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Korean
Performing Arts - Main Page
Korea's Main Page
Many Korean sopranos, including Jo Su-mi, Hong Hye-kyong, Shin Yong-ok, and Kim Yong-mi perform frequently on the international stage. In addition, the baritone Ch'oe Hyon-su, won top honors in the 1990 Tchaikovsky Musical Competition.
Verdi's La Traviata was the first opera performed in Korea. The National Opera Group was established in 1968 under the tutelage of the National Theater. Eight more private opera groups, in addition to regional city opera groups, have been inaugurated since. These opera groups performed both German and Italian operas. Likewise, they have also performed Korean operas in order to familiarize their audience not only with Western music, but with Korean music as well. As for Korean operas, Ch'unhyangjon by Hyon Che-myong, Shimch'mongjon by Kim Tong-jin, and Prince Hodong by Chang Il-nam were all notable achievements, as was the recent production of Ch'oi-yong by Lee Young-jo in 1987. The opera, which was based on a Korean novel, has marked a new turning point in the production of Korean operas.
Information provided by the Korean Embassy