World-renowned soprano Sumi Jo, rising opera stars and maestro J. David Jackson in concert to celebrate Musica Viva’s Hong Kong International Operatic Singing Competition 2018

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The Hong Kong International Operatic Singing Competition 2018 (HKIOSC 2018), organised by Musica Viva, is widely considered a milestone in Hong Kong’s history of opera music. It also helped launch the international careers of the award-winners. To celebrate the success of this competition, Musica Viva will stage the one-night only “HKIOSC 2018 Winners’ Concert with Sumi Jo”, featuring the global diva, who was one of the competition’s illustrious jury members, as well as Margrethe Fredheim and Chen Yibao, who won the first prize and third prize in the competition respectively.    

Infusing their unique qualities into much-loved opera repertoires, Grammy award-winner Jo, Fredheim and Chen will be accompanied by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the first orchestra in Asia to receive the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award in 2019. On the rostrum conducting the orchestra will be world-renowned maestro J. David Jackson, who has received such accolades as “first-rate conducting” (Boston Globe) and “impressive command” (Opera News).

Sumi Jo

Originally from South Korea, Jo is a trailblazer in the world of opera: she has been the first Asian-born soprano to have a major career in Europe. “Sumi Jo has amazing breath control, and her ability to sustain very long lines leads her into a slightly ‘dreamy’ manner in which the voice becomes so instrumental that one loses all sense of the words,” said Gramophone. “Jo commanded the stage like the diva she is. She connects with the audience at an emotional level; charming and flirtatious one moment, passionate and sincere the next,” noted Ottawa Citizen.