Korean revolutionary opera

Korean revolutionary opera
An opera performance in Pyongyang
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
조선혁명가극
Hancha
朝鮮革命歌劇
Revised RomanizationJoseon hyeokmyeong gageuk
McCune–ReischauerChosŏn hyŏngmyŏng kagŭk

Korean revolutionary opera (Korean조선혁명가극) is a tradition of revolutionary opera in North Korea inspired by Chinese Revolutionary Opera which blossomed during the Cultural Revolution. It is characterized by a highly melodramatic style and reoccurring themes of patriotism and glorification of Juche, President Kim Il Sung, and the working people, as well as a focus on socialist realist themes. Composers of North Korean revolutionary opera are employed by the North Korean government and the fundamental principles of North Korean revolutionary opera were dictated by Kim Jong Il in his speech (later transcribed into a book) On the Art of Opera.