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Korea Herald
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Three-way concert to explore depth of the male voice
Three masters of singing's lowest registers unite for an unprecedented concert Three internationally acclaimed Korean male vocalists — bass Youn Kwang-chul, 60, bass-baritone Samuel Youn, 54, and baritone Kim Gi-hoon, 33, — are set to share the stage for a rare joint concert later this month. Titled 'Sing Low and Sweet,' the performance will spotlight the richness of low male voices in a landscape often dominated by sopranos and tenors. The first half of the concert features arias by Mozart, Verdi and Wagner, with piano accompaniment. Among those pieces each singer will perform a different aria of Figaro from Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro." 'The audience will likely realize just how differently the same character can sound depending on the voice type. It will be an opportunity to hear how a bass, bass-baritone, and baritone each interpret the same role — and how the differences in voice color and expression bring new dimensions to the same character,' the elder Youn said at a press conference in Seoul on Tuesday. Youn Kwang-chul, who made his debut at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in 1993, has performed over 150 times at the Bayreuth Festival. In 2018, he was awarded the honorary title of Kammersanger, a distinction granted to outstanding opera and classical vocalists in German-speaking countries. He and bass-baritone Samuel Youn, who received the same title in 2022, often crossed paths — most frequently at the Bayreuth Festival during the summer. Although their surnames are identically Romanized, their Korean family names differ. For Kim, who won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2021, it is the first time sharing a stage with bass Youn. 'For a long time, I dreamed of performing with the two of them. I'm still just taking my first steps, so sharing the same stage with these veteran singers feels surreal. But I'll do my best to bring something fresh to the performance,' the baritone said. "What we're attempting now — a concert featuring three low-voice singers, and in the second half, a performance using only low-pitched instruments like cellos and double basses — is something quite new," said Kim, a two-time second prize winner at the International Tchaikovsky Competition and Placido Domingo's Operalia in 2019. The three hope the concert offers more than just one night of music—it's a step toward building something lasting. 'Rather than simply showing the same things we've done elsewhere, I believe we need to keep trying new and diverse approaches here in Korea -- especially if we want to create a viable path forward for the next generation of musicians and artists. I hope that by sharing my own efforts and continuing these challenges alongside others, we can open up new possibilities for artists to thrive,' said bass-baritone Samuel Youn. After winning the Toti Dal Monte Competition in Italy in 1998, Samuel Yoon began his career as a soloist at the Cologne Opera in Germany. In 2012, he gained widespread recognition when he was chosen as a principal performer at the Bayreuth Festival in Germany. In 2022, he was appointed a professor at the department of vocal music at Seoul National University and returned to Korea. "Sing Low and Sweet" took nearly three years to realize — largely due to the lack of long-term planning in Korea's classical music scene. 'In Europe, our calendars are booked two or three years in advance,' noted Youn Kwang-chul. 'But in Korea, very few venues are able — or willing — to plan that far ahead. Without systemic change, it will remain difficult to stage meaningful collaborations with top artists.' The trio will perform at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on Aug. 23 and at Cheongju Arts Center in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province on Aug. 24.
Indianapolis Star
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
New Indianapolis Opera season features 'Rigoletto' and 'Marriage of Figaro.' What else to expect
Indianapolis Opera is bookending its 51st season with two time-honored works that will span the spectrum of emotions. Tragedy will strike in Giuseppe Verdi's "Rigoletto" in November, while Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Marriage of Figaro" will offer a heavy dose of comedy in May. Filling out the season will be the opera company's annual free outdoor concert and a one-act piece that celebrates Christmas. Season tickets are on sale now at Single tickets, which range from $42 to $102, will go on sale Sept. 8. Here's the season schedule. Sept. 13 at MacAllister Amphitheater at Garfield Park. Free but donations requested. Star soprano Angela Brown and Maestro Alfred Savia will host a concert with guests that include baritone Rafael Porto and soprano Cara Collins. Nov. 14, 15 and 16 at the Tarkington Theater at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel A hunchback jester for the cruel Duke of Mantua often mocks the husbands and fathers of the women the duke romances. But when the duke targets the jester's daughter Gilda, he pursues revenge in a way that alters his and his daughter's lives forever. 'Honest' and 'celebratory': New Conner Prairie exhibit shows Black life Dec. 21 at the Basile Opera Center In this one-act Giancarlo Menotti opera, three Magi visit a crippled shepherd boy on their way to see the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem. May 1, 2 and 3, 2026 at the Tobias theater at Newfields As Figaro prepares to marry Susanna, he learns that his boss, the Count Almaviva, plans to seduce her. What follows is a comedy of mistaken identities and a clever plot to right wrongs. Buy tickets and find more information at This Indy newsletter has the best shows, art and eats
