ABOUT

Korean Soprano Hye Jung Lee, praised by The New York Times as “the most striking singer” among soloists of the evening and for her “sweet and focused” voice with “considerable power,” is enjoying an exciting and diverse career. Her engagements in 2022/23 include appearances at the LA Phil in John Adams' opera as Ah Sing (Girls of the golden west) and this performances will be made a recording under Nonesuch records label later this year. She will sing Gilda (Rigoletto) at Seoul Metropolitan Opera, Soprano soloist for Mahler Symphony No.4, Sandrina/Violante (La finta giardiniera) at Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, and Madame Mao (Nixon in China) at Theater Dortmund as well. As a member of the Ensemble of Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe for the 2021–2022 season, Ms. Lee performed Zerbinetta (Vorspiel zu Ariadne auf Naxos), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Norina (Don Pasquale), Sandrina (La finta giardiniera), among others. During her years at Theater Kiel as an Ensemble member, Ms. Lee performed various roles: Contessa di Folleville (Il viaggio a Reims), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Adele (Die Fledermaus), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Drusilla/Amore (L'incoronazione di Poppea), Elvire (La muette de Portici), Gilda (Rigoletto), Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), Ortlinde (Die Walküre), Amor (Orphée et Eurydice), Woglinde (Das Rheingold), and Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos).

 

​As a frequent guest at San Francisco Opera, she performed Fiakermilli in Arabella, conducted by Marc Albrecht, Ah Sing in the world premiere of Girls of the Golden West, composed by American composer John Adams and directed by Peter Sellars, Olympia from Laurent Pelly’s new production of Les Contes d’Hoffmann under the baton of Patrick Fournillier, and Madame Mao in Michael Cavanagh’ production of Nixon in China led by Lawrence Renes. Elsewhere, she has made house debuts with Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam as Ah Sing in Girls of the Golden West, with Saarländisches Staatstheater, Saarbrücken as Königin der Nacht in Die Zauberflöte, with New Zealand Opera as Madame Mao in Nixon in China, with Dayton Opera as the Queen of the Night in the English version of The Magic Flute, as well as role debuts as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Lisa in La Sonnambula with Florida Grand Opera, directed by Renata Scotto.

 

While pursuing her artistic diploma at Indiana University, she performed in various productions such as Adele in Die Fledermaus, conducted by Constantine Kitsopoulos, and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by David Effron. She was a member of San Francisco Opera’s Merola Young Artist Program, where she performed as Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, conducted by Martin Kats. 

 

As a concert and recital artist, she enjoyed performing in a variety of venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Seoul Arts Center, and Lotte Concert Hall in South Korea. Past orchestral engagements include Mozart’s Mass in C Minor and Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratorium with St. Cecilia Orchestra and Chorus at Isaac Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall. Ms. Lee was invited as a guest soloist with Tucson Chamber Artists Chorus and Orchestra for Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

 

Hye Jung Lee boasts of winning numerous awards and competitions. She was a finalist in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, representing South Korea, and a semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council. She won the second prize in Shizuoka International Opera Competition, the third prize in Maria Callas International Music Competition, the third prize in ARD International Music Competition, the audience prize in YPO/Florida Grand Opera National Voice Competition, and first or second prizes in South Korean competitions, such as Dong-Ah, JoongAng, Nanpa and KBS Music Concours. During her college years, she was a recipient of DAAD scholarships and Career Bridge Grants.

 

Ms. Lee received her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at Seoul National University, Diplom at Dresden Musik Hochschule, Master’s degree at Mannes College of Music, and Artist Diploma at Indiana University. She was a member of prestigious young artist programs such as the Merola Opera Program of San Francisco Opera, Ravinia Festival, and Florida Grand Opera.