264, That One Star is a new Korean opera created and produced by the Daegu Opera House. The voice in poetry of the Korean independence movement during the Japanese colonial period, his real name was Yi Won-rok; his prison number, 264 (pronounced as ‘Yi Yuk-sa’ in Korean) served as his pen name. The opera portrays his life, highlighting his roles as a husband, poet, and independence activist. With the help of the Camerata Creative Opera Research Association at the Daegu Opera House, this project has progressed — from planning to concert performances — to now, 3 years down the line, reaching a full-length staged premiere, shared via Slippedisc, courtesy of OperaVision.
The Plot: ‘264’ is a prisoner number and the pen name of Yi Won-rok, a Korean independence poet. In resistance to the Japanese colonial period, 264 was an active figure in the independence movement from his childhood, a poet striving to awaken the national spirit, and a husband seeking to keep his family together. Before his death, imprisoned and tortured, 264 escapes the pain by recalling his spiritual friend ‘S,’ whose story he begins to tell. 264 tries to look back on his life to discover the star he sought.
Sung in Korean. Subtitles in English and Korean.
Streamed on Friday 13th December 2024 at 19h00 CET / 1800 London / 1300 New York
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