Wagner's 'Das Rheingold'... A Desire for the 'Absolute Ring'

[Anchor]

Wagner's opera "Der Ring des Nibelungen" is a massive masterpiece performed over four nights. The Korea National Opera is set to present this four-part series sequentially over the next few years, and its opening work, "Das Rheingold," has finally hit the stage.

Culture and arts specialist reporter Kim Soo-hyun has the story.

[Reporter]

[Opera "Das Rheingold" / Until November 1 / Seoul Arts Center Opera Theater]

Also known as the "Ring Cycle," "Der Ring des Nibelungen" is a four-part opera by Wagner with a total running time of over 15 hours.

Marking the 150th anniversary of the premiere of "Der Ring des Nibelungen," the Korea National Opera has taken the first step in a grand journey that will continue until 2029 by staging "Das Rheingold," which serves as the prologue.

It is a story of gods and humans yearning for power and wealth, centered around the absolute ring forged from Rhine gold.

In this modernly staged production, Wotan, the king of the gods, is portrayed almost like a gangster boss.

Alberich, who rules Nibelheim with the absolute ring before having it taken away by Wotan and leaving behind a curse, is a character driven by the most raw human desires.

[Samuel Yoon / Playing Alberich: You can think of it similarly to Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings." I think Alberich serves as an extreme expression of the desires that humans possess.]

This production uses live-streamed footage from various angles to reveal backstage events and the psychology of the characters.

[Lorenzo Fioroni / Director: What Wagner wanted to talk about through this work is the question of what happens in a world where everything is given a price tag and a price must be paid.]

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[Play "Antropolis IV - Iocaste" / Until November 21 / Myeongdong Arts Theater]

The National Theater Company of Korea has staged "Iocaste," the fourth installment of its "Antropolis" pentalogy, which reimagines Greek mythology through a modern lens.

Oedipus, who unknowingly killed his father and married his mother Iocaste, ultimately gouges out his own eyes.

This work tells the story left behind in the wake of that tragedy.

Iocaste, who suffered deep anguish as both the mother and wife of Oedipus, this time desperately tries to prevent a war between her two sons.

Playwright Roland Schimmelpfennig centers the story on Iocaste, depicting human responsibility and the heavy weight of having to make constant choices amidst conflict.

(Video Editing: Lee So-young, VJ: Oh Se-kwan)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.