Four Participants to Present Original Works in Effort to Revitalize Traditional Korean Opera

Courtesy of NTOK

The National Changgeuk Company of Korea's Pansori Composer Project enters its second year, aiming to rejuvenate the popularity of changgeuk, a traditional Korean operatic form. Four selected participants, Lee Youn-joo, Lee Bong-geun, Kang Na-hyun, and Shin Han-byeol, are set to reveal their 10-year-long creations next month.

Collaborating with writers over the past 10 months, each participant has composed songs for potential changgeuk works, drawing inspiration from Korean and other folktales and fairy tales. Under the mentorship of renowned artists, including pansori singer Ahn Sook-sun and traditional musician Lee Ja-ram, the teams explored innovative ideas while adhering to pansori conventions. 

▲ Courtesy of NTOK

Lee Youn-joo, an actor with the National Changgeuk Company, will present compositions for "The Golden Axe and the Silver Axe" based on Aesop's Fable. Lee Bong-geun, a Korean traditional singer, focuses on "Dume," inspired by Medusa from ancient Greek mythology. Kang Na-hyun works on songs for "The Snow Queen" by Hans Christian Andersen, while Shin Han-byeol delves into the folktale "Ghost Cap."

The showcase of these works is scheduled for December 8 and 9 at the National Theater of Korea's Haneul Theater. In changgeuk, both music and narrative play crucial roles, with pansori singers creating new music based on traditional Korean music elements.

Yu Eun-seon, the artistic director of the National Changgeuk Company, emphasizes the significance of composing in changgeuk, comparing it to a "plan preparing for a hundred years." The company plans to extend the program into a comprehensive project by coordinating with writers and directors, aiming to nurture pansori composers and elevate the art form.

The Pansori Composer Project, initiated last year, is part of the broader efforts to preserve changgeuk, which evolved from pansori, Korea's traditional narrative singing form recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

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Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com