Shin Young-ok’s Return

Shin won first place in the Dong-A Music Competition at the age of 18 and headed straight for the Julliard School, after which she won the Metropolitan Opera Competition in 1990. But during the peak of her activities in 1993, Shin found out about her mother’s death only on the 49th day of the latter’s death due to her performances overseas. The memory was an intensely painful one and consequently led to a deeper affection for her father.

“My father asks ‘When will you stop studying? Isn’t it time to start teaching?’, but the singers at the Met are coached even when they are 50 and 60 years old. Even the best singers need someone to listen to their music and point out their faults.”

Having performed “Lucia” and “Rigoletto” this year, Shin is currently in her mid-40s, the peak of an opera singer’s career. But she still receives lessons on an average of two to three times a week, or every day when there is a performance. Voice lessons, articulation practices, music lessons…. When Shin receives lessons at home, she sings while wearing a dress and high heels in a room surrounded by mirrors. She also learns jazz dance, ballet, and belly dancing, as well as the Brazilian martial art of capoeira that is learned by combative sports players.

Shin delivered an exemplary “Scena della pazzia” while performing the lead role in November 1993 in Donizetti’s “Lucia,” produced by the Korea Opera Group. In this performance, she will deliver the notes of Mozart’s opera and concert aria with the uniquely clear tones of the lyric soprano. For the past few years she released albums in church music, jazz, and carol, and also performed with the Norwegian new age group Secret Garden, attempting a variety of crossovers, and it has been a long time since she has delivered classical music in Korea.

“I performed Mozart’s concert aria in 1992 during my first solo hosted by the Dong-A Ilbo. I used to want to perform Mimi in La Boheme when I became older, but I decided not to attempt for roles that were not in my voice range. After singing strong Bel Canto Opera and changing into Mozart, I feel like my voice and mind have been cleansed together.”

Performing with Shin is the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg (conducted by Ivor Bolton), which hails from the Salzburg Festival in Mozart’s hometown. In addition, the “Ensemble Wien-Berlin,” which is a wind quintet composed in 1983 and includes members of the Vienna Philharmonic and the Berlin Philharmonic including Wolfgang Schulz (flute), will be performing in the event.

Shin will perform “Giunse alfin il momento... Deh, vieni, non tardar” in Mozart’s opera “The Marriage of Figaro,” the concert aria “Voi avete te un cor fedele,” “Ach, ich fuehl” in the opera “The Magic Flute,” Flute Concerto No.1, Clarinet Concerto, and Symphony No.40 among others. 40,000 to 200,000 won. 02-599-5743

raphy@donga.com