Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream Reborn as Opera in Seoul ๐ญโจ https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 Last night at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House, I had the chance to see something truly magical — Benjamin Britten’s opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on Shakespeare’s beloved comedy. ๐๐ซ It’s not often that Britten’s works are staged in Korea, so the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement. Opera fans were thrilled to experience this rare masterpiece once again, especially since the National Opera Company of Korea first premiered it here only last year. https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 From the very first scene, the stage came alive with the fairy king Oberon and queen Titania. Their quarrel sets the story into motion, and soon, the mischievous fairy Puck is sent off to fetch a magical flower that makes people fall in love. Unlike other opera roles, Puck is not a singing character but an “acrobatic speaking role” — moving, acting, and clowning his way across the stage. And who played him? None other than Kim Dong-wan, a member of the famous K-pop group Shinhwa! ๐คโจ For more than two hours, he threw himself into the role with energy and humor, keeping the audience laughing and engaged. https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 But of course, opera is about voices, and this production gathered some of the best. Soprano Lee Hye-jung shone as Titania, proving once again why she’s considered one of Korea’s finest coloratura sopranos. The four lovers — Hermia (mezzo-soprano Jung Joo-yeon), Lysander (tenor Kim Hyo-jong), Helena (soprano Yoon Sang-ah), and Demetrius (baritone Choi Byung-hyuk) — all sang with power and passion that could rival any international stage. I especially loved Helena’s big, bold voice coming from her petite frame — such a surprise! ๐ถ๐ https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 One of the biggest highlights of the night was Oberon, sung by countertenor Jang Jung-kwon. If you’ve never heard a countertenor live, it’s an unforgettable experience — a male voice singing in an ethereal, almost otherworldly range. Jang brought incredible charisma to the role. His transformation on stage, from an aged figure in Act I to a powerful ruler in Act II, was mesmerizing. Honestly, he stole the show. ๐โจ https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 The “mechanicals” (the six rustic craftsmen who perform a play within the play) were another crowd favorite, bringing plenty of laughter. Special mention goes to tenor Kang Do-ho, who played Flute — singing intentionally off-key as an “incompetent” actor while still showing off great comedic timing. Baritone Park Eun-won as Bottom was also unforgettable, combining strong singing with hilarious acting. ๐๐ https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 And let’s not forget the orchestra! Under conductor Hong Seok-won, the Korean National Symphony tackled Britten’s notoriously tricky score with precision and flair. From the trumpet’s playful motifs to the flute’s witty references to Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, every detail pulled us deeper into the dreamlike world. The harpsichord and percussion added even more color to the fairy realm. Truly a feast for the ears. ๐ป๐บ๐ฅ https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/015/0005177868 What struck me most about this opera is how Britten honored Shakespeare’s play while creating something entirely new. Shakespeare’s influence runs deep in British culture — even astronomer William Herschel named two moons of Uranus “Oberon” and “Titania”! And Britten’s opera continues that tradition, giving Shakespeare’s characters a new life in music. As the curtain fell, I couldn’t help but feel grateful that the National Opera of Korea is bringing works like this to our stage. Their expertise in producing Italian, German, and French operas now extends beautifully to English opera as well. With their upcoming original Korean opera Hwajeonga on the horizon, I can’t wait to see how far they’ll go. ๐๐ถ All in all, A Midsummer Night’s Dream was a night of laughter, wonder, and breathtaking music. If you ever get the chance to see Britten’s opera, don’t miss it. It’s Shakespeare like you’ve never seen before — full of fairies, lovers, magic, and of course… opera! ๐โจ๐ญ #Opera #SeoulArtsCenter #Britten #AMidsummerNightsDream #Shakespeare #KoreanOpera #NationalOperaOfKorea #KimDongwan #Shinhwa #Puck #Countertenor #JangJungkwon #LeeHyejung #Titania #Oberon #KOpera #ClassicalMusic #OperaFans #SeoulCulture #StagePerformance #TheatreLovers #OperaLovers #LiveMusic #Baritone #Tenor #Soprano #KoreanCulture #SeoulLife #PerformingArts #OperaNight All rights reserved Stay14 Bespoke
