World renowned Korean Wagner singer to perform `The Flying Dutchman` in Seoul

World renowned Korean Wagner singer to perform `The Flying Dutchman` in Seoul. November. 12, 2015 10:34. suhchoi@donga.com.

Richard Wagner`s opera "The Flying Dutchman" will be performed for the first time in 40 years at the Opera House in Seoul Arts Center from Wednesday through Friday next week, where Korea National Opera singer Yeon Kwang-chul will be playing captain Daland. Opera singer Kim Il-hoon will be a replacement cast on the last day. The Dong-A Ilbo met Yeon at a practice room in Seoul Arts Center on Wednesday.

"Is it a cliché to say I feel new every time? Different from other composers, Wagner wrote all the lines by himself," Yeon said. The orchestra also doesn`t remain as accompaniment and expresses the emotions of the performers. Different from Italian operas where the orchestra highly depends on the vocalist, the producer, singer and orchestra can create various versions. This is what`s new."

Yeon had a considerable admiration of Wagner`s operas. Last year at Bayreuth, he performed in "The Flying Dutchman," "Valkyrja" and "Tannhauser," coming on stage 16 times for four weeks. When asked why he digested such a tight killer schedule, Yeon said he didn`t want to yield them to others.

This time, "The Flying Dutchman" reinterpreted the original, changing time background from 18th century to modern time, and also modernized the stage.

"Daland is a father who wants to make his daughter marry a wealthy Dutch captain instead of a poor fiancé who is a hunter," he said. "Daland was an experienced and easy character, but this time changed to uneasy and timid whale fishing ship captain. The producer`s intentions were good."

Yeon said he initially had an inferiority complex about being an Asian and being short. He recalls how he has struggled due to bias by foreigners. It was Daniel Barenboim who valued his voice and led him.

"Once I was preparing for a performance in Japan," the opera singer said. "I don`t know if I was targeted, but a person at the Japanese producing firm said he wanted the team to be composed of only European singers. Barenboim then said he wasn`t European and took me." Barenboim is a Jewish conductor born in Argentina.

This is why Yeon always tries to lead juniors. Tenor Kim Suk-chul who is performing with him this time (Eric cast) was also invited to the Bayreuth festival, which was greatly helped by Yeon.

Yeon has a full schedule until 2018. Starting with The New York Metropolitan Opera next month where he will play Verdi`s opera Il Trovatore, he will be on stage at London Royal Opera, the Staatsoper Wien, Opera National de Paris and Teatro Real in Madrid.

Despite the tight schedule, Yeon will appear at a stage at two places in Korea at year-end. Born in Cheongju, Korea, he will have a solo recital there in December as his second hometown performance. He will also perform at a nursing home where his Cheongju College of Music professor is staying.

"Since it is hard for elderly people to watch opera for as long as two hours, I decided to go to my hometown and sing Korean and German songs for them. The performance for my teacher will be the same with when I visited my Berlin music school professor and played for him. The professor is partially deaf, but is still enthusiastic in music."

"A world renown singer singing at such as stage could be discouraging," the Dong-A Ilbo reporter said. "Reputation is built by other people. If I have dignity of what I do, reputation is nothing. I don`t think I need to be self-conscious about others," Yeon said.