Grand Opera Company to mark 30th anniversary with Carmen gala in Busan
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, the Grand Opera Company will present the year-end opera gala 'Carmen vs Carmen' at the Busan Concert Hall on December 12.
The Grand Opera Company will host the 'Carmen vs Carmen' gala at Busan Concert Hall on December 12, featuring approximately 150 performers including the DIO Orchestra and Daegu Opera Choir to celebrate the company's 30th anniversary.
The Grand Opera Company (Director Ahn Ji-hwan), a leader in the history and development of opera in South Korea, will hold the year-end opera gala 'Carmen vs Carmen,' described as one of this winter's most intense and captivating stages, to mark its 30th anniversary.
The performance will take place on Saturday, December 12, at 7:00 p.m. at the Busan Concert Hall, which boasts state-of-the-art facilities and excellent acoustics. The production will feature a magnificent reinterpretation in a gala concert format of Georges Bizet's 'Carmen,' one of the world's most beloved opera repertoires, focusing on its passionate and dramatic narrative.
Expectations are high as top-tier artists who have performed on leading global stages are set to appear. Conductor Carlo Palleschi is a maestro who has collaborated with world-renowned artists such as Luciano Pavarotti, Piero Cappuccilli, and Renato Bruson to present the essence of authentic Italian opera at prestigious venues including New York's Carnegie Hall and the Berlin Philharmonie.
Top vocalists with illustrious careers will also grace the stage. Tenor Park Seong-gyu, who won first prize at the Leoncavallo, Zandonai, and Marseille international competitions and has captivated the world's three major opera houses, will perform the role of Don José. He is joined by mezzo-soprano Choi Seung-hyeon, who received acclaim for her leading role in the opera 'Carmen' at the National Theatre of the Czech Republic in Prague, playing the role of Carmen. Additionally, violinist Park Ji-hye, who won first prize for two consecutive years at the German Federal Youth Music Competition and second prize at the R. Enescu International Competition in Romania, will provide soulful melodies. They will be joined by baritone Moon Jeong-hyeon, who achieved a strong second place at the Maria Callas International Competition, and soprano Park Hyeon-jeong, a first-prize winner at the Mascagni International Competition, to deliver breathtaking harmonies and a premium stage.
Furthermore, approximately 150 performers, including the DIO Orchestra and Daegu Opera Choir—resident professional opera groups of the Daegu Opera House—and the MK Junior Musical Company, will participate to complete the deep and rich stage with grand sounds and diverse repertoire.
“To celebrate our 30th anniversary and repay the support we have received, we have prepared the best stage where you can fully enjoy the essence of opera,” said Ahn Ji-hwan, Director of the Grand Opera Company. “We hope you enjoy unforgettable emotion and resonance at the end of this year with the famous songs of 'Carmen,' which depict the whirlpool of love, freedom, and fate.”
Ticket reservations and inquiries for group viewing can be made through the Grand Opera Company planning office.
Covers K-pop for SPECIALTIMES GLOBAL, and also writes Culture and K-Variety stories.
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