Sumi Jo, Rising Stars Tour Korea

I got to hear her so close-up! She is "yeoksi" very glamorous, and knows how to play the press and pose for the camera.

Soprano Sumi Jo and rising opera stars sing during a press showcase in Seoul for the concert series ``Sumi Jo & Winners,’’ Thursday. From left, Suh Jung-hak, Son Ji-hye, Kang Hyung-kyu and Sumi Jo. /Korea Times photo

Prime coloratura soprano Sumi Jo has returned to her homeland to helm the next generation of Korean opera stars in the cross-country concert tour ``Sumi Jo & Winners,’’ from Busan to Seoul through Jan. 3, 2008.

``I’ve been looking forward to this since my world tour last year (celebrating 20 years since my international debut),’’ said the 45-year-old diva during a press meeting in Seoul, Thursday. ``These young artists are joining me on my longtime journey. We need to establish a support system for musicians, especially given that we put Korea’s reputation on the line.

``There are so many young artists leading active careers abroad. They have such bright futures and need to be taken notice of,’’ said Jo. ``I wanted to support them and sing less than I was scheduled to, but that was apparently a problem with selling tickets,’’ she added with a laugh.

Joining the prima donna onstage are award-winning singers who are playing principal roles in the international music scene: soprano Son Ji-hye, mezzo soprano Lee A-kyeong, tenors Lee Jeong-won and Chung Ho-yoon, and baritones Kang Hyung-kyu and Na Myung-won.

``There is a lot of striking Korean talent in Europe, and I often hear people say that Sumi Jo is the best,’’ said Kang Hyung-kyu, who has been leading an active career in Italy for 10 years now. ``I believe we were given such opportunities because (Jo) paved the path for us,’’ he said. Lee Jeong-won, for example, is the first Korean tenor to debut at the famed Italian La Scala Theater.

Jo herself was a discovery of German maestro Herbert von Karajan, who said she possesses a ``voice from the heavens’’ that appears every once in a 100 years or so. Jo also announced her five-year contract with Universal Music Korea, which she said is like ``returning home in 20 years.’’ Jo had recorded ``Un Ballo in Maschera’’ with Karajan in 1988 (Decca) as well as ``Carnival.’’ A crossover album of international folk songs is slated for release next December.

The opera gala concert showcases well-known arias from the standard operatic repertoire, including Rossini’s ``Il Barbiere di Siviglia,’’ Bizet’s ``Carmen,’’ Verdi’s ``Rigoletto’’ and ``La Traviata’’ and Puccini’s ``Turandot.’’ ``Even those unfamiliar with classical music or operas will be able to enjoy it,’’ said Jo.

The remaining schedule is as follows. Dec. 24: Daegu Suseong Artpia (www.ssartpia.or.kr); Dec. 27: Seongnam Arts Center (www.snart.or.kr); Dec. 29: Suwon Gyeonggi Arts Center (www.ggac.or.kr); Dec. 30: Busan Cultural Center (bsculture.busan.kr); Dec. 31: Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Complex (www.artgy.or.kr); Jan. 3, 2008: Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, Seoul (www.sejongpac.or.kr).
Tickets cost from 70,000 won to 150,000 won. For reservations, visit www.ticketlink.co.kr or www.interpark.com. For more information about the concert, call (02) 3461-0976.