What Defines 'K-Opera'? The Case of 'The Rising World: Spirit of Water'
Creatrip Team
a year ago
The creative opera 'The Rising World: Spirit of Water,' produced by the Seoul Arts Center, attempts to present itself as a 'K-Opera' despite being written in English by Australian composer and playwrights. The opera incorporates Korean themes like 'water ghosts' and 'water clocks,' includes Korean musical instruments like 'geomungo' (a traditional Korean string instrument), and features some Korean language, but critics argue it falls short of embodying genuine 'K-Opera.' The main critique is how these Korean elements fail to integrate seamlessly into the performance, raising the question of what truly constitutes 'K-Opera.' Simple usage of Korean themes and instruments isn't sufficient; they must blend organically into the work itself.
