The Daegu Opera House will present Verdi’s “Rigoletto” on April 24 and 25, 2026 marking Asia’s first joint Korea-China opera co-production.

The project, planned in commemoration of the Korea-China Year of Cultural Exchange, was developed in collaboration with China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), with both institutions sharing production and distribution responsibilities.

The production, co-directed by Davide Livermore, Artistic Director of Italy’s Teatro Nazionale di Genova, and Alessandra Premoli, features large-scale LED scenography that reimagines the opera’s 16th-century Italian court setting through immersive media art and 3D-mapped projections, creating what the creative team describes as a “living museum” effect. Dynamic visual transitions and video design are integrated throughout the staging, offering a contemporary interpretation of Verdi’s work. Audiences will also have access to specialized seating options, designated “View-Master” and “Focus” seats, offering distinct perspectives on the performance.

The cast features Korean and Chinese artists sharing the principal roles across the two performances. Baritones Dong-hwan Lee and Leon Kim will alternate in the title role, while sopranos Zhang Wenqin and Hye-jung Lee will share the role of Gilda. Tenors Jun-ho Yoo and Jae-hee Kwon are cast as the Duke of Mantua. Kwang-hyun Kim, Director of the Classic Busan Orchestra, will conduct, with video design by DWOK.

Following the Daegu performances, “Rigoletto” is scheduled to be staged at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing in September.