Korean Opera Festival with soloists and guests of the Prague State Opera

From June 27 to July 8, 2010 the 1st Korean Opera Festival was held in Seoul
Arts Centre. The soloist and the guests of the Prague State Opera –
conductor Jiří Mikula, Galia Ibragimova, Sylva Čmugrová, Klára Džuganová, Rafael
Alvarez, Svatopluk Sem, Jiří Hruška and Václav Sibera – performed in the
production of Bizet’s Carmen together with Korean soloists,
orchestra, dancers and an excellent children’s choir. The choreographer
and dancer Petr Jirsa and the guarantor of the event Milena Vraná from the
international relations department of the Prague State Opera also participated
in this tour.

All the soloists, and in particular Galia Ibragimova singing Carmen, received
standing ovations from the local audience and the recognition of the ambassador
of the Czech Republic to Korea H. E. Jaroslav Olša jr. who also
attended the performance and emphasised the importance of the cultural
co-operation between both countries.

The tour was organised at the invitation of Ms Wha-ja Kang, the president of
Beseto Opera, who signed an agreement on co-operation between the two opera
houses on the occasion of the guest performance of the Korean soloists in the
production of Carmen at the Prague State Opera in 2004. This has been
the fourth visit of the Prague State Opera soloists to Korea. In 2005 they
performed in the Korean production of Mozart’s Magic Flute, in
May 2006 and August 2007 in Bizet’s Carmen together with the
Korean choir and soloists.

As part of the 20th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between
Korea and the Czech Republic, Korean soloists will perform in the production of
Carmen at the Prague State Opera in October 2010.