China-Korea Co-Produced "Rigoletto" Premieres in Daegu, Korea

On the evening of the 24th, the audience awaits the performance of Verdi's opera Rigoletto, co-produced by China and Korea. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

(Daegu, Korea = Xinhua News Agency) Verdi's opera "Rigoletto," co-produced by China and Korea, was staged for the first time on the evening of the 24th at Daegu Opera House.

This production was jointly produced and distributed by Daegu Opera House and the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China. According to Daegu Opera House, this marks the first time that China and Korea have co-produced an opera.

Wang Ban, Deputy Director of the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China, gave an interview ahead of the performance. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

Wang Ban, Vice President of the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China, stated that the Centre and Daegu Opera House signed a strategic cooperation agreement last year. Through this agreement, both sides committed to co-producing high-quality and outstanding works, which paved the way for their collaboration on the opera "Rigoletto." During this partnership, the National Centre for the Performing Arts was deeply involved in areas such as stage art. Wang also emphasized that the theater companies of both countries overcame challenges such as language barriers, transportation, and differences in theater environments. He expressed hope that, based on this experience, an international joint production model that can be replicated and expanded will be established in the future.

Zhang Wenqin, a soprano with the National Centre for the Performing Arts who played the role of Gilda, Rigoletto's daughter, noted that while there are similarities between Chinese and Korean cultures, each has its own distinctive characteristics. She shared that this collaboration gave her a more three-dimensional, multifaceted, and international understanding of character creation. She further highlighted that this joint production is not only a collaboration between two highly skilled theater companies but also a crystallization of artistic exchange between the two countries.

Alexandra Premoli, who co-directed the production, commented that the collaboration between China and Korea has brought new meaning to this European classic, symbolizing the connections and enduring emotions formed between nations through art and music.

The production is scheduled to be performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts of China in September. A Daegu resident who attended the performance remarked, "The China-Korea co-produced opera being staged in both countries gives audiences from each side the opportunity to appreciate the production standards and outstanding performers of the other."

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