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Classic Busan to Present Concert Opera Otello Conducted by Chung Myung-whun

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Classic Busan will present the concert opera Otello at Busan Concert Hall at 5:00 p.m. on October 10 and 11.

The production is an opera project planned and produced by Classic Busan to commemorate the first anniversary of Busan Concert Hall. Verdi’s masterpiece Otello will be presented in concert opera format, bringing together world-class vocalists and performers from Korea and abroad.

Otello was composed by Giuseppe Verdi, a master of Italian opera, based on Shakespeare’s tragedy, and premiered at La Scala in Milan on February 5, 1887. Regarded as one of Verdi’s late masterpieces, it portrays the universal human emotions of love and jealousy, suspicion and betrayal through powerful music and dramatic storytelling.

The production is drawing particular attention for bringing together world-renowned vocalists and leading Korean artists.

The performance will be conducted by Chung Myung-whun, Artistic Director of Classic Busan. It is especially significant as an opportunity to experience the essence of Verdi’s opera under Chung’s baton.

In particular, this will be a rare opportunity to experience Otello, widely regarded as the work in which Verdi’s musical and dramatic abilities reached their fullest expression, through Chung Myung-whun’s interpretation. The concert opera format will allow audiences to experience the orchestra’s rich sound and the singers’ nuanced expression at close range while enjoying the culmination of Verdi’s operatic artistry.

The title role of Otello will be performed by American tenor Gregory Kunde, who has appeared on many of the world’s leading opera stages.

Gregory Kunde is recognized as a world-renowned tenor and one of the foremost interpreters of Verdi’s Otello. He has performed at such prestigious venues as the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera.

The role of Iago will be performed by Serbian baritone Željko Lučić, who has appeared on leading stages around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala. The role of Desdemona will be sung by soprano Son Ji-hye, an ensemble member at Theater Dortmund in Germany who has performed at major venues across Europe.

The cast also includes Busan-born mezzo-soprano Sabina Kim and bass-baritone Lee Jun-oh, as well as tenor Hwang Jun-ho, tenor Kim Jae-il, and bass Kim Cheol-jun, all of whom are actively performing on stages in Korea and abroad, further enhancing the production.

The Asia Philharmonic Orchestra (APO) will provide the orchestral performance. Local arts organizations and performers, including the Classic Busan Choir, Noi Opera Chorus, and Haeundae-gu Boys and Girls Choir, will also take part in the production.

The production is particularly meaningful because it goes beyond inviting world-class artists: Classic Busan is producing the work itself, with local artists participating in both the production process and the performances.

Classic Busan has directly planned and produced a wide range of opera productions for the public, including Fidelio and Carmen, the HELLO Opera series, and outdoor opera productions for Busan Opera House. Through productions that bring together internationally acclaimed artists, vocalists from Korea and abroad, and local arts organizations, it has steadily built Busan’s capacity for opera production.

Otello likewise builds on this experience in producing opera in-house. The production is expected not only to take Classic Busan’s opera production capabilities to the next level, but also to further strengthen Busan’s foundation for opera production ahead of the opening of Busan Opera House in 2027.

Tickets for the concert opera Otello will go on presale for members at 2:00 p.m. on August 18, with general sales beginning at 2:00 p.m. on August 19. Tickets will be available through the official Classic Busan website, https://classicbusan.busan.go.kr/Home/ko/Main, and NOL Ticket. For further inquiries, contact Classic Busan at 051-640-8888.

Park Min-jung, Representative of Classic Busan, said, “It is especially meaningful to present Verdi’s masterpiece Otello to the citizens of Busan with world-class vocalists under the baton of Artistic Director Chung Myung-whun. Through this production, we will not only give citizens the opportunity to experience opera of the highest international caliber up close, but also continue developing a distinctive Busan production model created jointly by artists from Korea and abroad together with local artists.”