
Siman Chung, Countertenor
Siman Chung, countertenor from Busan, South Korea, will have some important debuts in the 2019-20 season. He will sing for the first time in one of the world’s most concert halls, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He will make his debut with Boston Lyric Opera, singing the role of Tolomeo in Handel’s Julius Caesar. He will also return to the roster of the Metropolitan Opera, for the third consecutive season.
In 2018-19, Mr. Chung created a leading role in the new opera “Beauty and Sadness”, which had its World Premiere in Hong Kong. That season, in NY, he sang concerts with Voices of Ascension, and as a guest with Juilliard’s 415 Early Music Ensemble.
In spring 2018, he made his role and company debut with Opera Columbus in the title role of Orphee in the Berlioz version of Gluck’s opera Orphee et Eurydice. This same production then traveled to Toronto and the Banff Festival. In all three venues, he had a great personal success.
Siman Chung made his debut at Carnegie Hall in 2015, singing Handel’s Messiah. He attended Mannes School of Music in NY, where he sang the leading role of the Refugee in Jonathan Dove’s opera, Flight, with Mannes Opera.
Opera Repertoire
Composer | Opera | Role |
---|---|---|
Britten | Midsummer Night's Dream | Oberon |
Dove | Flight | Refugee |
Gluck | Orfeo ed Euridice | Orfeo |
Gluck (Berlioz version) | Orphée et Eurydice | Orphée |
Händel | Giulio Cesare | Sesto |
Händel | Rinaldo | Rinaldo |
Händel | Rodelinda | Bertarido |
Mozart | Mitridate, Re di Ponto | Farnace |
Rossini | Tancredi | Tancredi |
Johann Strauss | Die Fledermaus | Orlofsky |
Concert Repertoire
Composer | Composition | Role |
---|---|---|
Bach | St. Matthew Passion | Alto Soloist |
Händel | Messiah | Alto Soloist |
Press Acclaim
Chung’s acrobatic counter-tenor was ideal, even though this role is most often voiced as tenor in this remounted Paris version (albeit with the overture cut). Chung has a ringing high F, florid ornamentation the likes of which we don’t hear nearly so well sung in North America, and he comes equipped with outlandish lung power and breathing ability.
In title role of ORPHEE, Banff Festival, 2018
The cast could hardly have been bettered. As Orphée, countertenor Siman Chung sizzled with firepower, star power, and every other kind of power. Mr. Chung has a haunting color to his meaty tone, with a thrilling brilliance to his upper range. While he lavished the famous laments with limpid, affecting tone, he also deployed his well-schooled instrument to fine effect as he ripped through spot-on passages of manic coloratura.
In title role of ORPHEE, Banff Festival, 2018
Chung has everything a countertenor brings to a role, the warmth and odd otherworldliness of the unnaturally high tessitura for a male singer, and the power to project passion with volume to spare. His performance was compelling both vocally and theatrically.
In title role of ORPHEE, Banff Festival, 2018
As the Refugee, Siman Chung offered a creamy countertenor and a subtle characterization of an indefinably traumatized and disenfranchised man. His desperate yearning to belong was present in his watchful gaze and hopeful body language even when he silently observed the others.
South Korean counter-tenor Siman Chung brought a voice of power and emotion to the role of Grifone suggesting readiness for even larger counter-tenor assignments internationally.
Media
Dove sei, amato bene? - Rodelinda - G. F. Händel - Counter-Tenor Siman ChungQuel nouveau ciel pare ces lieux- Orphée et Eurydice, Gluck
Venti Turbini - Rinaldo, Händel
Crude furie degli orridi abissi - Serse, Händel, United Philharmonic Orchestra
L'alma del forte - Orlando finto pazzo, Vivaldi, Korea National Opera
Alla rosa rugiadosa - Orlando finto pazzo, Vivaldi, Korea National Opera
Son reo, l'error confesso - Mitridate, W. A. Mozart
Le Temps des Lilas - E. Chausson
My Life's Delight - R. Quilter