Joo Won Kang, Baritone
Joo Won Kang, South Korean baritone, has appeared this season at the Metropolitan Opera as Ping in TURANDOT and as Marcello in LA BOHEME (The role of his company debut in 2021). This season, he also made his Canadian Opera Company debut as Marcello, and returned to Minnesota Opera in that same role.
In addition, he made his debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, both in Boston and at Carnegie Hall, singing in Shostakovitch’s LADY MACBETH OF MTSENSK, concerts which were recorded for release on DG Records. He also made his NY solo recital debut in Weill Hall.
Mr. Kang has appeared in leading roles, such as Figaro in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE, Germont in LA TRAVIATA, Papageno in THE MAGIC FLUTE, Dandini in LA CENERENTOLA, Sharpless in MADAMA BUTTERFLY, the title role in EUGENE ONEGIN and Ping in TURANDOT with opera companies throughout the US, including San Francisco Opera, Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Arizona Opera, Wolf Trap Opera and Utah Opera.
He sang the role of Chou En-lai in John Adam’s NIXON IN CHINA with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by the composer, and he made his New York City Opera debut as Manfredo in L’AMORE DEI TRE RE.
At the Wexford Festival in Ireland, he sang the leading roles in 2 rare operas, Donizetti’s MARIA DE RUDENZ and Leoni’s L’ORACOLO, as well as appearing there in recital.
Mr. Kang is a Top Prize winner in such important Vocal Competitions as Gerda Lissner Foundation, Opera Index, Giulio Gari International Competition and the McCammon Competition.
Opera Repertoire
| Composer | Opera | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Adams | Nixon in China | Cho En-Lai |
| Bizet | Les pecheur de perles | Zurga* |
| Donizetti | Maria de Rudenz | Corrado |
| Heggie | Moby Dick | Captain Gardiner |
| Mozart | Le nozze di Figaro | Count Almaviva |
| Mozart | Die Zauberflöte | Papageno |
| Mozart | Cosi fan tutte | Guglielmo |
| Poulenc | Les Mamelles de Tiresias | Theater Director |
| Puccini | La Boheme | Marcello |
| Puccini | Madama Butterfly | Sharpless |
| Puccini | Turandot | Ping |
| Rossini | La Cenerentola | Dandini |
| Rossini | Il barbiere di Siviglia | Figaro |
| Tchaickovsky | Eugene Onegin | Eugene Onegin |
| Tchaickovsky | Pique Dame | Yeletsky |
| Verdi | Falstaff | Ford |
| Verdi | Rigoletto | Rigoletto |
| Verdi | La Traviata | Germont |
| *In preparation |
Press Acclaim
“South Korean baritone Joo Won Kang sang the part with riveting sonority, catching the character’s implacability but also an element of decency and human dignity. “
” ‘Dite alla giovine’ was also beautifully and movingly sung, as Natale joined in duet with Joo Won Kang, a most impressive Germont. Kang’s rich, resonant baritone complemented his portrayal of a man whose dignity and sense of propriety may be paramount, but who still understands what Violetta’s sacrifice has cost her and can ultimately grieve with Alfredo. Kang’s ‘Di Provenza il mar’ was notable for his superb phrasing of the long legato lines.”
“As Corrado, Joo Won Kang’s command of line and phrasing, solid vocal core and beautiful tone made him the STANDOUT VOICE of this year’s Festival.”
“It helps that Wexford has assembled a superb cast, led by Korean Joo Won Kang’s radiant Corrado. How rare to have a Donizetti baritone role of such meatiness, and how wonderful to have a singer to take full advantage of that – even from top to bottom, and with a lovely sense of line through even the fussiest of passages. His opening “Eglia, ancora non giunge” was a stand-out.”
“Korean Baritone Joo Won Kang is consistently exciting as Corrado”
“Equally fine was baritone Joo Won Kang (singing a role which was premiered by great Donizetti baritone Giorgio Ronconi) as Corrado Waldorf. His rich and powerful instrument had no problems with Donizetti’s line; the baritone gets a lot of the best music here. (Kang also performed at a stunning recital which ran the gamut from Beethoven to some beautiful songs from his native Korea; his is a name to watch for.)”
“The singers were all top-notch… For all Corrado’s despicable character traits, one understood why Maria kept coming back for more with singing this good from the former lover. Joo Won Kang delivered a fine performance of a difficult role, his honeyed baritone voice ringing true from the start….”
“Corrado requires a kind of Verdi baritone and is the character who has the most to sing throughout the opera. The role was played by Joo Won Kang, who has an attractive and important voice.”
“The week’s knockout recital was saved for the final spot, on November 5. Korean baritone Joo Won Kang gave an exemplary performance from beginning to end, superbly partnered at the piano by Andrea Grant. His Golden-Age tone and superb phrasing ignited Beethoven’s “Adelaide,” and he lent his formidable interpretive skills to Gerald Finzi’s cycle of Shakespeare songs, “Let Us Garlands Bring.” Kang’s flawless judging of just how much emotion to invest made “Come Away, Death” and “Fear No More the Heat o’ the Sun” unforgettable listening experiences. His English diction is excellent, and he made Fiddler on the Roof’s “If I Were a Rich Man” entirely his own. Before his breathtaking, full-bodied performance of Die Tote Stadt’s “Tanzlied,” he spoke of the time he had spent at the festival—“this beautiful memory of Wexford. I am having this memory, and bringing this memory to my home.” It was a sentiment that was sure to resonate with many in the audience.”
“McCammon winner Joo Won Kang stands out!
The star of the show was Figaro himself-baritone Joo Won Kang.
He blew away the competition in the Fort Worth Opera’s 2014 McCammon voice Competition, winning the audience award, as well as the judges’ nods. It was clear when he first came onstage Saturday night that the MAGIC was still there!”
Media
Joo Won Kang and Nicole Cabell, Dite alla giovine, La Traviata, Verdi, Minnesota Opera 2019Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Manfredo, L'amore dei tre re, New York City Opera, 2018
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Egli ancora non giunge, MARIA DE RUDENZ, Wexford Festival, 2016
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Egli ancora non giunge, MARIA DE RUDENZ, Wexford Festival, 2016
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Vieni in quel giorno essa m'attende, MARIA DE RUDENZ, Wexford Festival, 2016
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Di Provenza, La Traviata, Verdi, Emerging Artists NY Debut Recital, Forth Worth Opera's McCammon competition winner, Opera America, September, 2014
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Pierrot's Tanzlied, Die Tode Stadt, Korngold, McCammon Voice Competition, 2014
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Ja vas lyublyu, Pique Dame, Tchaichovsky, Viñas 2014
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, è sogno o realta?, Falstaff, Verdi, Viñas 2014
Joo Won Kang, Baritone, Cento Leggiadre vergini, Il Corsaro, Verdi, Adler Fellows Concert, San Francisco Opera, 2012
Gallery
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Joo Won Kang during his curtain call at the premiere of San Francisco Opera’s MOBY DICK at the War Memorial Opera House -
Joo Won 'Takes the stage' of SFO's War Memorial Opera House -
Joo Won Kang as the Count in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro at the Manhattan School of Music -
Joo Won Kang performing at the final of the Viñas Competition, 2014 -
Joo Won Kang performing at SFO's Merola Program Showcase -
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Wexford Festival's production of Donizetti's Maria de Rudenz in the role of Corrado
