An Interview with the Winner of the Verdi International Opera Competition
KIM Jeong Hoon (24, College of Music, Department of Vocal Music, ‘09~) won first place in the 50th Verdi International Opera Competition (June 11~June 17). He is the youngest male singer to win this award.
Leo Nucci (74), a world-famous baritone and the President of the Jury at the competition, complimented KIM, saying, “Such a voice only comes around once a century.”
Kim shared the story behind his success in this interview, in the hopes of showing the way for future opera singers at SNU.
Q: Congratulations. How does it feel to be the youngest winner of the Verdi International Opera Competition, in Italy of all places -- the birthplace of opera?
KIM: I’m honored to be the youngest singer to win this competition, which I personally think shows that the world isn’t so unfamiliar with Asian opera singers anymore.
Q: Could you give us some information on the Verdi International Opera Competition?
KIM: It’s a prestigious global opera contest that takes its name after Giuseppe Verdi, an Italian Romantic composer of the 19th century, otherwise known as ‘the father of opera’. The competition’s full name is the “International Competition for Verdian Voices ‘CITTÀ DI BUSSETO’”.
Q: It must not have been easy to prepare for an international contest this large in scale.
KIM: That’s true. Actually, few undergraduate students prepare for international competitions. Moreover, Verdi’s songs sound good for singers with deep and sonorous voices. That is why most of the participants are in their 30s. However, I made the big decision to take part in the competition thanks to many professors’ recommendations. In order to prepare for the competition, I had to sing and listen to myself on tape for 10 hours a day. In the end, it was worth all the effort.
Q: Was becoming an opera singer always your dream?
KIM: Not really. My mother was an opera singer, but my parents never planned to raise me to become the same. Up to the age of 18, I intended to take the natural sciences track and apply to Pohang University of Science and Technology. I also enjoyed sports, so I swam and skied.
Q: What led you to finally decide on opera singing as a career?
KIM: After my voice broke, I kept having this urge to sing and my voice gradually became more powerful. Later, while singing in a choir, I realized that this was what I should do in the future. I begged my parents and literally sang my heart out for them to let me sing opera. At last, I was able to get lessons just two weeks before the Korean scholastic aptitude test.
Q: What did you go through before you were accepted at SNU?
KIM: Before I enrolled in SNU, I attended other universities like Joongang University and Kyunghee University. I kept trying to enter SNU because I wished to learn not only singing techniques but also gain a systematic knowledge of music history and culture. In retrospect, I believe that the earnest endeavors and failures on my way to entering SNU were what made my voice grow richer.
Q: How has life been on campus?
KIM: Up to now, I have been content throughout my time at SNU, because I sincerely want to be here. Also, my skills have developed profoundly since entering the university. Through courses other than singing lessons, I was able to add a new emotional dimension to my singing talent. Through the annual College of Music operas, which I prepared with my classmates, I learned responsibility and developed a thick, booming voice.
Q: So you prefer songs that are grand and strong?
KIM: Yes. There are many different roles in opera. I’m good at masculine roles like kings and generals rather than farmers or young men. “Ma Se M’e Forza Perderti” in Verdi’s opera “Un Ballo In Maschera” (“The Masquerade”) is the tenor aria I sang in the final round of the Verdi competition. This is General Riccardo’s aria that fits my voice well.
Q: You’ve achieved recognition internationally at a relatively young age. What are your goals and plans for the future?
KIM: After acquiring various experiences on top of opera skills, it is my wish to become a world-class tenor like Luciano Pavarotti. I’ve received requests to perform in many countries including Italy and the US. This October, I’ll be performing in the SNU College of Music Opera – Puccini’s La Boheme. I’ve been practicing hard, so I hope many people come to watch.
You can see the video clip of Kim’s gala performance at the Verdi International Opera Competition on YouTube.
Written by JANG Hyo Jeong, SNU English Editor, fatalbonds@snu.ac.kr
Reviewed by Eli Park Sorensen, SNU Professor of Liberal Studies, eps7257@snu.ac.kr
Proofread by Brett Johnson, SNU English Editor, morningcalm2@gmail.com