‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’ Korean premiere
Opened on the 12th, until the 19th at KSPO Dome in Songpa-gu, Seoul
The opening night of the opera ‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’ in Seoul at KSPO Dome at Jamsil Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on the evening of the 12th.
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, ‘”Three riddles, one life” “Three riddles, one life” The performance of ‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’, the opening work of the 2024 world-renowned outdoor opera festival ‘Arena di Verona’ in Verona, Italy, directed by the late famed opera director Franco Zeffirelli in 2010, was a spectacle resembling watching a blockbuster-era drama. From the overwhelming stage size, measuring 50x20m in width and height, to the brilliant yet delicate stage costumes and art design with exceptional colors, and a production that delighted the eyes, as well as a cast of over 500 including opera singers, choristers, actors, and dancers who collaborated to present a feast of dance, acrobatics, acting, and singing that exuded grandeur and dramatic excitement not typically experienced in indoor opera performances. Concerns about the sound in the performance venue were alleviated by installing microphones in the air to reach even the back seats.‘,
The opening night of the opera ‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’ in Seoul at KSPO Dome at Jamsil Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on the evening of the 12th.
, ‘Turandot’, considered the pinnacle of Puccini’s artistic world, is set in ancient Beijing ruled by the cruel princess Turandot. The story revolves around Turandot, who hates men due to the sacrifice of a past princess to invaders, and the prince Calaf who attempts to win her love by solving the riddle Turandot sets with his life as the prize. The narrative also involves the sacrificial love of the slave girl Liu who loves Calaf, and the bravery of Calaf that eventually melts the heart of the ice princess Turandot., ‘
, ‘The sharp high notes by Ukrainian soprano Oksana Dyka, who played Turandot, divided opinions but heightened the mysterious atmosphere of Turandot. The romantic hero Calaf, played by German-Brazilian tenor Martin Muehle, took center stage with his uninhibited high notes and exceptional expressiveness. The performance reached a climax when he sang the famous third act aria ‘Nessun dorma’ (‘None shall sleep’), prompting thunderous applause and cheers from the audience. , ‘Italian soprano Mariangela Sicilia, portraying the sacrificial icon Liu, showcased heavenly vocals. Adapting the volume and pitch of her voice delicately according to the character’s emotions, she captivated the audience and raised the flag of victory in ‘back-and-forth’ with the audience. The mature and adept singing of Italian bass Federico Longhi, who portrayed Calaf’s father King Timur, was also noteworthy. Moreover, with characters like the lively Chinese ministers ‘Ping,’ ‘Pang,’ ‘Pong,’ infusing vitality into the drama by exclaiming “There are so many blind fools in love” and “We will prepare for weddings and funerals,” and the character ‘Mandarino’ who opens the performance, the flawless casting provided visual and auditory delight., ‘Dramatically, the contrast between the first and second acts is intriguing. The first act showcases various human characters, including acrobatics, mask dances, and the procession of executioners turning grindstones and junior monks holding lanterns, amidst the oppressed masses, offering glimpses of Chinese culture, while the second act reduces the number of characters and focuses more on character development. Additionally, as the closed city gates of the first act are opened revealing vibrant colorful hues unlike the somber and dark tone, the second act creates a perfect contrast., ‘The orchestral direction by Daniel Oren cannot be overlooked. Leading the New Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra consisting of over 100 musicians, along with the Wiener Opernhauses Chor, the Songpa-gu Children’s Chorus, and the Songpa Children’s Chorus, he skillfully raised the immersion of the drama. Winner of the 1975 Berlin Herbert von Karajan International Conducting Competition, he currently serves as the musical director of the ‘Arena di Verona’ opera festival., ‘
The opening night of the opera ‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’ in Seoul at KSPO Dome at Jamsil Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on the evening of the 12th.
, ‘One female audience member, who came to see her daughter perform as a member of the Songpa-gu Children’s Chorus, remarked, “It was truly magnificent,” adding, “The stage created not just by the opera singers but also the large cast was magnificent and impressive. I thought Turandot would refuse love until the end, but the touching ending where she finally accepts love was moving. Especially, Liu sang so well and was so cool.” She expressed her satisfaction, saying that she usually enjoys musicals and plays with her children, and admitted, “Honestly, I had never seen or been interested in opera before. But after watching today’s performance, I’ve opened my eyes to the charm of opera. I thought it was beautiful and satisfying.”, ‘A female audience member in her fifties, who had previously watched ‘Turandot’ in DVD from the ‘Arena di Verona’ in Italy, stated, “I’m not someone who usually enjoys opera, but I really wanted to see ‘Turandot’ after watching it,” describing, “The stage and costumes were splendid, and the singers’ vocal abilities were really stable. “Listening to ‘Nessun dorma’ live was thrilling and moving,” she said., ‘A female audience member in her thirties expressed, “I was interested because it was the original performance of ‘Arena di Verona,’” continuing, “I’ve seen the DVD of ‘Turandot’ from the ‘Arena di Verona,’ which made me want to see it in person. The sound effects were excellent, and although this place might not be at that level, it was amazing how well the singers’ voices could be heard even in the back seats. The stage was truly, truly beautiful.” She marveled.‘, “
The opening night of the opera ‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’ in Seoul at KSPO Dome at Jamsil Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on the evening of the 12th.
, ‘While the sound quality was superb, the atmosphere is likely not comparable, but here it was impressive how well the singers’ voices could be heard all the way to the back.”, ‘One netizen commented, “The monumental performance with the stage size, orchestral performance, the vocal prowess of the soprano playing Liu, the non-stop narrative structure and extravagant spectacle felt like seeing a dream,” adding, “However, the greatness of the work and the performance talent were overshadowed by the booming noise emanating from the nearby events near the gymnastic stadium. The value of the performance is five stars, but deducting two stars for not considering the serious lack of external noise control.” The performance runs until the 19th at KSPO Dome in Songpa-gu, Seoul., ‘
The opening night of the opera ‘2024 Turandot Arena di Verona Original’ in Seoul at KSPO Dome at Jamsil Olympic Gymnastics Stadium on the evening of the 12th.#opera #Turandot ‘,
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