Starting next month, a chorus of operatic tunes will echo across the starlit skies of Daegu.

The 14th International Daegu Opera Festival kicks off on Oct. 6, with the theme of "Rejoice after suffering," inspired by Beethoven. Audiences can look forward to a colorful repertoire this year, as the program features well-known operas like Puccini's "La Boheme" and "Tosca," as well as productions like Beethoven's "Fidelio" and Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice" that don't arrive on local stages on a regular basis.




Puccini's "La Boheme" raises its curtains on Oct. 6 as the festival's opening act.

Directed by Guy Montavon, head of the Erfurt Theater in Germany, the production was produced by the Gwangju Opera Company and the Daegu Opera House. Soprano Lee Yoon Geong, tenor Jeong Ho-Yoon and baritone Lee Donghwan feature in the ensemble cast. From Oct. 6 to 8, audiences can catch familiar arias like "What a Cold Little Hand" (Che gellida manina), a love song Rodolfo sings to a young woman on Christmas Eve.

The following week, from Oct. 13 to 15, the German cast from Theater Bonn brings to the stage Beethoven's "Fidelio," the only opera written by the late composer. The work, which took nine years to complete, tells the story of a woman who sneaks into a prison dressed as a man in order to rescue her innocent husband. The opera was based on a play, based on a true story, from the days of the French Revolution.

On Oct. 21, the Austrian Linz State Theater (Landestheater Linz) will showcase Gluck's "Orfeo ed Euridice." The opera is based on the story of Orpheus, a figure in Greek mythology who was able to charm all living things with his music. The production will feature some 15 dancers from Linz in a dramatic ballet opera performance.

The Korea National Opera will stage Puccini's "Tosca" from Oct. 28 to 29. A thrilling melodrama, Tosca is a tale of romance, misunderstanding, revenge and death. Tenor Kim Jae-Hyung, baritone Ko Sung-hyun will star in the performance.




The closing act for this year's festival is Bizet's "Carmen," staged on Nov. 4 and 5. Familiar arias like "Habanera," "The Flower Song" and the "Toreador Song" are sure to delight audiences. Mongolian baritone Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar, the Grand Prix winner of the 2015 Tchaikovsky Competition, will play Escamillo, the toreador.

Aside from the five main productions, opera fans will also be treated to an outdoor performance of "Oedipus Rex," an opera by Stravinsky based on the tragedy by Sophocles. There is an outdoor preview of this year's lineup on Sept. 24, and a concert by soprano Sumi Jo on Sept. 29 to celebrate 30 years since her debut. Mini concerts, award ceremonies, lectures and other events are also on the festival program.

More information about the 14th International Daegu Opera Festival can be found at the link below.
http://www.daeguoperahouse.org/perfor/view.asp?id=1312&nowYear=2016&nowMonth=10&nowCategory=

By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Daegu Opera House
hlee10@korea.kr