A book surfaced in the ABC Classic FM office recently, apparently purchased at the North Korean pavilion at the 2011 Expo in Shanghai.
The Second Supreme Leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, is better known for having the famous South Korean director Shin Sang-ok and the film star Choi Eun-hee (who died in April 2018) kidnapped and forced to make films for the North Korean film industry. His love of art also extended to opera, it seems, as he packed this short volume with the wisdom he gathered on the creation of an operatic work from start to finish. Do you agree with his approach to the grandest of all artforms?
1. Singing and acting
This is quite a big ask...
2. Perform with passion
This sounds sensible enough.
3. Arias are too difficult
Wouldn't opera be better if the audience was singing along?
4. Smell of the greasepaint
Because opera is a visual art form.
5. Dancing isn't just dancing
A note for choreographers.
6. Set an example
There's advice for directors too.
7. And lastly...
To be honest, most of the book is a plea for opera singers to keep acting, even when they're singing.