Faust; Daegu Opera House
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," "Déposons les armes" and "Gloire immortelle de nos aïeux".
It is also the most successful along many operas based on Goethe's "Faust," such as Boito's "Mafistofelle" and Berlioz's "La damnation de Faust," and has become the most renowned opera composed by Gounod that popularized his name throughout Europe.
The Daegu Opera House "Faust", which is on stage until April 27th, is conducted by Kim Kwang-hyun, the next-generation Korean maestro with excellent musicality. He was the youngest head of a national and public music organization to serve as the music director and executive conductor of the Wonju Municipal Symphony Orchestra, and is a well-known conductor for his outstanding capabilities in all opera, ballet and symphony performances.
On top of that, the cast is as good as the national team. Tenor Shin Sang-geun, who made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and tenor Seo Jeong-yeop, who has been active in Europe, will play the main character "Faust". In addition, bass baritone Samuel Yoon, who was selected as a German court singer, and bass Jeon Tae-hyun, who is from Daegu and is active on the opera stage at home and abroad, will play the role of "Méphistophélès," the devil. Finally, new soprano Lee Hye-jin and Kim Jin-sol, who are drawing the most attention in the opera world, will sing the role of "Marguerite," the pure woman.
Lee hui-su, who directed the opera "Faust," is a veteran director who has directed a wide spectrum of works from classics to creations. Through her use of digital and analog lighting devices, a sense of collision and heterogeneity of light is expected to give a mysterious feeling to the audience watching the performance.
