Soprano Jo Su-mi (41) will perform on the Korean opera stage for the first time. She will be appearing as Gilda in Rigoletto, the role that elevated her to one of the New York Metropolitan Operas principal stars. Jo will be accompanied by a leading baritone on the international stage, Leo Nucci (62), who is hailed as the finest Rigoletto of our time and has performed as a Verdi specialist at the Metropolitan, Milans La Scala, and Londons Covent Garden. The dazzling production, hosted by the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, imports and preserves the sets, costumes, and lighting used by the Teatro Comunale di Bologna. July 23 ~ 28 (except 26), 7:30 p.m., Main Hall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
One might wonder, Is this really Jo Su-mis first time on the Korean opera stage? In fact, Jo has consistently declined to perform in Korean opera productions, despite having appeared in numerous other shows from aria concerts to crossover performances. This time around, however, she seems to have given her ready consent: having appeared in Rigoletto alongside Nucci at the Metropolitan, she is said to have considered a Bologna Opera production that also includes Nucci as a covetable opportunity.
The current production will feature two separate casts for the 23rd, 25th, and 28th (the A cast) and for the 24th and 27th (the B cast). Jo and Nucci will appear side-by-side with the A cast. It might seem like an unequal balance, but the B cast also boasts a big gun among its members: baritone Koh Seong-hyun. Koh has been appearing on the European opera stage since 1998, and he was recently praised as having a powerful cannon-blast of a voice that would give even Leo Nucci a run for his money, for his performance in Donizettis Lucia di Lammermoor.
The soprano who will team up with Koh is Norwegian Elizabeth Norberg-Schulz. She is also a formidable soprano singer, critically hailed for her solo performance in conductor Herbert Blomstedts recording of The German Requiem by Brahms (Decca). In light of such considerations, its possible that the evaluation of the two teams may be reversed, depending on the results of the shows. Even the B-team tenor Roberto Sacca, who plays the Duke of Mantua (a role made immortal by the aria La donna e mobile), surpasses A-team member Aquiles Machado in renown. Sacca recently garnered high praise when he appeared in the gala reopening of La Fenice opera house in Venice, Italy. He is also slated to play in La Fenices inaugural production of Verdis La Traviata.
The Sejong Centers Rigoletto will be conducted by Croatia-born Vjekoslav Sutej, whose operatic experience includes tenures as musical director of La Fenice and the Opera House in Houston. 40,000 ~ 300,000 won. (Tel) 02-399-1114∼7, 1588-7890