Opera Mixers

The theater was filled with grouped guests, including a group of lawyers and those invited to the “Cultural Events with Friends” hosted by Daewoo Securities. Thus, Monday performances in DS Hall are used for social gatherings of 10 to 30 people, such as class reunions, meetings, investment seminars, or launching parties. People come to the hall around 6:30 p.m. to have dinner upstairs and after the performance, enjoy wine in the lobby or terrace. Opera singers in costumes participate in the wine party, talking about the performance over a glass of wine with the audience. It looked like restaging the salon culture of modern Europe that combined performances and social gatherings.

Jeong Ju-hyeong, 34, a representative of Emotion, said, “This kind of social gathering with customers or friends invited to a Monday performance in a little theater has become popular because people are busier on weekends. A little theater has its own unique charm as a place where people can have tea or wine or take pictures with the performers of the day. It leaves special memories.”

“Cosi fan Tutte,” on stage until July 3, is directed by Kim Hong-seung, professor in the Opera Department of the Korea National University of Arts, and conducted by Park Myeong-gi, a professor in Opera Conducting Department of the same school and former music director of the Seoul Opera. Unlike an opera performance on a larger stage in which the orchestra usually plays under the stage, Professor Park conducted looking down from upstairs to the sound of an Electone, a keyboard instrument with the effect of an orchestra.

“It is an uncommon attempt in Korea to present an opera for a long term in a little theater with a cast of young and passionate singers back from their overseas study. I’m also planning to create little-theatre versions of La Traviata and La Boheme and include them in our Monday regular repertoire,” said director Kim.

The opera cast includes Han Myeong-seong and Choi Wu-yeong for Fiordiligi, Lee Mi-ran and Kim Hye-hyeon for Dorabella, Cho Eun-ju for Despina, Lee Jae-wuk and Kang Hun for Ferrando, Song Ghi-chang and Kim Yeong-ju for Guglielmo, and Kim Jin-chu and Jeong Ji-cheol for Don Alfonso. The ticket price is 30,000-50,000 won, not including an extra charge for dinner and wine afterwards. For more information, call 02-3473-2500.

Seung-Hoon Cheon raphy@donga.com