Revolutionary Opera

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

        The revolutionary opera “Tell O Forest” is one of the five masterpieces that include the “Sea of Blood” and “Flower Girl” produced in the 1970s under the meticulous guidance and deep concern of the leader Kim Jong Il .

The revolutionary opera consists of a prologue, five acts and

an epilogue.

        The background of this opera is the anti-Japanese revolutionary struggle organized and led by President Kim Il Sung. The leading character of this opera Choe Pyong Hun acts as “district headman”, a henchman of Japanese imperialists in the enemy-controlled area after having been assigned to the job to work in the enemy’s rear. As the villagers do not know the fact, he is held in contempt and sneered at as a “dog headman”. He even earns his only daughter Pok Sun’s grudge.

Left out in the cold by the villagers who shun her as a daughter of the Japanese agent, Pok Sun tries to commit suicide. This brings Choe’s mental anguish to the extremity.

But he deftly carries on his assignments as an operative overcoming all the sufferings and trials with indomitable fighting spirit and endurance.

        Getting into favour with the enemy he is given the task of guiding the Japanese troops on a “punitive expedition” against the Korean People’s Revolutionary Army.

        Previous to leaving home on a perilous trip as a guide for the Japanese, Choe tells his daughter to be faithful to the revolution after him and parts with her. He takes the enemy troops into the deep forests in Hongsan valley and gives the signal at the risk of his life to the revolutionary army lying in ambush. The enemy men are wiped out at a blow.

        On returning home with the revolutionary army soldiers from the victorious battle, Choe makes an emotional reunion with his daughter and the village people.

        Through Choe Pyong Hun’s image, the audience vividly see the infinite loyalty of the KPRA soldiers to revolution, their ardent love for the country and the people, noble humanity and revolutionary optimism. The main idea of this opera is that it is an honour for a revolutionary to live or to die on the road of the revolution.

        This opera incorporates all the principles of Phibada-type opera creation which has pioneered a new realm in the opera art.

        In the opera stanzaed popular songs bring out its thematic and ideological content and the characters of the performers, while pangchang and mixed orchestra show in depth their inner worlds.

        Besides, dances in the fantastic scenes of dream representing the warm love of the leading character for his daughter Pok Sun, moving stage settings, and formative stage arts give a powerful stimulus to the development of the drama and emotionally portray the inner psychological world of Choe.

        This work has made a contribution to the enrichment of the treasurehouse of the revolutionary operas for its high ideological and artistic values. It is also a priceless textbook educating our army and people to be true revolutionaries in the new century.

Choe Byong Hun

A member of Korean People's Revolutionary Army

Bok Sun

Choe Byong Hun's daughter

Yong Ho

Bok Sun's fiance

Song Myong Sik

A peasant in the village

Commanding Officer of KPRA

"punitive force" commander

Garrison Commander

Pyo

A special agent for Japanese imperialists

Yong Tak

Pyo's spy

The vicious Japanese garrison commander proclaims that Choe Byong Hun has been appointed as the village head.

Song Sik's family and villagers heap curse upon Choe Byong Hun who becomes shamelessly "Village Head" serving Japanese imperialists.

A blizzard raging through the forest. Choe Byong Hun stands firmly on a rock and is firmly determined to keep the secret of the oranization and carry out the assigned revolutionary task braving all difficulties in every adversity.

Tell O Swaying Forest

To whom can I reveal my secret

Which I can not even tell to my daughter?

I'll keep the pledge of vsecrecy to the organization,

This is morn important than my own life.

Tell O swaying forest!

You know well what is in my mind.

Choe Byong Hun urges the villagers toiling at the site for building the barracks of vicious Japanese garrison to work harder.

Bok Sun, Choe Byong Hun's daughter, is treated with all sorts of scorn and contempt by the villagers, because her father has become Japanese imperialist's village head.

A Lone Azalea

I'm as miserable as a lone Azalea

Mercilessly trodden underfoot and pitiful broken.

Who would understand how desolate I am?

I feel bitter against father who's become village head.

Close friends have deserted me.

Kind hearted neighbours refuse to acknowledge me.

Who would understand how desolate I am?

I feel bitter against father who's become village head.

Bok Sun, forsaken by the villagers, sighs over her miserable conditions.

Hearing the news of victorious battle of KPRA directed by great revolutionary leadet General Kim Il Sung, the villagers can not restrain the joy and are resolved to join in the struggle against Japanese imperialists.

I've good news for you,

News from our guerrillas.

Our guerrillas led by the General

Attacked the garrison in Pukchon village last night.

And they destroyed Japanese battery, too.

Good new! Good news!

News of the guerrillas has come.

Let's follow the guerrillas' example

And set fire to Japanese barracks.

Let's go and fight!

Let's strike the enemy a telling blow!

Village youths discuss to set fire to the garrison barracks. But they do not know that Yong Tak among them is a spy of Pyo, a special agent for Japan imperialists. Choe Byong Hun looks at them behind their back.

Choe Byong Hun : "... Say, my in-law. Those young folks are so reckless. You should take care of them ..."

Song Myong Sik : "What do you mean by calling me your in-law? I'm no in-law of a Japanese dog!"

Bok Sun : "Father, please give up working as the village head."