"20년 전 공연은 겁 없는 신인들이 의기투합한 '당찬' 무대였다면, 이번엔 이름 석자의 무게를 느끼며 그에 걸맞은 깊은 무대를 선보이고 싶어요."

지난 18일 서울 종로구 크레디아클래식클럽에서 만난 소프라노 임선혜는 카운터테너 이동규와 20년 만에 다시 선보이는 듀오 공연에 대한 다짐을 밝혔다.

임선혜와 이동규는 오는 24일 서울 예술의전당 콘서트홀에서 '러브 듀엣' 공연을 연다. 제목은 20년 전 이들이 함께했던 국내 데뷔 듀오 무대의 타이틀과 같다.

임선혜는 "팬들 중에 신기하게도 20년 전 공연을 기억해 주는 분들이 있었다"며 "이동규와 콘서트에서 한두 곡 같이 부르면, 꼭 당시 공연을 언급하며 '다시 보고 싶다'는 분들이 있었는데 이번에 기회가 만들어졌다"고 말했다.

이번 '러브 듀엣'은 첫 듀오 무대와 같이 헨델과 모차르트의 오페라 아리아 등으로 구성된다. 다만 2006년에는 헨델의 '톨로메오' 등 비교적 흔하지 않은 음악을 선곡했다면, 이번에는 헨델의 '리날도', 모차르트의 '피가로의 결혼' 등 대중에게 친숙한 곡을 들려줄 예정이다.

둘은 2000년 퀸엘리자베스 국제 콩쿠르 무대에서 처음 만났다. 임선혜는 "그때부터 마음이 잘 맞았던 것 같다"며 "(이동규를) 26년을 알아 왔지만 아직도 풋풋한 청년의 열정이 남아 있는 사람"이라고 평했다.

이동규는 "선혜 누나는 항상 용기를 주는 사람"이라며 "누나가 먼저 시작하고 주도하면 저도 거기에 영감을 받아질세라 따라가는 식으로 작업이 진행된다. 파트너를 편하게 이끌어주는 사람"이라고 말했다.

서로의 음악에 대해서 임선혜는 "동규 씨가 성량도 크고 힘이 있는데, 그러면서 작은 음성으로 레가토(음과 음 사이가 끊어지지 않는 연주)를 부드럽게 잘 처리한다"고 칭찬했다.

이동규는 "선혜 누나의 노래에는 '중독성'이 있다"고 했다.

"예를 들면 '울게 하소서'를 부를 때 누나가 즉흥적으로 꾸밈음을 붙여서 화려하게 부를 때가 있거든요. 그럼 다음에는 이 부분을 어떻게 부를지 기대되고, 한 번 더 듣고 싶어져요."

그는 공연에서 가장 기대되는 레퍼토리로 헨델의 '아르미니오' 중 '도망치네, 사랑하는 나의 생명이여'를 꼽으며 "제가 좋아하는 디스코 풍의 리듬이 깔려 있는데, 누나와 하면 '맛깔나게' 부를 수 있겠다는 생각이 든다"고 웃음 지었다.

임선혜는 모차르트의 '피가로의 결혼' 중 '잔인하군요, 왜 이제야'를 꼽았다.

"남녀 간의 '밀당'을 노래하는 장면인데 여주인공이 굉장히 재치 있는 캐릭터라, 이런 사랑스러운 모습과 동규 씨와의 '케미'(호흡)가 감상 포인트예요."

모차르트는 임선혜와 인연이 깊은 작곡가다. 그의 성악 데뷔 무대, 오페라 데뷔 무대 음악은 모두 모차르트 곡이었다. 지난 15일 클래식계 대표 스타인 피아니스트 임윤찬과 협연한 악단 카메라타 잘츠부르크의 내한 공연에선 모차르트의 아리아 '어찌 그대를 잊으리'를 위한 소프라노로 특별 출연했다.

"처음 연락을 받았을 때 임윤찬 씨가 사람들이 잘 모르는 아리아를 발굴해 프로그램에 넣었다는 것을 알고 너무 고마웠어요. 그가 연주하는 곡은 금세 사람들에게 알려지니까, 피아노 팬들에게 성악곡을 알리는 '좋은 영향력'이 발휘됐다고 생각했거든요."

그는 "임윤찬 씨와 공연이 끝나고서 제가 한 첫마디가 '정말 잘 듣네요'라는 것이었다"며 "그는 성악가의 호흡을 잘 듣고 실시간으로 연주를 맞춰주는 사람"이라고 떠올렸다.

"제가 절제하면서 노래하니 임윤찬 씨가 바로 '피아니시모'(매우 여리게)로 맞춰주는 게 느껴지더라고요. 정말 진귀한 경험이었어요."

이동규 또한 다른 연주자들과 협업을 준비하고 있다. 그가 속한 크로스오버 그룹 '포르테나' 멤버들과 오는 10월 공연을 앞뒀다. 포르테나는 경연 프로그램 '팬텀싱어'에서 준우승을 차지해 큰 인기를 끌었다.

"멤버들과 계속 통화하면서 팬들이 어떤 곡을 좋아할지 프로그램 논의를 하고 있어요. 각자 커리어가 바쁘지만, 정말 사랑하는 그룹이어서 기회가 될 때 꼭 뭉쳐서 함께 갔으면 좋겠어요."

이동규는 "성악도 사랑하지만 예술계의 다양한 영역에서 활동을 보여드리고 싶다"며 "기회가 되면 셰익스피어 등 고전 연극이나, 이를 현대화한 작품에 배우나 연출로 도전해보고 싶다"고 밝혔다.

둘은 다가오는 공연을 찾는 청중에게 "아무 공부 없이 그냥 와서 즐기시라"고 당부했다.

이동규는 "생소한 노래도 재미있게 풀어간다는 평가를 듣고 싶다"며 "선혜 누나와 노력해서 20년 전보다 더 능숙해진 작품 해석을 보여드리겠다"고 예고했다.

fat@yna.co.kr

"Jika pertunjukan 20 tahun lalu adalah panggung 'berani' di mana para debutans tanpa takut bersatu dengan semangat, kali ini saya ingin menampilkan panggung yang mendalam dan sesuai dengan bobot dari nama saya."

Soprano Lim Seon-hye, yang bertemu pada tanggal 18 lalu di Credia Classic Club di Jongno-gu, Seoul, menyatakan komitmennya terhadap pertunjukan duet yang akan ditampilkan kembali dengan Countertenor Lee Dong-gyu setelah 20 tahun.

Lim Seon-hye dan Lee Dong-gyu akan menggelar pertunjukan 'Duet Cinta' di Gedung Konser Seni Pertunjukan Seoul pada tanggal 24. Judulnya sama dengan judul panggung duet debut domestik mereka 20 tahun lalu.

Lim Seon-hye mengatakan, "Sangat menarik bahwa ada penggemar yang mengingat pertunjukan 20 tahun lalu," dan "Ketika Dong-gyu dan saya menyanyikan satu atau dua lagu bersama di konser, ada yang menyebutkan pertunjukan saat itu dan mengatakan 'saya ingin melihatnya lagi,' dan sekarang kesempatan itu telah terwujud."

'Duet Cinta' ini, seperti panggung duet pertama mereka, akan terdiri dari aria opera Handel dan Mozart. Namun, pada tahun 2006, mereka memilih musik yang relatif jarang seperti 'Tolomeó' karya Handel, sementara kali ini mereka akan menyajikan lagu-lagu yang familiar bagi publik seperti 'Rinaldo' karya Handel dan 'The Marriage of Figaro' karya Mozart.

Mereka pertama kali bertemu di panggung Kompetisi Internasional Ratu Elisabeth tahun 2000. Lim Seon-hye mengatakan, "Sepertinya kami saling cocok sejak saat itu," dan menggambarkan Lee Dong-gyu sebagai "seseorang yang masih memiliki semangat pemuda yang segar meskipun saya telah mengenalnya selama 26 tahun."

Lee Dong-gyu mengatakan, "Saudari Seon-hye selalu memberikan keberanian kepada saya," dan "Ketika Saudari memulai lebih dulu dan memimpin, saya terinspirasi dan mengikuti dengan cara itu. Dia adalah seseorang yang memandu pasangan dengan nyaman."

Mengenai musik masing-masing, Lim Seon-hye mengatakan, "Dong-gyu memiliki volume suara yang besar dan kekuatan, tetapi dia juga menangani legato dengan lembut dan baik dengan nada yang kecil."

Lee Dong-gyu mengatakan bahwa "nyanyian Saudari Seon-hye memiliki 'daya pikat'."

"Misalnya, ketika Saudari menyanyikan 'Lascia ch'io pianga,' terkadang Saudari menambahkan ornamen secara improvisasi dan menyanyikannya dengan gemilang. Kemudian saya menunggu bagaimana bagian ini akan dinyanyikan berikutnya, dan saya ingin mendengarkannya sekali lagi."

Dia memilih "Fuggi crudele" dari 'Arminio' karya Handel sebagai repertoar yang paling dinanti-nantikan di pertunjukan ini, dan tertawa sambil mengatakan, "Ada ritme bergaya disco yang saya sukai, dan saya pikir saya bisa menyanyikannya dengan 'lezat' dengan Saudari."

Lim Seon-hye memilih "Crudeli! Ferma un momento" dari 'The Marriage of Figaro' karya Mozart.

"Ini adalah adegan di mana pria dan wanita bercanda tentang 'cinta-menghindari-cinta', dan karena tokoh wanita utama adalah karakter yang sangat cerdas, 'chemistry' yang penuh kasih sayang dengan Dong-gyu adalah titik menarik untuk pengamatan."

Mozart adalah komposer dengan hubungan yang dalam dengan Lim Seon-hye. Musik dari panggung debut vokal dan debut operanya keduanya adalah karya Mozart. Pada pertunjukan kunjungan domestik Camerata Salzburg pada tanggal 15 lalu, di mana dia berkolaborasi dengan pianis Yim Yoon-chan, bintang terkenal dalam dunia musik klasik, dia tampil khusus sebagai soprano untuk aria Mozart "Porgi, amore."

"Ketika saya mula-mula dihubungi, saya sangat berterima kasih mengetahui bahwa Yim Yoon-chan menggali aria yang tidak banyak diketahui orang dan memasukkannya ke dalam program. Saya berpikir bahwa 'pengaruh positif' untuk memperkenalkan lagu-lagu vokal kepada penggemar piano telah diterapkan, karena lagu yang dia mainkan dengan cepat dikenal oleh banyak orang."

Dia mengatakan, "Hal pertama yang saya katakan setelah pertunjukan berakhir dengan Yim Yoon-chan adalah 'Anda benar-benar mendengarkan dengan baik,' dan "Dia adalah seseorang yang mendengarkan napas penyanyi dengan baik dan menyesuaikan pertunjukan secara real-time."

"Saya merasa bahwa ketika saya bernyanyi dengan penahan diri, Yim Yoon-chan segera menyesuaikan dengan 'pianissimo'. Itu benar-benar pengalaman yang langka."

Lee Dong-gyu juga sedang mempersiapkan kolaborasi dengan musisi lain. Dia akan menghadapi pertunjukan bulan Oktober dengan anggota grup crossover 'Fortena' yang dia ikuti. Fortena mencapai posisi kedua di program kompetisi 'Phantom Singer' dan menarik perhatian besar.

"Kami terus berbicara dengan anggota tentang lagu apa yang disukai penggemar dan berdiskusi tentang program. Meskipun masing-masing memiliki karir yang sibuk, ini adalah grup yang benar-benar saya cintai, jadi saya ingin kami berkumpul dan pergi bersama ketika ada kesempatan."

Lee Dong-gyu mengatakan, "Saya mencintai vokal, tetapi saya ingin menunjukkan aktivitas di berbagai bidang seni," dan "Jika ada kesempatan, saya ingin menantang diri saya sebagai aktor atau sutradara dalam teater klasik seperti Shakespeare atau karya-karya modern."

Mereka meminta penonton yang akan datang ke pertunjukan mereka untuk "datang dan menikmati tanpa persiapan khusus apapun."

Lee Dong-gyu mengatakan, "Saya ingin didengar mengatakan bahwa kami membawakan lagu-lagu yang asing dengan cara yang menyenangkan," dan "Saya akan berusaha dengan Saudari Seon-hye untuk menunjukkan interpretasi karya yang lebih ahli daripada 20 tahun lalu."

fat@yna.co.kr

"If the performance 20 years ago was a 'bold' stage where fearless newcomers joined forces, this time I want to showcase a deeper performance befitting the weight of our names."

Soprano Lim Sun-hye, whom I met on the 18th at Credia Classic Club in Jongno-gu, Seoul, expressed her determination regarding the duo performance with counter-tenor Lee Dong-gyu, which will be showcased again after 20 years.

Lim Sun-hye and Lee Dong-gyu will hold a 'Love Duet' performance at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on the 24th. The title is the same as that of their domestic debut duo stage 20 years ago.

Lim Sun-hye said, "Interestingly, there were fans who remembered the performance from 20 years ago," and added, "When I sing a couple of songs together with Lee Dong-gyu at concerts, there are always people who mention that performance and say they want to see it again, and this time an opportunity has been created."

This 'Love Duet' will consist of opera arias by Handel and Mozart, just like their first duo stage. However, while they selected relatively uncommon music such as Handel's 'Tolmeo' in 2006, this time they plan to present pieces familiar to the public, such as Handel's 'Rinaldo' and Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro'.

The two first met on the stage of the Queen Elisabeth International Competition in 2000. Lim Sun-hye said, "It seems our hearts resonated well from that point," and praised him as "someone I have known (Lee Dong-gyu) for 26 years, but who still retains the passion of a fresh young man."

Lee Dong-gyu said, "Seon-hye noona always gives me courage," and added, "When noona takes the lead and initiative, I follow, inspired by her, and the work progresses that way. She is someone who leads her partner comfortably."

Regarding each other's music, Lim Sun-hye praised Lee, saying, "Lee Dong-gyu has a large vocal volume and power, but at the same time, he handles legato (a performance where notes are not interrupted between each other) smoothly and well with a small voice."

Lee Dong-gyu said, "Seon-hye noona's singing has 'addictiveness'."

"For example, when singing 'Let Me Weep,' noona sometimes improvises ornaments and sings it beautifully. Then, I look forward to how she will sing this part next time, and I want to hear it once more."

He cited "I Flee, My Beloved, My Life" from Handel's 'Arminio' as the most anticipated repertoire for the performance, saying with a smile, "There's a disco-style rhythm that I like, and I think I can sing it 'tastily' with noona."

Lim Sun-hye cited "How Cruel, Why Only Now" from Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro'.

"It's a scene that sings about the 'push and pull' between a man and a woman, and the heroine is a very witty character, so the lovely appearance and the 'chemistry' (breathing) with Lee Dong-gyu is the point of appreciation."

Mozart is a composer with a deep connection to Lim Sun-hye. Both her vocal debut stage and opera debut stage music were pieces by Mozart. At the Korean performance of Cappella Salzburg, who collaborated with pianist Lim Youn-chan, a representative star of the classical music world, on the 15th, she appeared as a special soprano for Mozart's aria 'How Shall I Forget Thee'.

"When I first received the contact, I was so grateful to learn that Lim Youn-chan had discovered an aria that people didn't know well and included it in the program. Since the pieces he plays are quickly known to people, I thought his 'positive influence' in introducing vocal pieces to piano fans was exerted."

She recalled, "After the performance with Lim Youn-chan, my first words were 'You really listen well,'" and added, "He is someone who listens well to a singer's breathing and adjusts his playing in real-time."

"When I sang with restraint, I could feel Lim Youn-chan immediately matching with 'pianissimo' (very softly). It was a truly precious experience."

Lee Dong-gyu is also preparing to collaborate with other performers. He is preparing for an October performance with members of the crossover group 'Fortena,' to which he belongs. Fortena gained great popularity by taking second place in the competition program 'Phantom Singer'.

"I keep talking with the members while discussing what songs fans might like for the program. While each of us has busy careers, it's a group we really love, so I hope we can gather together whenever the opportunity arises."

Lee Dong-gyu said, "I love singing, but I want to showcase activities in various fields of the arts," and added, "If given the opportunity, I would like to challenge myself as an actor or director in classic plays such as Shakespeare or works that modernize them."

The two urged audiences looking for the upcoming performance to "just come and enjoy without any preparation."

Lee Dong-gyu said, "I want to receive the evaluation that we present unfamiliar songs in an entertaining way," and announced, "With Seon-hye noona's effort, I will show you a more skillful interpretation of the works compared to 20 years ago."

fat@yna.co.kr