Gounod’s opera “Faust,” American choreographer William Forsythe’s dance performance “Heterotopia,” “Les Miserables” author Victor Hugo’s less-known play “Mille Francs de recompense,” and an annual classical music festival helmed by cellist-conductor Chang Han-na have been among the stellar lineup of performances staged at the Seongnam Arts Center for the past 10 years.

Now, looking forward to the next decade, the Seongnam City-run venue hopes to cater to both local performance aficionados and citizens of Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, with more diverse, world-class performances, particularly operas.

“Since the center’s initiation in 2005, we have staged renowned classics and exhibitions where residents (of Seongnam) and audiences can enjoy together,” said Jung Eun-sook, president of the Seongnam Cultural Foundation ― which runs the arts center ― at a press conference on Tuesday in Seoul.

 

“Our new vision is to showcase high-class arts and leap again,” she said, adding that the center will try to produce at least one major opera a year.

“It’s an opera house and we have to stage at least one opera,” said Jung, who headed the Korea National Opera before joining the foundation in October. “One (opera) will lead to another, and in the future, we will be able to stage two or three a year, including modern opera productions.”

On Oct. 14, the anniversary of the art center’s founding, its own production of Verdi’s famous opera “La Traviata” will raise its curtain and run through Oct. 18.

The performance arrives after the center’s seven-year hiatus of opera production. Tenor Jeong Ho-yoon will take the role of Alfredo Germont, while baritone Yoo Dong-jik will sing Giorgio Germont. The castings for the soprano role of Violetta Valery and the director are yet to be announced.

Some of other major performances to look out for this year include the Ballet du Nord production of “Tragedie,” which will be staged in Korea for the first time on April 10-11.

French choreographer Oliver Dubois, the artistic director of the French-based troupe, brings provocative, contemporary dance moves to the Korean stage.

The age-restricted show ― 19 and up ― consists of nine naked women and nine naked men and centers on the theme of social restriction and rediscovery of humanity.

Finnish conductor and violinist Jukka-Pekka Saraste will bring his German orchestra WDR Symphony Orchestra Cologne here for the first time to perform Oct. 22-23. The orchestra will feature all of Brahms’ symphony movements.

“Music Alps in Seongnam” is slated for an Aug. 1 opening. For two weeks, the festival invites Venezuelan conductor and violinist Christian Vasquez and Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich to perform with the Seongnam Youth Symphony and other students of music. There will be various master classes and concerts throughout the week.

For more information, visit www.snart.or.kr

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)