Sumi Jo

Last summer, José Carreras, one of the “Three Tenors,” shared his vocal expertise with aspiring young Chinese singers at his four-day masterclasses at Pingshan Theater, offering a precious musical exchange and a feast for the ears. Now, renowned South Korean soprano Sumi Jo, celebrated for her light, expressive voice and virtuosic performances in major coloratura roles, will grace Pingshan soon. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to appreciate the four-day music extravaganza, regardless of whether you are a professional singer or not.

During Jo's stay in Pingshan, the First Sumi Jo International Singing Competition (China Region) will be held May 16; then established singers and emerging vocal performers are invited to participate in Jo’s masterclasses May 17-19; finally, Jo and her students from the masterclasses will present a concert May 19.

Jo is admired for her impeccable artistry, pursing her originality. She has been acclaimed for having “a voice from above” by Herbert von Karajan. She was particularly noted for her portrayal of the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and for her title role in Donizetti’s “Lucia di Lammermoor.”

Jo has studied at the music school of Seoul National University in South Korea and the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Italy. After graduating in 1985, on Karajan’s recommendation, Jo appeared at the Salzburg Festival in Austria in 1986. In the same year, she made her operatic debut as Gilda in Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” and in 1988 she appeared as Oscar in that composer’s “A Masked Ball,” with Karajan conducting. She recorded the work with Karajan and counted Oscar among her favorite roles. During the late 1980s, Jo took first place in a number of international competitions.

Jo has recorded a number of collections of arias as well as albums that have crossover appeal to popular music audiences, demonstrating her vocal and stylistic versatility in several projects.

Booking: WeChat account “PingShanTheatre”

Venue: Pingshan Theater, Pingshan District (坪山大剧院)

Metro: Line 14 to Pingshan Square Station (坪山广场站), Exit D1

SkyShuttle: Line 1 to Culture Center Station (文化聚落站), Exit A