Nuova Opera Company gets top prize at annual opera award

The Nuova Opera Company received the top award for its performance of “The Tales of Hoffmann” at the fifth Korea Opera Award ceremony in Seoul this week, award organizers said Wednesday.

At the annual event held at the press center in Seoul on Monday, the world-class soprano Shin Young-ok garnered the achievement award for her contribution to promoting the country’s opera worldwide.

In the opera festival section, baritone Park Kyung-jun and soprano Park Hye-jin received the best male and female opera singer awards for their outstanding performances in “The Marriage of Figaro” staged by the New Seoul Opera.

Soprano Kang Hye-myoung and baritone Park Joung-min were honored with the new opera singer awards.

The award ceremony was launched in 2007 with an aim to help revitalize the country’s opera industry under financial constraints and encourage Korea opera singers and staff at home and abroad.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)