Hera Hyesang Park
Smith Square Hall
Wowed by the exceptional vocal mastery soprano Hera Hyesang Park makes her K-Music Festival debut with a fresh re-interpretation of traditional Korean songs following her concert at the Edinburgh International Festival this summer.
Hera Hyesang Park, a Juilliard graduate known for her “brilliant tone” and “pure joy and excitement”, merges her Korean heritage with Western training, creating a diverse musical experience.
It’s a celebration of vocal brilliance and cultural depth, promising a night of unforgettable music and emotional resonance.
OperaWire
Along with her long musical companion, pianist Bretton Brown, tenor David Junghoon Kim will join her to add an interesting layer to this rare concert. This show will aslo showcase highly acclaimed tunes from Breathe, her new album recently released by Deutsch Grammophon.
David Junghoon Kim is a tenor whose accolades include wins at the Francisco Viñas, Voci Verdiane, and Toulouse singing competitions. Kim’s powerful and emotive performances have earned him notable debuts at prestigious venues such as the Royal Opera House, Zürich Opera, and Glyndebourne Festival.
With “brilliant tone” and “a sense of pure joy and excitement” (OperaWire), soprano Hera Hyesang Park is celebrated not only for her exquisite voice and stagecraft, but for the deeper ideas embodied in her work. Originally from South Korea and trained at The Juilliard School, she blends her Korean roots and Western life experience in a cosmopolitan approach to life and art. Her lyric coloratura voice carries both immaculate technique and a seemingly infinite variety of tonal colors, combining in a fearless and captivating stage presence.
Park’s early 2024 season highlights include the release of her second album, Breathe, on Deutsche Grammophon. She performs repertoire from Breathe at 2024 Seoul Fashion Week and in recital at Seoul’s Lotte Concert Hall. Additional highlights include a gala concert with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. Park later sings the role of Despina in Così fan tutte at Opera de Paris . She performs recitals with pianist Andrés Sarre in Mexico, and with pianist Bretton Brown in the UK, where she also makes her debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
Park has appeared in opera roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, Opera de Paris, Berlin Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper and Münchner Rundfunkorchester. She has also performed as a soloist with the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Opera. Park’s first album, I am Hera , was released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2020. Park studied at Seoul National University before earning her two-year Artist Diploma in Opera Studies at the Juilliard School in 2015. Learn more at www.herahyesangpark.com.