New Korean opera ‘Ippni’s Wedding‘ premieres in China

A Korean-made new opera “Ippni’s Wedding” premiered in China at the Beijing Century Theater at 7:30 pm local time on Saturday July 7. The event was co-hosted by the New Seoul Opera and Asia Today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the friendly relations between Korea and China.

In the opening speech before the rise of the curtain, former Prime Minister of Korea Jung Woon-chan congratulated the anniversary and requested that the two countries should work together on developing further relationships with an active cultural exchange.

“Ippni’s Wedding” was born when Hong Ji-won, the head of New Seoul Opera commissioned composer and professor at Korea National University of Arts Lim June-hee to write it. It is based on the 1943 Korean play “The Wedding Day” by Oh Young-jin and features both Korean traditional melodies and modernized elements to satisfy the international audience. Over 120 professional opera singers, including Jo Jung-soon (soprano), Yoon Byung-gil (tenor), Son Hyun-hee (soprano), Byun Seung-wook (baritone) and Song Won-seok (tenor), under the musical direction of Maestro Kim Bong-mi and with the Seoul Philharmonic and the Kook Soo-ho Didim Dance Company performed on stage representing Korea.

“Ippni’s Wedding” portrays many Korean traditional scenes such as a Korean conventional wedding and shamanistic performance by a Korean exorcist. Chinese audience in particular raved about Korean percussion music "Samul Nori", clapping and exclaiming while the ensemble played the four instruments, called “Samul.”

The night ended with the entire cast singing a famous Korean folk song “Arirang” at curtain call.

“Ippni’s Wedding” will have a nationwide tour in China and return to Korea to be staged at the Seoul Arts Center’s Opera House next June.