`Sumi Jo Breeze` Keeps Blowing - Album `Prayers` on the Market

`Sumi Jo Breeze` is cooling down hot July.

Prima Dona Sumi Jo, who had already sold a record-setting 0.8 million with `Only Love`, a crossover album, has released `Prayers` and will have the `LG Deos Invitation Concert` for only selected fans on 8th, July at the Concert Hall in Seoul Art Center.

She will have recitals in Daejeon on 6th, Chunchon on 12th, and Kwangju on 15th, and will take part in the Boston Pops Orchestra’s Korea Concert on 25th, a concert hosted by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts (SCPA). Her July schedule will end with the recital `Prayers` on 29th at the main auditorium in SCPA.

Except for the LG Dios Concert, which is by invitation-only concert, the rest are open for all fans.

We had a phone-interview with Sumi Jo, who recently performed the role of the queen of the night in Mozart’s opera `The Magic Flute` at the Palermo Opera House in Italy. She called late due to her tight schedule including photographing for a cover story of a music magazine and an interview with BBC radio.

DI-The `Only Love` is a hot item in Korea. It is told that if the albums are piled up, the height will be that of the Himalayan Mountains, and one out of ten family in Korea has the album.

SJ-`` First, I would like to tell you that the passionate reaction of fellow Koreans is becoming a firm buttress for my abroad performing activities. I don’t think that Korean fans only love my songs. Thus far, I have been trying to show my openhearted and feminine life style. I think fans like such life attitudes of mine.``

DI-Tell me about the new album, `Prayers`….

SJ-``I tried to produce an album in which I sing the most truthful and sacred moments. It was hard to select several songs among 250 songs including classical songs, operas, and musicals that illustrated a moment of prayer. Personally, I like Ravel’s Kaddisch the most, but there is also popular songs like `Amazing Grace`. (Sumi Jo is a Catholic who was baptized by the late priest Lee Kyung-Jae.)``

DI-Tell me about your upcoming schedule.

SJ-``A Christmas album will be on the market in December. I am also preparing a baroque album which will include Handel and Vivaldi. During the second half of this year, I will take part in the Offenbach’s opera `Les Contes d’Hoffmann` in Washington D.C., U.S.A. I will also appear on the stage of the Verdi’s opera Rigoletto in the Pari’s Bastille Opera House, and the L. Delibes’ `Lakme` in Amsterdam.``

In the concert, `Prayers`, she will sing songs included in the album `Prayers` such as Gounod’s `Sanctus`, Mozart’s `Laudate Dominum` and etc..

Responding to the report that says, ``She will be paid more than 80 thousands dollars for the 29th’s Sejong Center recital,`` she said, ``That’s not true. If I had wanted money, I would have accepted countless C.F. proposals first.``

20,000 won ~ 100,000 won. 02-518-7343

Yoo Yoon-Jong gustav@donga.com