Latest news with #SumiJo
Korea Herald
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Sumi Jo, forever in motion: star soprano nurtures next generation while looking ahead
Korean diva brings to life one lifelong dream after another When South Korean soprano Sumi Jo takes the stage later this month alongside the four winners of the international singing competition named in her honor, the performance will mark far more than a musical collaboration: It will symbolize the fulfillment of her long-held aspiration to support rising vocal talents. 'One thing I felt that is missing in many singing competitions is the opportunity to actually perform after winning,' Jo told reporters during a press conference held Monday at The Plaza in Seoul. Jo launched the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition in 2024 with both a spirit of generosity and a sense of responsibility. As she recalled, her own experience as a young student in Italy shaped her vision: She entered numerous competitions not only for recognition, but to earn prize money to support her studies abroad during the 1980s. But what truly sets her competition apart, Jo emphasized, is its emphasis on more than just vocal technique. 'Of course, singing well is the foundation,' she said. 'But beyond that, I look for someone who carries the mindset of using music to bring beauty to the world. Language skills and deep cultural understanding are also essential. In short, I'm looking for a well-prepared star.' That philosophy guided the selection of four outstanding young vocalists from among nearly 500 applicants representing 47 countries at the competition's inaugural edition in July. Jo proudly introduced the winners as 'promising young artists who embody both talent and purpose': first prize winner, Chinese baritone Li Zihao; second prize winner, Romanian tenor George Virban; third prize winner, Korean tenor Lee Ki-up and special jury prize winner, French soprano Juliette Tacchino. 'I'm truly happy to introduce these remarkable vocal artists to audiences here in Korea,' Jo said. 'I wanted people to see that these singers are not only vocally gifted, but also possess incredible stage presence and artistic charisma. Honestly, I learn a lot from performing alongside them. To be frank, I feel like I gain more from the experience than I give.' Titled 'The Magic: Sumi Jo & Winners,' the upcoming concert tour begins Thursday at the Sori Arts Center of Jeollabuk-do in Jeonju, followed by performances in Seongnam on Saturday, Seoul on Sunday and Chuncheon on June 24. The group also performed last week in Shenzhen, China. Never one to stay still At the press event, Jo wore the Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters medal, a high French cultural honor she received in May for her contributions to French music and arts. 'I'm wearing this medal today not just as a personal honor,' she said. "But because I believe it belongs to all of Korea. I wanted to share this moment with you and express my gratitude." The 62-year-old singer known for her tireless energy views the honor not as a conclusion, but as a call to do more. 'This is not just about what I've accomplished so far. It's a reminder to keep doing my best,' she said. She also vowed to be a cultural ambassador, marking two major milestones next year: Jo's 40th anniversary on the international stage and the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France. She has received several prestigious honors throughout her career including Italy's Cavaliere of the Order of the Star of Italy in 2019 and South Korea's highest cultural honor, the Geumgwan (Gold Crown) Order of Cultural Merit in 2023. Asked about the source of her ceaseless drive, Jo responded with trademark wit. 'Maybe it's because I'm single. There's really nothing to do but work,' she joked. 'Sometimes I arrive at a fancy hotel suite late at night and feel a wave of loneliness. But within seconds, emails come in, projects need attention, and that feeling is gone.' Still, she doesn't see it as a sacrifice. 'I love my work, especially when I feel like I'm doing something meaningful. I've been helped by so many people in my life, and I want to give back. I've always been energetic ever since I was a child and I throw myself into everything I do with full effort. That's just who I am.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
South Korean soprano Sumi Jo receives medal of France's Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters
South Korean soprano Sumi Jo receives medal of France's Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters
Korea Herald
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Soprano Sumi Jo receives prestigious French cultural honor
Renowned Korean soprano Sumi Jo received France's Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters on Monday in recognition of her contributions to French arts and culture. The 62-year-old soprano was awarded the highest rank of the three-tier honor from the French Ministry of Culture during an award ceremony held at the Opera-Comique in Paris. "Receiving such an honor is beyond anything I could have imagined. It feels like I've reached the pinnacle today," Jo said at the ceremony. "While this honor is a great privilege, it also marks a new beginning. From now on, I want to dedicate myself even more to the younger generation by supporting and inspiring them," she added. Established in 1957, the honor is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the fields of art and literature or who have contributed to promoting French culture globally. This recognition also highlights her recent contributions, such as launching her first international vocal competition in July last year at the historic Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley, aimed at supporting talented young vocalists on the global stage. As next year marks the 40th anniversary of her debut, Jo is planning various events at home and abroad. In June, Jo will go on a concert tour in China and South Korea with the winners of the 1st Sumi Jo International Singing Competition. She is also preparing a solo concert next year to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. The biennial Sumi Jo International Competition will host its second edition in July next year.
Korea Herald
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Soprano Sumi Jo to receive prestigious France's cultural honor
Renowned soprano Sumi Jo is set to receive France's Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of her contributions to French art, the Korean Cultural Center in Paris has said. According to the center Wednesday, the Korean soprano is scheduled to attend an award ceremony at the Opera-Comique in Paris on Monday to receive the highest rank of the three-tier honor bestowed by the French Ministry of Culture. Established in 1957, the honor is given to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the fields of art and literature or who have contributed to promoting French culture globally. This recognition also highlights her recent contributions, such as launching her first international vocal competition in July last year at the historic Chateau de la Ferte-Imbault in France's Loire Valley, aimed at supporting talented young vocalists on the global stage. (Yonhap)
The Age
23-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Dianne dumped a deluge, now this diva will storm the outback
Considered by many to be the world's best coloratura (or quick and virtuosic) soprano, Sumi Jo made her operatic debut as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto in 1986 and would go on to be famous for her Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute and the title role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. She has appeared at La Scala, Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, and even once sang in the arrivals hall of Washington Dulles International Airport for an audience of dubious customs officers. 'I was very young, and I'm a tiny little Asian girl, and they simply couldn't believe that I was able to sing opera,' she recalls with a laugh. For the Festival of Outback Opera, Sumi Jo will perform under the stars at a cattle station near Longreach, and on a prehistoric plateau called the Jump-Up at the Age of Dinosaurs Museum outside of Winton. The dinosaur museum was cut off for days in the floods and spectacular waterfalls formed, but the location, with its fossils and life-size creature models, is ready to host its signature concert on May 15. 'What they're doing is really, really special, so I was very happy that they invited me,' Sumi Jo says. 'Sumi Jo is a phenomenal artist,' says Nolan. 'She's renowned for her technique and her capacity to sing extraordinarily complex melodies. 'Despite being one of the great divas of our time, she is remarkably down to earth, with a sense of fun and a commitment to ensuring the audience are having a good time. I think she will fit right into the festival.' The festival is in its fifth year and firmly established as a leading event in outback Queensland, drawing visitors from far and wide as well as enthusiastic locals. In addition to the two major concerts, there is a lavish lunch, an Opera Ball, a trivia night, a community singalong, and a celebration of opera and country music titled Are You Lonesome Tonight? As an added attraction this year, the recent flooding means the region's usually arid landscapes will be lush and green. 'You will never see this region look as beautiful as it will be in the next couple of weeks,' White says. 'It'll be full of wild flowers, the birdlife has come back … The outback is open for business.' While she has not sung in the outback before, Sumi Jo is no stranger to Australia, having performed at the Sydney Opera House many times. Loading Late Australian soprano Joan Sutherland was an enormous inspiration to her, and she recorded her 1994 album Carnaval under the baton of Sutherland's husband Richard Bonynge. 'As soon as we finished the recording, [Sutherland] invited me to her home in Switzerland,' Sumi Jo recalls. 'She cooked dinner and said she was quite jealous – 'oh my God, Richard never gave these songs!' – obviously she was making a joke. 'I became a coloratura because of her, because of her recordings.'
