As Korea's opera scene approaches the final stretch of the year, major opera companies nationwide are unveiling ambitious, high-profile productions that showcase the remarkable growth and expanding scale of the country's operatic institutions. The year-end lineup features an exceptional array of operatic masterpieces, including the Seoul Metropolitan Opera's grand 40th-anniversary production of Verdi's "Aida," maestro Chung Myung-whun's highly anticipated return to conduct "Carmen" in Busan after nearly two decades, Wagner's monumental "Tristan und Isolde," Puccini's dramatic "Tosca," and Gluck's lyrical "Orfeo ed Euridice."
The 22nd Daegu International Opera Festival concludes with Christoph Willibald Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice" at the Daegu Opera House on Friday and Saturday. This 2024 in-house production by Daegu Opera House gained international recognition when it was showcased at Estonia's Saaremaa Opera Festival in July. Based on ancient Greek mythology, "Orfeo ed Euridice" is a lyrical opera that follows Orpheus's desperate journey into the underworld to reclaim his beloved wife, Euridice. The production features direction by Eom Sook-jeong, with Cho Jung-hyun conducting the Dio Orchestra and the Daegu Opera Choir.
This year's Daegu International Opera Festival operated under the theme "Per Sempre" – Italian for "forever" – and has presented four full-scale opera productions since September 26: Verdi's "Il Trovatore," Bizet's "Carmen," Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro," and Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice." Ticket prices for the closing performances range from 20,000 won to 100,000 won.
The Seoul Metropolitan Opera celebrates its 40th anniversary with a spectacular production of Giuseppe Verdi's "Aida," returning to the Sejong Center Grand Theater for the first time in 11 years. This production also commemorates the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Korean premiere of "Aida." One of Verdi's most majestic operas, "Aida" masterfully blends exotic atmosphere with deeply human drama, set in ancient Egypt where the story unfolds through a powerful intersection of love, war, and destiny, enhanced by lyrical arias and dramatic ensembles.
With a cast of more than 200 performers, the production is directed by Lee Hoe-soo and will fully utilize the Sejong Center's Grand Theater stage to deliver an overwhelming sense of scale and spectacle, according to artistic director Park Hye-jin. The production features a distinguished international cast with double-casting in lead roles. Sopranos Rim Sae-kyung and Cho Sun-hyung will share the title role of Aida, while tenors Shin Sang-geun and Kuk Yoon-jong will perform as Radames. The role of Amneris will be shared by mezzo-sopranos Yang Song-mi and Kim Saerin, with baritones Yoo Dong-jik and Yang Jun-mo appearing as Amonasro. Four performances will be offered from November 13 to 16, with ticket prices ranging from 50,000 won to 170,000 won.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Seongnam Arts Center, the Seongnam Cultural Foundation presents Giacomo Puccini's masterpiece "Tosca" on November 28 and 29 at the Seongnam Arts Center Opera House. "Tosca," considered one of Puccini's three greatest operas alongside "La Bohème" and "Turandot," unfolds over a single dramatic night, depicting a gripping tale of love, jealousy, power, and betrayal set in Rome in the early 1800s.
This anniversary production is directed by Eom Suk-jung, with Roberto Gianola conducting the Korean National Symphony Orchestra and Winner Opera Chorus. The production features leading vocalists including soprano Cho Sun-hyung, winner of first prizes at the Bilbao and Parma Competitions who performs actively across major European stages, and soprano Seo Sun-young, a renowned dramatic soprano and professor at the Korea National University of Arts. Tenors Shin Sang-geun and Park Sung-kyu will perform the role of Tosca's lover, the painter Cavaradossi, while the ruthless police chief Scarpia will be portrayed by baritones Park Jung-min and Ryu Ji-sang. Ticket prices range from 40,000 won to 120,000 won.
The Korea National Opera presents "Tristan und Isolde" from December 4 to 7 at the Seoul Arts Center in collaboration with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under music director Jaap van Zweden. As the second installment of the Korea National Opera's Wagner Series, this new production of "Tristan und Isolde" explores the fateful and all-consuming love between the knight Tristan and Princess Isolde. The staging is led by director Stephan Marki, who expanded his Wagner repertoire with acclaimed productions of "Tristan und Isolde" at the Coburg State Theatre in 2023.
The production features alternating casts across the four performances. On December 4 and 6, the title roles will be sung by tenor Stuart Skelton as Tristan and soprano Catherine Foster as Isolde, joined by Tone Kummervold as Brangane and Leonardo Yi as Kurwenal. The December 5 and 7 performances will feature tenor Bryan Register as Tristan and soprano Eliska Weissova as Isolde, with Kim Hyo-na as Brangane and Noh Dong-yong as Kurwenal. Park Jong-min as King Marke, Lee Jae-myung as Melot, Kim Jae-yeol as the Shepherd and Young Sailor, and Kim Young-hoon as the Steersman will perform their roles across all four dates. The three-act opera runs approximately six hours including intermissions, beginning at 3 p.m. daily, with ticket prices ranging from 50,000 won to 180,000 won.
Classic Busan presents a concert opera performance of Bizet's "Carmen" led by maestro Chung Myung-whun at the Busan Concert Hall on December 19 and 20. This marks Chung's first "Carmen" on a Korean stage in approximately 20 years, making it a particularly significant cultural event. Under Chung's baton, the Asia Philharmonic Orchestra will perform alongside an impressive cast of internationally performing singers.
World-renowned tenor Lee Yong-hoon, who has appeared in leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, and the Vienna State Opera, will sing Don José – marking only his third opera appearance in Korea. Canadian mezzo-soprano Michele Losier will take on the title role of Carmen, while baritone Kim Ki-hoon, winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition, will appear as Escamillo. Adding to the scale of the performance, three choirs will participate: the Kimhae City Choir, Classic Busan Choir, and the Haeundae Children's Choir. Ticket prices range from 10,000 won to 120,000 won, making this prestigious production accessible to a wide audience.
