Shin Young-ok Sings Spring

“Good Luck for the new year!”

Her voice brightened in the early morning. Forty-five-year-old Shin Young-ok (picture) is the prima donna soprano of the New York Metropolitan Opera Theater in the United States. She will meet with her fans at the start of the new year at the 2005 New Year Music Concert held in the Hoam Art Hall with the Korean Chamber Ensemble. It is a stage celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Hoam Art Hall and the 40th birthday for the Korean Chamber Ensemble. January 9, 5:00 p.m. at the Hoam Art Hall.

“It’s my first time performing with the Korean Chamber Ensemble. But I am well aware of the talented ensemble through listening to CDs and other ways, and I also like a modest accompanying orchestra that is appropriate for Baroque music so I’m quite excited.”

On the stage she will be singing “Return to Me” from a Handel opera “Alcina” belonging to a Baroque repertoire “Oh, Tree Shade,” better known as “Largo” from the opera “Serse,” and a Romantic repertoire by Johann Strauss’ called “The Waltz of Spring,” amongst many other selections. The Korean Chamber Ensemble will perform separately Geminiani’s concerto grosso “La Folia,” Mozart’s Divertimento number 3 in F major, and others.

“I choose pieces conveying the fresh anticipation of spring, well-known works mixed with my personal favorites. They are songs that taste like salads, leaving a crisp fragrance in your mouth.”

We asked the personal questions. Several years ago, she bitterly parted with her dearly beloved pet dog because of her allergies. How is she doing these days?

“They said it differs with the species, so I bought a tiny palm-sized dog and I’m raising it. I don’t know, I think it follows me when I’m practicing my voicing. When I stop abruptly, it stops, too,” she chuckled.

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Yoon-Jong Yoo gustav@donga.com