25th. Performances are scheduled for the 18th, 21st-22nd, and 24th-25th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.