Wiesbaden State Theater, Germany / Daegu Opera House, Korea
LOHENGRIN
Oct. 15th (Thu.) 7pm / 17th (Sat.) 3pm Daegu Opera House
Wagner’s romantic opera, well-known for its famous ‘Wedding March’ performing the original production starring the cast of Wiesbaden National Theater! Regarded as one of the most representative opera composers along with Verdi, Wagner was a struggle to get in Korea. But this time, his romantic opera Lohengrin visits Daegu, a complex work and yet contains much familiar and romantic music such as the‘Wedding March’. The Daegu Opera House, hand in hand with Wiesbaden National Theater, one of the best from Germany, features the latest production from Germany and features famous thespians from the Korean stage. Considering its 4-hour performance time, Thursday’s performance will start 30 minutes earlier than other works. Also, all seats will be discounted 20% on that day to lessen the audience’s burden for those having to return home by taxi.
SYNOPSIS When King Heinrich of Saxony arrives at Brabant castle, Telramund and his wife, the pagan princess Ortrud, falsely state that Elsa has murdered her brother, Gottfried. King Heinrich orders them to decide the successor by single combat. Elsa nominates and prays to the knight, who appeared in her dream. Luckily, a knight comes to save Elsa. However, he does this only on the condition that she never ask his identity. But on their wedding night, she makes the mistake of asking his identity. Lohengrin discloses his origin in front of Elsa, King Heinrich, and many other people. He explains that his father is Parsifal, and that he is one of the holy knights sworn to protect the chalice, and he must return. The magic swan boat appears by the river. When Lohengrin releases the swan, the swan changes into Gottfried. At that moment, Ortrud who is a witch in fact, dies because her magic is broken. Lohengrin leaves on the boat. Elsa is very heart-broken as a result. She then dies in her brother’s arms.
Yeungnam Opera, Korea
RIGOLETTO
Oct. 21th (Wed.) / 24th (Fri.) 7:30pm Daegu Opera House
Verdi’s mid-term masterpiece prepared by the Yeongnam Opera Renowned aria festival to be played by its brilliant cast The Yeongnam Opera, proud of its broad-range of repertoires and cinematic quality, puts up Verdi’s Opera Rigoletto on stage. This work is famous for its beautiful music such as ‘La donna è mobile (A woman’s heart) and ‘Caro nome (Dearest name)’. This score, inserted as various background music, depicts a tragedy wherein clown Rigoletto kills his daughter by mistake in an attempt to get revenge on the count who had defiled his daughter, Gilda. Its brilliant production team includes Marco Balderi, who is a conductor of the Carlo Fenice Theater; Paulo Baiocco, world-renowned director of Norma by the Korea National Opera; worldclass baritone Ko Sunghyun, Matteo Suk, Rita Cammarano, who is prima donna of the Rome Opera Theater; and Christian Ricci, who is a leading tenor of the Arena di Verona Festival. All are preparing for the best staging of this dynamic tragedy.
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The 13th Annual Daegu International Opera Festival
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