Soprano Park Hye-sang Brings Korean Songs to Metropolitan Opera Stage
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Park Hye-sang, dubbed the ‘prima donna of New York,’ is returning to Seoul next month for a recital that blends Korean and Western repertoire. The Deutsche Grammophon artist rose from a minor Met Opera debut in 2017 to leading roles and has included Korean art songs on her DG debut album. Her upcoming concert at Seoul Arts Center will span 1,200 years of music—from Silla hyangga (ancient Korean poetic songs) like “Changgiparangga,” Joseon-era sijo (classical Korean verse) and a love aria from the pansori (traditional Korean narrative singing) Chunhyangga, to Handel and Schubert—accompanied by a mix of piano, daegeum (Korean bamboo flute), and cello. Park says pansori moves her deeply but requires vocal adjustments to protect her voice; balancing technique and authenticity is the recital’s main challenge. After a hard-won path through Seoul National University and Juilliard, she aims to be a singer who stays in people’s hearts, not just their ears.
