Sumi Jo's 20th anniversary concert tour
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“One: Never cry or be weak no matter what kind of hardship comes to you. Overcome them. Two: Never show others that you are lonely. Always be lordly and confident...”
A 20-year-old petit Korean female wrote down those and other self-promises at 3 a.m. on a bench at an international airport in Rome in March, 1983, just after she arrived in Italy.
Three years later, she graduated from the prestigious Accademia di Santa Cecelia in Rome and made an international opera debut to rave reviews at Italy's Trieste Opera House, performing Gilda in the Verdi opera “Rigoletto.”
That petit girl was Sumi Jo, now one of the world's foremost lyric coloratura sopranos with formidable techniques. Since her debut in 1986, which became a stepping-stone for her appearance on the world's five major opera houses, including the Met in New York and Teatro alla Scala in Milan, she has expanded her repertoire to various characters in other opera pieces.
“I didn't plan to become a professional singer when I first arrived in Italy. I just wanted to finish my studies soon and return home to teach children,” Jo said in a press conference on Wednesday (Aug. 30). “But, when I heard the singing of my Japanese fellow student at school, I got jealous and it made me practice harder. We became good friends and promised each other to become world-class Asian opera singers.”
Thanks to that little bit of jealousy, Jo, who the flamboyant German conductor Herbert von Karajan called a “voice from above,” is celebrating the 20th anniversary of her international career this year.
“I am deeply grateful. There are so many people and fans I want to thank for their love and support,” Jo said.
Looking back over 20 years of memories, there were a great number of unforgettable thrilling moments and troubles. But she said the April 4 concert in France was the most difficult one as she missed her father's last moments and gave up attending her father's funeral for that.
“I continued the concert as my mother said that as an artist I could not disappoint my fans with a concert cancellation,” Jo said. “I wished I could see him so badly.”
The 1,500 audience members didn't know until she told them of the death prior to the fourth encore piece 'O mio babbino caro' (“Oh my dear father” from the Puccini opera “Gianni Schicchi”).
“With the excuse of being an artist performing around the world, I missed my father's birthdays for the past 23 years and my little brother's wedding. Without my family and their support, I would not have become what I am now,” she said.
Celebrating 20 years on stage, Sumi Jo will show off the artistry and virtuosity she has built over the past two decades to ocal fans in a 10-city tour. Starting with a concert in Suwon on Sept. 5, Jo will perform in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Gwangju, Pohang, Ansan, Chuncheon and Geoje.
She will sing to the accompaniment of her long-time concert companion, pianist Vincenzo Scalera. Jo has formed two separate programs _ one for the Seoul concert and the other for the concerts in other cities.
She also held an academy concert Wednesday night, to which schoolteachers were invited. “A person who receives great love from people has to return the love somehow,” Jo said, adding through working with teachers, who directly influence adolescents, the great assets of our future, she hopes to contribute to society.
Jo said she will also keep trying to challenge and improve herself. “I will perform Violetta in the Verdi opera “La Traviata” next year for the first time in my life,” Jo said. “I plan to have time for myself next year so that I can replenish myself and grow more. I think I am still naive.”
She said, “Der Holle Rache kocht in... in Donner und Blitz,” a coloratura aria for Queen of the Night from the Mozart opera “Die Zauberflote” (Magic Flute) is the number that prevents her from being lazy.
At a press conference 10 years in the future, she hopes that she will receive an award that says “For the artist that Korea loves most, is most proud of and most beloved.”The source of news : Korea.net August 31, 2006
