Cast members and producer of the opera "Otello" pose during a press conference at the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Monday. From left are soprano Hrachuhi Bassentz, tenor Lee Yong-hoon, conductor Carlo Rizzi, tenor Teodor Ilincai, baritone Nikoloz Lagvilava, soprano Hong Ju-young and Suh Kounee, general director at the SAC's artistic planning and operations division. Yonhap By Park Jin-hai The Seoul Arts Center will bring Giuseppe Verdi's opera masterpiece "Otello" to life from Aug.
18 to 25, featuring Korean tenor Lee Yong-hoon, who has graced the stages of the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala, alongside Italian conductor Carlo Rizzi. Tenor Lee, who made his Korean opera debut last October as Calaf in the Seoul Metropolitan Opera's "Turandot," will return to the Korean stage after 10 months in the title role of Otello. "Every tenor dreams of performing Otello, but having the dream doesn't mean you can make it a reality.
Just like climbing Mount Everest, it's a challenging yet captivating work and I've always wanted to make my (Korean) debut as Otello. I'm deeply moved and excited to be able to present Otello in my home country with such a great production and an excellent team," Lee said during a press conference held at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, Monday. This Royal Opera House production is set to recreate the magic of the original performance by bringing in the 2017 original stage sets, costumes and props from Britain.
The opera, set in a maritime city on the island of Cyprus in the 15th century, tells the story of a tragic tale of jealousy and manipulation, revolving around Otello, a Moorish general who defeats the Turkish fleet and marries the beautiful Desdemona. Lee described Otello as a character who, though strong, becomes vulnerable under the manipulation of his subordinate Iago, leading to a journey of revenge and destruction. He drew parallels between Otello's complex and nuanced emotions and his own experiences as a Korean tenor on the European stage, finding common ground in the challenges and vulnerabilities he faced.
"It is both interesting and challenging to express Otello's pain, conflict, agony and love through not only the text but also sound and emotion. I focused intently on studying this opera to find out how Korean audiences can feel by heart such various emotions of Otello, even if they don't understand the Italian language," Lee said. "This opera is said to be as difficult as singing three operas in one night, but it's a very attractive work.
" Romanian tenor Teodor Ilincai will alternate Otello with Lee. "Complex emotions such as love, jealousy and betrayal exist in reality as well. As a vocalist, it's a great privilege to be able to express the true story that could happen to us through Verdi's perfect music.
I aim to imbue Otello with my own unique color," Ilincai said. The evil Iago will be played by two baritones: Marco Vratogna and Nikoloz Lagvilava, while Soprano Hrachuhi Bassentz and Hong Ju-young will share the role of Desdemona, Otellos' wife. Under the baton of conductor Rizzi, the opera will feature a powerful scene where an 80-member adult choir and a 14-member children's choir sing a prayer for Otello's ship to defeat the Turkish fleet and safely return to Cyprus in the first act.
Rizzi described its 20-minute opener as an unmissable highlight, comparing it to a "jump on a Ferrari on the motorway that is going 100 miles per hour." The Italian maestro also took time to tutor young Korean conductors during this visit with a workshop on Monday, aiming to assist young conductors in understanding the unique and special voices of each singer and drawing out their strengths in the best way possible..
