A midsummer night’s dream; Seoul Arts Center (3)

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 Opera, I was able to watch rehearsals of this particular performance. I was utterly surprised how German producer and choreographer were strict and concise at every inch and details of the performance. The stage design was also quite dynamic and “German-ish”, since intuitive stage props were constantly changing, allowing the audience to be immersed in the performance.

However, unfortunately I was not able to enjoy the opera itself, although I was satisfied with the interpretation by the production team. Since I am rather a huge fan of classical opera music, there was barely any aria that was memorable in the Britten’s opera. Nevertheless, it was exciting to watch how Shakespeare’s words come alive in acting, music, and stage design.



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