Sumi Jo, Beautiful Challenge: 20th Anniversary

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Sumi Jo, Beautiful Challenge: 20th Anniversary

A coloratura soprano who in the late 1990s became one of the most noticed new names on the international operatic circuit, Sumi Jo was a discovery of the flamboyant German conductor Herbert von Karajan. A striking beauty, she owed her initial celebrity in part to video: the conductor arranged for her a prominent role in his Karajan in Salzburg video production.

Sumi Jo was born in Seoul, South Korea, in 1962. After studying both voice and piano from a young age, she dropped out of Seoul National University in 1983 to travel to Italy for study at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Among her teachers were Carlo Bergonzi and Grannila Bonelli. She graduated in 1985, with a concentration in keyboard as well as voice and over the next few years took top voice competition prizes in several countries, attracting the attention of Karajan. 

Her operatic debut came as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto in 1986, and two years later she performed in Un Ballo in Maschera under Karajan's baton. In the 1990s and early 2000s she was ubiquitous, singing in major capitals on nearly every continent. She won a Grammy award in 1993, and among her many recordings, her several portrayals of Mozart's vocally treacherous Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte have been especially noteworthy. In 2000, she began to see the fruits of Richard Bonynge's mentorship, refining her bel canto technique and preparing for a Carnegie Hall recital in February 2001.

Yuhki Kuramoto is a Japanese pianist and composer who writes primarily for the piano, though orchestral arrangements for some of his pieces exist. Born in Urawa-ku, Saitama, Kuramoto studied the piano from an early age. At school, he studied Rachmaninoff and performed as a part-time soloist in orchestras. He later went on to study at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and obtained a master’s degree in Applied Physics. Kuramoto chose to become a musician.

Kuramoto concentrated on the performance of the piano, the composition and arrangement of classical music and popular music. As a professional musician, his interests span genres from classical to folk songs and popular music. Kuramoto never attended a music conservatory and attained his knowledge mostly through self-study. At the age of 35, Kuramoto had the first of his CD published. To this day, he has published 18 CDs. Kuramoto's style of music shows influence from a variety of composers from different periods, most notably, by Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Ravel.

Concert for celebrating Sumi Jo’s 20^th world Operatic Debut

Sumi Jo – Beautiful Challenge

Performer Sumi Jo (Soprano)

Yuhki Kuramoto (Pianist)

Jung Hak Seo (Baritone)
Taekyung Im (Crossover Tenor)
Guitar Quartet Libra
Mostly Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus
Jung Ho Pak (Conductor)

Studio: Universal Music
Genre: Classical Music

DVD 1 : GALA CONCERT

01. Johann Strauss II: Die Fledermaus - Ouverture
02. Jacque Offenbach: Valse Tyrolienne from 'Le mari a la porte'
03. Georg Friedrich Handel: Lascia Ch'io Pianga from 'Rinaldo'
04. Franz Lehar: I Love You So from 'Merry Widow'
05. Stanly Myers: He was beautiful (Cavatina from 'Dear Hunter')
06. Sebastian Yradier: La Paloma
07. Frank Wildhorn: Once upon a Dream from 'Jekyll and Hyde'
08. William Balfe: I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls from 'The Bohemian Girl'
09. Alan Menken: Beauty and the Beast - Duet
10. Ennio Morricone: Nella Fantasia (Gabriel's Oboe from 'Mission')
11. Yuhki Kuramoto : Memory of Love
12. Yuhki Kuramoto : Virgin Road
13. Korean Traditional : Bird Song
14. Doo Nam Cho : Sun Gu Jah
15. Johann Strauss II: Blue Danube
16. Andrew L. Webber: Musical Medley
17. Giacomo Puccini: O Mio Babbino Caro from 'Gianni Schicchi'
2006. Sep. 3
Seoul Art Center Concert Hall

DVD 2 : Recital with pianist Vincenzo Scalera

01. George Hrederic Handel : Da Tempeste from oera
02. Antonio Vivaldi : 'Sposa son disprezzata' from opera
03. Antonio Vivaldi: Agitata Da Due Venti from 'Griselda'
04. Eva Dell'Acqua : Villanelle; J'ai vu passer l'hirondelle
05. Charles Gounod : Serenade: Quand tu chantes
06. Adolphe Adam : Ah vous dorais-je mama from opera
07. Jung Jun Ahn : Ari Ari Rang
08. Johann Strauss II: Wo die Zitronen bluhn Op.364
09. Vincenzo Bellini : 'Eccomi Oh ! quante volte' from
10. Giusseppe Verdi : Recitativo and aria 'E strano Ah Forse lui Sempre libera' from opera
11. Jacque Offenbach : Les oiseaux dans la charmille
12. Il Nam Jang : I'm still waiting You
2006. Sep.27
Seoul Art Center Concert Hall

Watch LIVE video Featuring Track 11 MBC epic drama "Ju-mong" O.S.T. (2006)
Yuhki Kuramoto : Memory of Love ---->

 

Jumong is a historical-drama series which aired on South Korea's MBC television network as a 45th-anniversary special. Originally scheduled for 60 episodes, MBC extended it to 81 because of its popularity. The series examines the life of Jumong Taewang, founder of the kingdom of Goguryeo.

Few details have been found in the historical record about Jumong, so much of the series is fictionalized. The fantastic elements surrounding the original Jumong legend (such as those concerning his birth) have been replaced with events more grounded in reality. Jumong is considered part of the Korean Wave (Hallyu), with viewership in Iran exceeding 80 percent. - Wikipedia.