Ever since losing their home at the Seoul Arts Center due to a fire that broke out during the “La Boheme” performance last December, the National Opera of Korea has been going through a tough time.
Yet now, with its newly appointed artistic director Lee So-young, a well-known opera producer, the NOK seems to be getting its affairs back in order. Since their successful performance of “Carmen” in July, the company is set to stage a new work, “Salome,” starting Oct. 2 at LG Arts Center.

Lee chose to stage “Salome” – considered one of the most controversial modern operas – for the first time in Korea. It is a part of the company’s “My Next Opera” series, which intends to introduce some rare works that have not been staged in the country before.

“Because of the sensual costumes and performances, the piece has been receiving extreme critiques. I felt like the piece was no longer provocative in the 21st century,” Lee said at a recent press conference in Seoul.

With music by Richard Strauss and scripts adopted from the play of the same title by Oscar Wilde, the story is about.

 
While the drama was a huge success in Germany when it premiered in 1905, it was soon banned from other theaters. The charge was that it insulted characters in the Bible.

It deals with a peculiar love-hate relationships between King Herodes who loves his step daughter Salome, and Salome who is in love with the prophet Jochanaan, who refuses to accept her affection.

What makes the work sensational is the famous 12-minute voluptuous “Dance of the Seven Veils” – in which Salome dances as she takes off seven layers of her clothes in front of King Herodes to make him execute Jochanaan’s.

For this production by the Venezuelan-German director Carlos Wagner, however, Salome will not be taking off any of her clothes.

“I tried to develop a story where a girl, Salome, becomes a woman through the dance,” Wagner said.

Saying that he tried to be true to the text of Wilde, Wagner stated that he intended to show Salome’s emotional nature, rather than her body, during the dance, since the “Dance of the Seven Veils” is neither mentioned in the Bible nor Wilde’s play.

Instead, the producer decided to dress King Herodes in red underwear and a fur coat, which made the original cast, who were not feeling comfortable with the costume, back off. This so-called “red underwear incident” forced the National Opera of Korea to make last-minute cast changes.

Another challenge was the small orchestra pit at the LG Arts Center. Conductor Christopher Lee said it is hard to show the colors of Strauss’ music with a 40-piece orchestra; the original performance used a 120-piece orchestra.

Lee said he will do his best to make it work by using two electrons – electronic keyboard instruments – in place of the brass.

Sopranos Han Hye-jin and Lee Ji-eun will double in the role of Salome, while veteran German tenor Gerhard Slegel will play King Herodes.

“Salome” will be staged from Oct. 2 to 5 at LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul. Tickets run from 30,000 won to 90,000 won. For details, call (02) 586-5282 or check out www.nationalopera.org
By Koh Young-aah

2008.10.01

 

I have nothing to say to this. No opinions. Have a happy and safe day^^