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Farinelli
파리넬리
Official English Title
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SOURCE
biography
SETTING
Foreign
BOOK
original
The castrato Farinelli and his brother
Korean Premiere
2015
Korean Premiere Theatre
Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater, Seoul
Further Korean run reference:
https://namu.wiki/w/%ED%8C%8C%EB%A6%AC%EB%84%AC%EB%A6%AC(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
The Musical search cue — “파리넬리 뮤지컬”
Summary
The celebrated castrato Farinelli confronts fame, exploitation, and the loss behind his extraordinary voice, while his bond with his brother shapes his artistic life.
Origin & Development
Farinelli was produced by HJ Culture and premiered in January 2015 following its selection for Korea’s Creative Musical Development Program. The musical debuted at the Arko Arts Theater Grand Theater in Daehangno, presenting a rare large-cast, orchestra-driven production centered on operatic performance. Conceived as a grand-scale original musical, it later expanded its format through readings and spin-off presentations exploring the relationship between Farinelli and his brother Riccardo. 2015 – Premiere, produced by HJ Culture.
Following its initial run, Farinelli returned for an encore engagement in 2015 and a full revival in 2016, establishing itself as a notable large-theater original musical. In 2018, a small-theater reading version focusing on Farinelli and Riccardo was presented. The work later reappeared through a nationwide Korean tour in 2023, marking its continued relevance and performance history.
Partial Synopsis
Set in 18th-century Europe, the musical follows Carlo Broschi, known to history as Farinelli, a castrato whose extraordinary voice brings him fame across Italy and beyond. Guided and controlled by his brother Riccardo, Farinelli rises to prominence while struggling with artistic autonomy, identity, and emotional isolation. The narrative explores the cost of artistic genius, the tension between love and exploitation, and the loss embedded in fame. Musically, the work blends original musical numbers with operatic aesthetics, emphasizing vocal virtuosity and emotional intensity.
Farinelli
2015
2015-08-27
to
2015-08-29
Country:
China
City:
Shanghai
Production Type:
Reading / Showcase
Language:
Korean
Venue:
Shanghai International Exhibition Center
Presented at the Korea Brand & Hallyu Product Expo (KBEE 2015), the showcase offered highlight numbers to Chinese presenters and cultural officials to gauge market interest and promote Korean original musicals. Though not a commercial run, it was an early step toward potential Chinese market entry.
Farinelli
2017
2017-11-28
to
2017-11-29
Country:
Hong Kong
City:
Hong Kong
Production Type:
Reading / Showcase
Language:
Korean
Venue:
Y Theatre, Youth Square
Part of the 2017 K-Musical Roadshow, organized by the Korea Arts Management Service with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Cultural Office in Hong Kong, which introduced six Korean original musicals to Asian industry professionals. The non-commercial appearance functioned as an export-oriented presentation rather than a licensed local production.
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