Celebrating the 450th anniversary of Shakespeare's birth this year, one of his four tragedies, "Othello," recomposed by Verdi in 1887 into the opera "Otello," will be performed from November 6 to 9 in Seoul. This special four-day run by the Korea National Opera company will be on the stage in the Opera Theater at the Seoul Arts Center.

Desdemona and Otello star in Verdi's opera interpretation of Shakespeare original 'Othello.' (photos: Korea National Opera)

Performed with the original Italian libretto, the opera's crew and cast have renowned members from all parts of the world joining them on stage. Together, they will create musical and artistic value through the carefully combined vocals, orchestra, production and stage design.

Conductor Graeme Jenkins (left) and director Stephen Lawless.

More than any other opera, Verdi's "Otello" is filled with passion, and fans are looking forward to hearing a seasoned opera specialist like Graeme Jenkins conduct the stormy prelude to Otello's tragic end. In 1994, Jenkins became the youngest British conductor to complete Wagner's Ring Cycle when he was the music director at the Dallas Opera. He has worked with the English National Opera, the Paris Opera, the Konzerthaus Berlin, the Nationaltheater München, the Royal Swedish Opera, Opera Australia and the Canadian Opera Company.

Active in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, as well as in Berlin, Vienna and parts of Canada, the British director Stephen Lawless will bring out the details of the inner turmoil going on within the main characters, adding to the mise-en-scène. Seoul audiences first met him with the operetta "Die Fledermaus."

Tenors Clifton Forbis and Rudy Park are cast as Otello.

The main character, Otello, will be portrayed by both U.S. tenor Clifton Forbis and Korean tenor Rudy Park. On alternating nights, they will portray an Otello oscillating between fierce anger and cynicism and an Otello wrapped up in feelings of inferiority and jealousy. Desdemona has sopranos Serena Farnocchia and Kim Eunju, who will each bring forth beautiful voices and perfect technique, showing the virtuous heroine of love pained with her sad fate.

Sopranos Serena Farnocchia and Kim Eunju are cast as Desdemona.

Iago, the villain in this tragedy, will be played by baritones Ko Seonghyun and Woo Juho, worthy matches to their counterparts as Otello.

Baritones Ko Seonghyun and Woo Juho are cast as Iago.

The Korean Symphony Orchestra and the National Chorus of Korea will add finesse to the all live atmosphere and to the perfected stage presence of the singers.

Stage designer Benoit Dugardyn and costume designer Sue Willmington created scenes set in lone Martello towers and authentic costumes with modern fittings to compliment the operatic performances.

On Thursday and Friday, each performance will start at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday it will be a 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon. Tickets are available at http://www.sacticket.co.kr/home/index.jsp.

By Paik Hyun
Korea.net Staff Writer
cathy@korea.kr