Korea National Opera (http://www.nationalopera.org/)The Korea National Opera, having the longest history
and prominent vocalists, has performed over 80 productions
regularly, some of which were first staged in Korea
and most of which were grand operas.
Since it was organized in 1962, the National Opera of Korea has promoted home opera through systematic programs introduced below. It imported a repertory system of its birthplace and tried to produce two works of opera at a time. It has helped home music circles to create operas suitable for Korean usage and sense of life. In addition, it has held various opera festivals for young music fans and potential audience.
So far the Korea National Opera has tried to seek out opera creations, which are based on the traditional ones, and to make them reach a standard. We can name a few recommendable ones; Chun-hyang-jeon, A life of chun-hyang and Saint Won-hyo of Chang Il-nam, Non-gae of Hong Yeon-taek, Cheo-yong of Lee Yeong-jo, A Wedding Day of Kong Seok-jin, and Jewelry and Women of Park Yeong-geun.
Adopting the open audition system, the National Opera of Korea has scouted for promising vocalists. It has done its best to be the great opera band worthy of the name. Prof. Lee In-beom, Hong Jin-pyo, O Hyeon-myong, Park Seong-won have served as the leaders, and now Park Su-gil, art director, make efforts to promote the artistic quality of it.
At the time of organization, the Korea National Opera affiliated itself with the National Theater of Korea. Now, greeting the new millennium, it restarts as an independent foundation, which acts on its own responsibility.
Since it was organized in 1962, the National Opera of Korea has promoted home opera through systematic programs introduced below. It imported a repertory system of its birthplace and tried to produce two works of opera at a time. It has helped home music circles to create operas suitable for Korean usage and sense of life. In addition, it has held various opera festivals for young music fans and potential audience.
So far the Korea National Opera has tried to seek out opera creations, which are based on the traditional ones, and to make them reach a standard. We can name a few recommendable ones; Chun-hyang-jeon, A life of chun-hyang and Saint Won-hyo of Chang Il-nam, Non-gae of Hong Yeon-taek, Cheo-yong of Lee Yeong-jo, A Wedding Day of Kong Seok-jin, and Jewelry and Women of Park Yeong-geun.
Adopting the open audition system, the National Opera of Korea has scouted for promising vocalists. It has done its best to be the great opera band worthy of the name. Prof. Lee In-beom, Hong Jin-pyo, O Hyeon-myong, Park Seong-won have served as the leaders, and now Park Su-gil, art director, make efforts to promote the artistic quality of it.
At the time of organization, the Korea National Opera affiliated itself with the National Theater of Korea. Now, greeting the new millennium, it restarts as an independent foundation, which acts on its own responsibility.
Korea National
Ballet (http://www.kballet.org/)Established in 1962, the Korea National Ballet (KNB) has led the ballet world of Korea. Formerly known as the National Ballet, KNB was one of the affiliates of the National Theater of Korea (NTK) until 1999, when it separated from NTK and independently reestablished itself in Seoul Arts Center in 2000. Today it is positioned to move into primetime. Presently, it is composed of 65 in-house dancers, who are selected every year through an open audition. KNB annually stages about 80 performances, drawing upon the 30 productions in its repertoire.
Since its inception, KNB has been led by four artistic directors: first, Sung-nam Lim, from 1962 to 1992; second, Hae-sik Kim, from 1993 to 1995; third, Tae-ji Choi, from 1993 to 2001; and fourth, Geung-soo Kim, since 2002. Under these directors it has introduced ballet productions of diverse genre, from timeless classics to contemporary original ballet works, which have helped enrich the cultural life of audiences.
KNB has recently made ballet more popular by expanding new-concept public programs. The Ballet with Commentary is one of the public-friendly examples. At the same time, teaming up with world-famous choreographers like Jean-Christophe Maillot and Yuri Grigorovich, the ballet company has upgraded its managerial and performance standards. It now showcases the star ballet artists of Korea.
As for international activity, many in-house dancers have won prestigious international awards for outstanding performances while the ballet company has traveled abroad, including a road tour in Egypt and Israel in 1997, China in 2000 and 2001, and Japan in 2002. And this Russian visit is the first time for the ballet company in its history. These activities have been a prime mover for the ballet company to advance onto the worldwide stage.
KNB Ballet Academy fosters young talent through intensive early education. Its adult programs meet the needs of those with special interests in ballet. The Coterie Club, on KNB Website, has more than two thousand cyber members who promote KNB activities.
Since its inception, KNB has been led by four artistic directors: first, Sung-nam Lim, from 1962 to 1992; second, Hae-sik Kim, from 1993 to 1995; third, Tae-ji Choi, from 1993 to 2001; and fourth, Geung-soo Kim, since 2002. Under these directors it has introduced ballet productions of diverse genre, from timeless classics to contemporary original ballet works, which have helped enrich the cultural life of audiences.
KNB has recently made ballet more popular by expanding new-concept public programs. The Ballet with Commentary is one of the public-friendly examples. At the same time, teaming up with world-famous choreographers like Jean-Christophe Maillot and Yuri Grigorovich, the ballet company has upgraded its managerial and performance standards. It now showcases the star ballet artists of Korea.
As for international activity, many in-house dancers have won prestigious international awards for outstanding performances while the ballet company has traveled abroad, including a road tour in Egypt and Israel in 1997, China in 2000 and 2001, and Japan in 2002. And this Russian visit is the first time for the ballet company in its history. These activities have been a prime mover for the ballet company to advance onto the worldwide stage.
KNB Ballet Academy fosters young talent through intensive early education. Its adult programs meet the needs of those with special interests in ballet. The Coterie Club, on KNB Website, has more than two thousand cyber members who promote KNB activities.
The National Chorus
of Korea (http://nationalchorus.or.kr/)Since its start in May 1973, the National Chorus
of Korea has done its most to render professionalism
and artistic quality to home choral music. It
is the first to open the age of professional choral
music, and has been at the head of choral music movement.
So far it has had more than 70 performances including
4 regular performances, 2 concert tours, a performance
in concert with the Korea National Opera and special
concerts every year.
Various music pieces ranging from the Renaissance to our own day and sacred music as well are in its repertory. Dealing with all sorts of choral music, it gave choral music movement a certain artistic quality. Many of vocalists who were once its members act in the leading parts or as soloists in the opera circles. This is just one of the important achievements equal to its success at the stage of The Korea National Opera where it once presented harmonious and touching performances.
It is remarkable that it has contributed to the promotion of choral music creation through various activities such as holding festivals for development of home choral music and for choral music creations of the undergraduates. Since 1977 it has held the "Undergraduate Choral Music Festival" where over 150 choral music creations has been introduced.
Hoping to form the characters of our own music, the National Chorus of Korea has layed experimentally a series of opera creations in the style of music play in which choral music, dance and acting are mixed one another. It requested composers to compose cantatas, and held "Prize Contest for Cantata" in order to stimulate them to create more cantatas.
Youngbiachunga, a cantata creation performed in Oct. 1995, was meaningful in every respect. The performance in remembrance of the 50th Independence Day of Korea attracted public attention. It was founded on <youngbiachunga>, the first poem of Korea, dealing with great ambition of the Korean people. And it tried to mix Korean traditional music expressed in sijo(three-stanza Korean ode) or pansori(solo opera drama) with Western music and computer-aided sound effects.
Prof. Na Young-su who served as the 1st and 3rd leader and permanent conductor raised the artistic level of the National Chorus. O Se-jong, the 4th leader and art director, has tried for the continuous development of it in corporation with its members since 1993.
Various music pieces ranging from the Renaissance to our own day and sacred music as well are in its repertory. Dealing with all sorts of choral music, it gave choral music movement a certain artistic quality. Many of vocalists who were once its members act in the leading parts or as soloists in the opera circles. This is just one of the important achievements equal to its success at the stage of The Korea National Opera where it once presented harmonious and touching performances.
It is remarkable that it has contributed to the promotion of choral music creation through various activities such as holding festivals for development of home choral music and for choral music creations of the undergraduates. Since 1977 it has held the "Undergraduate Choral Music Festival" where over 150 choral music creations has been introduced.
Hoping to form the characters of our own music, the National Chorus of Korea has layed experimentally a series of opera creations in the style of music play in which choral music, dance and acting are mixed one another. It requested composers to compose cantatas, and held "Prize Contest for Cantata" in order to stimulate them to create more cantatas.
Youngbiachunga, a cantata creation performed in Oct. 1995, was meaningful in every respect. The performance in remembrance of the 50th Independence Day of Korea attracted public attention. It was founded on <youngbiachunga>, the first poem of Korea, dealing with great ambition of the Korean people. And it tried to mix Korean traditional music expressed in sijo(three-stanza Korean ode) or pansori(solo opera drama) with Western music and computer-aided sound effects.
Prof. Na Young-su who served as the 1st and 3rd leader and permanent conductor raised the artistic level of the National Chorus. O Se-jong, the 4th leader and art director, has tried for the continuous development of it in corporation with its members since 1993.
Korean Symphony Orchestra (http://www.koreansymphony.com/)Korean Symphony Orchestra, which has been growing into an orchestra of Korean people, is making another start under an exclusive contract with the Seoul Arts Center as it celebrates its 17th anniversary.
