Canadian tenor Scott Rumble takes us to Daegu, South Korea, where he is singing the role of Calaf in Turandot at the Daegu International Opera Festival from October 9th to 10th (tickets and info).
Scott is making a mark on stages across the country. This season he will be perfoming with Vancouver Bach Choir, the Niagara Symphony, the Stratford Symphony Orchestra and VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert.
While in Daegu, Scott chats with us about his favourite parks, a must see for history buffs and experiencing a new holiday. Read on to find out more.
City where you’re working?
I am currently in Daegu, South Korea!
How long are you working on contract?
The contract is 30 days long, so lots of time to explore.
What’s the opera house like?
The opera house is beautiful! The amount of glass on the outside reminds me of The Four Seasons Centre, but the shape has these unique curves to it designed to look like a grand piano.
Where is the most peaceful place in the city?
I find the most peaceful part of the city Apsan Park. It's just on the edge of the city, but it is so stunning!
Best coffee or tea?
I've been finding good coffee in a lot of places, but I believe Ryu Coffee Roasters is my favourite. But right across from rehearsals is A Twosome Place, where they have good coffee and some cake!
Coolest bar or restaurant you’ve been to?
Coolest restaurant was just this popup market on the main pedestrian area of downtown! Lots of different foods, but the chicken kebab was one of my favourites, even if it was a little spicy.
An activity you have done that is unique to the area?
Something unique to the area that I have done is visit Gyeongsang-gamyeong Park to see the original government headquarters of the area from the Joseon Dynasty (1601-1910). Big history buff!
Is there something unexpected that happens locally that you discovered?
Well this is more locally in terms of the country, but I was lucky enough to be here during Chuseok, which is like South Korean Thanksgiving, and that was a cool experience!
How did you find accommodation?
The opera company was kind enough to find the accomodations for me, so it was something off my plate!
What’s the most important thing when finding accommodation as a singer?
I think one of the most important things is, is it quiet enough. As a singer you are surrounded by loud noises all the time and that makes some silence a welcome thing.
Have you had a chance to explore galleries or museums?
I checked out the Daegu Museum of Modern History and that was really fascinating to me!
Is there anything else you'd recommend?
I recommend just going out and pop into some random stores and restaurants, learn what is popular and just overall people watching.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SCOTT RUMBLE
VISIT HIS WEBSITE
© Scott Rumble
The Daegu Opera House
© Scott Rumble
Gyeongsang-gamyeong Park
© Scott Rumble
Popup Market
© Scott Rumble
Korean Street Food
Turandot
Daegu International Opera Festival
October 9-10
VOCALISTS: Francesca Paoletti, Yixuan Wang, Hyeh Young Baek, Emily Christina Loftus, Kim Gunwoo, Kseniia Overko, Scott Rumble, Wang Zhi Xian, Kwan-Hyun Kim, Baek Yeong-jun
STAGE DIRECTOR: Andrea Bernard
CONDUCTOR: Sieva Borzak
Daegu presents a children’s-opera adaptation of Puccini’s Turandot, subtitled in Korean as ‘박물관의 수수께끼’ and connected to AsLiCo’s Opera Domani production ‘Turandot. Enigmi al museo’. The setting shifts to a museum where artworks and historical objects animate the story. Young visitors, including Calaf, Timur, and Liù, meet a guide and an ancient manuscript that explains Turandot’s law and the three riddles. Paintings, ceramics, traditional costumes, prints, and terracotta figures come to life so the opera’s conflicts unfold as a sequence of museum images rather than a literal imperial court. Production-level credits for the Opera Domani version include dramaturgical adaptation and direction by Andrea Bernard, musical reworking by Enrico Minaglia, set design by Alberto Beltrame, costumes by Elena Beccaro, conducting by Sieva Borzak, and choreography by Giulia Tornarolli. In Daegu, the event runs 90 minutes including education time and has no intermission.
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