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Can Korea globalize homegrown operas?

"When Bucketwheat Flowers Blossom" is a lyrical opera based on a novel following rural life in the 1920s. It will be the closing production of the Korea Opera Festival, which will close July 24 after a month-long run. / Korea Times

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By Do Je-hae

When Chinese composer Tan Dun's "First Emperor" debuted at New York's Metropolitan Opera, starring the legendary singer Placido Domingo, Korea wondered if this something it could do it as well.

The globalization of local operas was the main topic of a seminar held on the sidelines of the Korea Opera Festival, which will close July 24 after a month-long run.

The Academy Award-winning Tan had the honor of being one of five composers who conducted their own opera at the prestigious Metropolitan Opera, and the "First Emperor" has been staged repeatedly in New York and at the opera house of Karlsruhe, Germany.
This is the kind of recognition that Korea's operatic circle hopes to achieve.

But many experts at the seminar seemed pessimistic about such prospects, particularly in light of the financial constraints that professionals involved in the creation of an opera face.

"Koreans are a singing people and we are good at cooperating toward a certain goal. Because an opera is a joint effort of many different fields, we have the capacity to create a world-class opera", said Lee So-young, artistic director of the Korea National Opera (KNO). "The KNO has passionately initiated various projects and contests to nurture composers, librettists and opera directors, despite budgetary limitations".

The KNO has been working with China's National Center for the Performing Arts in recent years to benchmark their know-how in disseminating Chinese operas.

"A world-class Korean-made opera can be a great tool to promote our tradition and identity. We will be recognized as a country of premium cultural content", Lee added.

Koreans have a penchant for singing. The nation has produced many talented classical vocalists and as demonstrated by the Tchaikovsky competition which recently ended in Moscow, many young Korean singers are increasingly taking top prizes at international competitions.

But unlike China, Korea has yet to produce a landmark opera that has the potential of sweeping and lasting success either at home or abroad.

Since the 1980s, around 500 operas have been created here, but not one has had a resounding impact. Most have failed to be staged on a regular basis.

"Opera composers have a hard time because there is just not enough money in the business", composer Kang Joon-il said.

Kang teaches at the Korea National University of Arts and has composed several operas, including "Kim Gu", based on the life of the iconic independence movement leader and politician at the turn of the 20th century. "I wish there were government officials present at this seminar to learn more about the grievances of our profession".

It has been 63 years since Korea staged its first opera; Verdi's tragic "La Traviata" in the heart of Myeong-dong.

Since then, Korea has made some headway in cultivating an environment to nurture interest in operas. The Daegu Opera Festival was organized in 2003 as Asia's first international opera festival.

Participants expressed hope that Korea will be able to introduce a landmark homegrown opera ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in order to elevate Korea's cultural status globally.

Many emphasized the need for staunch support of the government and business sector to make this a reality.

"Now is the time to get ready to create an opera that can move the hearts of people who will visit Korea during the Winter Games. We need more support from the government" said Kim Hak-nam, president of the Opera Society of Korea (OSK). The OSK is a joint association of some 100 opera companies and related organizations in the country.

The seminar also touched on the huge success of opera festivals in the classical music capitals in Europe, including Salzburg, Bayreuth, Aix-en-Provence and Munich.

The Korea Opera Festival has showcased Korea's original operas as well as well-known productions of the world's foremost opera composers.

The organizers provide English language programs for non-Korean audiences.

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