A Study of the Diversification of Materials of Korean New Operas: Focusing on selected works by the Creative Factory of Performing Arts

Abstract

Starting in 1950, Korean Opera, which has a history of 73 years to date in 2023, served as an motive to pave the way for the creation of Korean opera through the “MOM Creation Contest” organized by Korea National Opera in 2009. Since then, it has been changed to the Creative Factory of Performing Arts organized by the Arts Council Korea since 2014, and new operas have been discovered every year through continuous support until 2023, and 17 new operas have been finally selected. This study examined the diversified aspects of material utilization for new operas discovered through the Creative Factory of Performing Arts, focusing on the material of the libretto, which is the first work and basic element of the creation of an opera. In order to study the material diversification of new opera selected through the Creative Factory of Performing Arts, six classification criteria were set, each of which is a genre, method of libretto, original foundation, the spatial background of work, the temporal background of work, and basic material. In addition, in order to help understand, this study also examined aspects of the diversification of materials of new operas in overseas opera theaters such as the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Austria, Italy, and France. As a part of the development of cultural contents, I hope that this study will help understand the trend of diversification through the recently discovered Korean new operas, help revitalize creation, and further promote convergent development in all fields of performing arts.