“The Arena di Verona Opera Festival performs Turandot every two years, and always presents Zeffirelli’s version. That’s because they always come to the conclusion, ‘What’s the point of another production of Turandot?’”
Opera director Stefano Trespidi, who was in charge of the on-site production of Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” which will be performed at the Seoul Jamsil Olympic Gymnastics Arena (KSPO Dome) from October 12 to 19, said this. At the production conference for “Turandot” held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 26th, he, Sol Opera Company’s Director Lee So-young, who was in charge of producing this performance, Italian Ambassador to Korea Emily Gatto, Italian Cultural Center in Korea Director Michela Linda Magri, and soprano Jeon Yeo-jin, who will be appearing as Turandot, attended.
Director Trespidi, who has been serving as the deputy artistic director of the Arena di Verona Festival since 2019, said, “It is meaningful to bring operas from Arena di Verona, where I spent more time than at home, to Korea, but it is also meaningful to perform the works of legendary director Franco Zeffirelli (1923-2019).” “Meeting him at Arena di Verona in 1995 was what changed my life as a lawyer. I think Korean audiences will also be moved by this performance with their mouths open.”
Franco Zeffirelli, a film director and opera director, presented ‘Turandot’ in 1987 at the request of the New York Metropolitan Opera, featuring the cross decoration on the stage floor and the blue clothes of the main character Turandot. This Zeffirelli version of Turandot received rave reviews from the first performance and has been performed all over the world, including at the Verona Arena Opera. ‘Turandot’ performed at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu, Seoul, as a cultural event commemorating the 1988 Seoul Olympics, also used Zeffirelli’s version.
Director Trespidi said, “Zeffirelli was not just a director, he also created and operated the entire stage, including the stage design and lighting.” “I saw him set up Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ at the Arena di Verona, and Zeffirelli, who had a bad leg, looked up to the 45-meter-high peak and said, ‘Put me up there.’ He ended up going up there and painting each stage one by one.”
This performance will be conducted by Daniel Oren, musical director of the Arena di Verona Festival, and will feature sopranos Olga Maslova, Oksana Dika, and Jeon Yeo-jin singing the title role of Princess Turandot, and tenors Martin Muhle and Arturo Chacón Cruz singing the role of Prince Calaf.
Jeon Yeo-jin said, “I was cast to sing ‘Turandot’ at this year’s Arena di Verona Festival and finished practicing until June, but I couldn’t perform due to a health issue. I was disappointed, but I am so grateful to be able to perform in this meaningful joint performance by Korea and the Arena di Verona.” Ambassador Kato and Director of the Cultural Center Magri said, “This year marks the 100th anniversary of Puccini’s death and the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Italy. I hope that this meaningful event will provide an opportunity for the people of both countries to deeply understand each other’s cultures, and I hope that Korean operas will also be performed more often overseas, including in Italy.”
Culture reporter Yoo Yoon-jong [email protected]
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2024-09-26 18:25:32