Sumi Jo has been named Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture, the highest rank of France’s prestigious cultural order. The award was presented to the acclaimed soprano on May 26 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris by former Minister of Culture Fleur Pellerin. Jo was recognized for her outstanding artistic achievements and her {…}
Sumi Jo is one of most renowned opera sopranos of the last 30 years. Since the late 1980s until today, the soprano has developed a major international career that has taken her through the major international opera competitions to its major stages all the way to Hollywood, the World Cup, and the Olympics. She has performed for an Oscar-nominated song, {…}
A few week’s ago, our quiz focused on Chinese composer Tan Dun. This week we continue to spotlight Asian opera artists, but this time shifting our focus to the singers dominating the world stages. So for this quiz, we will offer up a prompt and it will be your job to pick which singer it best applies to. As always, {…}
Opera for Peace has announced that several of opera’s greatest stars are joining the organization as ambassadors and advisors. Tenor René Barbera and sopranos Elsa Dreisig and Joyce El-Khoury have become the organization’s newest ambassadors. Meanwhile, conductor Fabio Luisi, soprano Sondra Radvanovsky, and baritone Ludovic Tézier have signed on as Advisors; they join baritone Thomas Hampson and soprano Sumi Jo, who {…}
(Credit:Javier del Real/© Gregor Hohenberg / Sony Classical/ Bernard Martinez) The Théâtre des Champs-Elysées has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a vast array of programs and stars. Here are opera and vocal performance highlights of the season: Operas Handel’s Messiah is set to be directed by Robert Wilson with Marc Minkowski conducting. The cast includes Elena Tsallagova, Helena Rasker, Richard {…}
Melos International will present the Callas Tribute Prize NY on Nov. 25, 2019. The event, which will take place at Columbia Unviersity’s historic Italian Academy, will feature global dignitaries, prize recipients, and renowned performers. The date was specifically chosen to honor Callas on “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.” Among the Awards Recipients will be famed soprano {…}
On any given evening in Vienna there are more musical performances going on than slices of sticky orangey chocolate cake being wolfed down at the Café Sacher. Opera aficionados and admirers of musicals can avail themselves of concurrent offerings at the splendiferous Staatsoper, the folksy Volksoper, the cosy Kammeroper, the recherché Ronacher and Raimund theaters or the historically pre-eminent Theater {…}
Sumi Jo was born on Nov. 22, 1962, in South Korea. Her mother had been an amateur singer and pianist who, due to political circumstances, could not study music and pursue a professional career. However, because of this, Jo’s mother did all she could to ensure that her daughter never lost the opportunities she did. So she enrolled her in {…}
Violinist Yury Revich will lead the “Dreamland Gala” at the Theater an der Wien on Thursday, Nov. 22. The event is set to take place as part of the “Friday Nights With Yuri Revich” series. The concert, which will dedicate proceeds to UNICEF in Austria will feature such vocal artists as soprano Sumi Jo, as well as Hasmik Papian and {…}
“Opera Meets Film” is a feature dedicated to exploring the way that opera has been employed in cinema. We will select a section or a film in its entirety, highlighting the impact that utilizing the operatic form or sections from an opera can alter our perception of a film that we are viewing. This week’s installment, given the fact that {…}
Sumi Jo has had a fascinating career. Born on Nov. 22, 1962, the South Korean soprano has not only established an international career singing at all the major opera houses around the globe, winning several major awards and competitions (including a Grammy), but she has also seen herself in contention for an Oscar. In fact, she’s had quite the career {…}