all walks of opera

L'opéra "Faust", composé par Charles Gounod de France, est basé sur la pièce "Faust, Tragedy Part 1", qui a été écrite par Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, un grand écrivain d'Allemagne, inspirée par la légende du Dr. Faust qui existait en Allemagne. Le dramaturge français Michel Carre a écrit un scénario de pièce de théâtre intitulé "Faust et Marguerite" sur cette base, et a plus tard terminé le scénario de "Faust" avec Jules Barbier. L'histoire parle de la Dr. Faust, qui est devenu un vieil homme aux cheveux gris, souffrant de la futilité de toutes les études qu'il a étudiées tout au long de sa vie, puis a conclu un accord pour rendre sa jeunesse au diable Méphistophélès, et finalement détruire après toutes sortes de mauvaises actions. Le "Faust", créé au Théâtre Lyrique de Paris le 19 mars 1859, est rempli d'airs et de chœurs célèbres tels que "Oh dieu! Que de bijoux ... Ah ! Je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroi...

The opera "Faust", composed by Charles Gounod of France, is based on the play "Faust, Tragedy Part 1," which was written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, a great writer of Germany, inspired by the legend of Dr. Faust who existed in Germany. French playwright Michel Carre wrote a play script called "Faust and Marguerite" based on this, and later completed the script of "Faust" with Jules Barbier.  The story is about Dr. Faust, who has become a gray-haired old man, suffering from the futility of all the studies he has investigated throughout his life, and then making a deal to give his youth back to the devil Méphistophélès, and eventually destroying after all kinds of evil deeds. The “Faust”, premiered at the Théâtre Lyrique in Paris on March 19, 1859, is filled with famous arias and choruses such as "Oh dieu! Que de bijoux ... Ah! je ris de me voir si belle en ce miroir," "Vous qui faites l'endormie", "Le veau d'or,...

This was the fourth time that I have ever seen Shakespeare’s literature reincarnate into the form of an opera. Previously I have watched two performances of Roméo et Juliette, each producted by Seoul Metropolitan Opera and Opera National de Paris. Moreover, I have also seen Macbeth in Korea National Opera’s production. Recently, I watched “A midsummer night’s dream” in Seoul Arts Center Opera House. This opera, composed by Benjamin Britten, is a unique one, since it has English lyrics, and there are unconventional lines without any melodies. It is interesting to observe how operas arise as a cross-cultural form of art; for instance, Bizet’s “Carmen” is composed by French composer, although the storyline is based on Spanish characters. This phenomenon also fits in the performance I have just enjoyed; although the opera itself has a British origin, German production team was deeply involved in the performance that was just held in Seoul Arts Center. As an opera caster of Korea National O...

Benjamin Britten's opera based on Shakespeare's original work, "A Midsummer Night's Dream", is a work in English instead of conventional French or Italian. Oberon, one of the main characters, is a countertenor. James Lang, who performed at the Royal Opera House in London, appears instead of usual “prima donna”. The person who is leading the story of the opera is the fairy Puck. Kim Dong-wan, a member of the group Shinhwa, is a Cupid who conveys love and jumps around the stage throughout the performance. In Act 1, Hermia and Lysander, Helena and Dmitrius' love interest are mixed and conflicted because the fairy Puck mistakenly shoots the arrow of love. In Act 3, lovers confirm each other's love. They watch a play in a play (Pyramus and Tisbe) in which the two lovers of the enemy family die due to misunderstanding. In addition, the laughter codes are everywhere in the middle, so the audience could be somewhat confused by the unexpected flow of the play.  At ...