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From the heart of Manhattan
this is Classic Talk.
Thank you for joining us on Classic Talk with Bing and Dennis. Today
our guest is Yonghoon Lee, who in the last four years
has a career, has shot to the top of the world of tenors in the opera world
today. Welcome Yonghoon.
Yes. It's just wonderful to hear you sing.
So what are you doing right now?
I'm singing at the Met for Nabuko.
Just, you had a performance last night.
Yeah, exactly. So what's the day after feel like?
Oh, well uh... I mean
specially in this time it's not really huge
role for me.
So it's like normal, you know?
But uh... you know normally I singing
[inaudible]. I mean, very big role.
"Tosca",
"Carmen", "Traviata", something like that.
And then little bit tired, but, you know recently
in this time
it's okay. So this is not much to you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's okay.
Yeah. Do you travel a lot?
Yes, I do. Yes I do.
Your home is here in New York or in this area, right?
Yeah, recently I moved to New Jersey, Palisades Park. 27 00:01:17,340 --> 00:01:21,190 It's nice place. Nice place, nice place to come home to. It's a beautiful area.
So you do travel a tremendous amount. How do you balance that with a family life? You
have
a wife and one child?
Yes. Recently, yeah. Eight month, yeah. First...first baby.
Yeah. It's not easy, frankly. But we try as much as we can. We see each
other.
But after we have a baby
uh...
it's not easy to travel with baby. So uh... but before I have a baby uh...
my wife always travel with me.
But in the beginning of my career she couldn't, because she was studying at
uh... school
also. She's a musician. What kind of musician? Either pianist, organist,
accompanist.
So it's perfect for me. But right now you have to travel alone. Exactly. But that will change
one day. Hopefully they can travel with you.
Exactly. I suppose you'll use Skype a lot
to keep in touch...I do...while you're away.
When you're not in New York, where are you these days mostly? Where do you do a lot
of your singing?
Yeah, I'm singing mostly in Europe
everywhere.
Germany
and Italy.
Spain, also uh... uh...France.
Yeah. Do you have any particular area or houses that you
like to sing there
better than others? You mean in Europe?
Yeah, in Europe, or in the world.
Yeah, of course, Metropolitan Opera House,
La Scala and Covent Garden.
And... and uh...the German, [inaudible]
Berlin [inaudible]
[inaudible]. It's all nice.
What makes them different than others?
Because um...it's so
you know always uh...
working with wonderful people,
it's number one important for me.
I mean, it's always
joyful and so....so...It's a family. Something special, yeah, yeah. For these big houses, I guess,
you really have the best people in the world...Exactly...to work there.
As I said, your rise in the opera world has happened
rapidly. Has it tremendously changed your life?
Yeah.
Uh...
'cause you know
I made my debut uh...
with "Miracle".
You know, um... even if I
uh...
won a lot of competition in the States,
nothing happened after that. I had to wait
for a long time.
And then suddenly
uh...
I got a call from my manager
in Frankfurt, which is a new production of "Don Carlos".
Uh...
the tenor cancel.
Got cancer and uh... we just
left
two weeks before the opening night.
And it's an emergency situation, and then
the director, he...he heard my singing.
Actually so just...just if it is possible, just bring him.
So I've...
but, you know, the thing is,
I only sang
four act version of "Don Carlos". I never...
yeah...The five act? No. And they were doing the five act? But I had to learn
in....in...Two weeks? Two weeks,
acting, because it's a new production.
And also, you know,
as you know
it's very big singing.
It's a lot...Yeah, yeah, exactly. So it's a big challenge.
But, you know, I had no choice because
uh...
That's a big break.
Exactly.
I mean, you know, uh... I got really big uh... trouble financially.
So I...I must sing.
Otherwise, you know...
after I came
to the States to study
I was struggling with
uh...my financial problem.
So uh... That's true, too, with a lot of singers. Yeah, yeah.
And then I got big success
So then, yeah. After Frankfurt things came quickly. Yep.
Like contracts.
Yeah.
So it changed my life. Isn't that funny? Just one,
you know, break
so everybody wants you. Why can't they think about you before then, you know?
Good point. But,
you know, uh...
I think it's quite different between uh... winning a competition
and sing on a professional stage.
It's really different and uh...
you know, it's very, very lucky,
because my debut was
uh... very...
place was very good theater.
And also
it's new production so all the...Press. Yeah, just focus on it.
So, uh...
it's a wonderful opportunity.
Were you very nervous?
I mean...Yeah, yeah, I was. Yeah, of course.
"Don Carlo", that has remained with you and probably will for many years. That...
have you sung that more than anything else?
I would say, yes, "Don Carlo", it's my destiny. I mean, because I start with
"Don Carlo"
and then I sing after that
so many places, they asked me "Don Carlos", "Don Carlos".
So it's kind of, you know,
that some people called me
uh... Don Carlos Lee.
Don Carlos Lee. That's good.
You don't get bored with it, do you?
Oh, the music is fantastic, so
even if
it's sometimes, you know,
uh...
the original version,
without cut,
its only running time is
around five hours
but the music,
it's really
masterpiece.
So I never get boring.
You've always done it in Italian because it's often...also done in French. And I
think you have a French one coming up, is that right? Oh, gosh. Where will that be?
Where will that be? It's Vienna [inaudible] and coming in April.
This coming April.
Next year, yeah. Will it be a little strange to sing the same opera in a different language?
Right?
Yeah. You know, it's beautiful
music. We...we uh...
have another new music.
I mean, for example,
with Filippo,
we don't have it in Italian version.
It's actually different...different music, yes. Yes, yes. And also uh...
the little duet
uh...
with Rodrigo before [singing]we have a little more, yeah.
So
it's very...
those are very beautiful, yeah, and text also,
you know.
That'll be good. Speaking of jumping in for "Don Carlos", you did the same just recently
with the Met in
Japan. That came on short notice also, right?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But that was different because you had
done it already at the Met once. Although a different production. Yeah, it was
different production.
But, you know, I just...I was performing in [inaudible]
[inaudible]
which is also Verdi.
But it's kind of [inaudible]. It's [inaudible]
it's a beautiful piece.
Uh...
that was new production in Roma.
At that time I got a call from Metropolitan Opera House uh... but uh...
it was impossible
to join,
because um...
You'd be breaking your contract. Yeah, yeah. I had to work
in Roma
but uh... in Japan they you want me to come over
a little bit early, because I need to do rehearse. Right.
So uh... they asked the people in Rome and they said we cannot find a tenor,
because he's unknown. It's not "Tosca", it's not
"Boheme".
So um... the final decision was, they said,
okay,
just do it.
Whatever you want to do, just do. And after finishing, just come over to
Japan. So without uh... dress rehearsal
I performed in Japan and it was...
It was very good. I was there. It went very well. You know. It was wonderful. It was very wonderful. A special experience.
So, you know, after this
"Don Carlos", this opera, what's the next one that you really wanted to do?
Well uh... I love all Verdi operas.
Beautiful.
So, very healthy
to sing.
Right. So I...
the next thing is, I will sing [inaudible] and also
uh... "Traviata" at the Met also, 2015 and 16.
And...
Have you done "Rigoletto"?
No, because
my voice is a little bit
heavy to do this.
I think. Yeah, yeah. I can do it
maybe if I have a chance.
This
voice, you describe it as a little heavy. You do the real
[inaudible]...[inaudible]...which is one notch
in weight up from a, you know, a lyrical. Uh...
was that just a gift? Have you always had that voice or did
you work incredibly hard to develop, or did you
just open your mouth and...
I
love to say I just open my mouth and voice come out, but it's not true.
Yeah, I work hard with my voice teacher.
And yeah,
God gave it me.
And then I work hard with my voice teacher and then
at a certain time
it...it came out. At what age did you
know that you had
something special there?
You know what? I start
to sing
kind of a little bit late, you know. 249 00:11:20,949 --> 00:11:22,519 Age in twenty-one.
Because I...I was studying for theology
and uh... uh... business administration
Where was this?
In Korea. In Korea. Yeah.
At that point
I was one of the chorus members in
my...my church.
And uh...I wanted to sing better.
So I had a friend who
was studying in music conservatory.
And I ask to have a lesson from him.
And after
the lesson
he suggest,
you must sing.
Why don't you be a singer,
a professional singer?
So after I heard
that...the message from him,
my heart was beating.
Because I loved
to sing.
So I...
I was lucky because I...I had a very good teacher,
uh... Professor Pei Chung.
We worked together
because...
but uh... we...we didn't have enough time.
Because only five months I had
before an audition in the Seoul National University.
It's one of the top
uh... music conservatories in Korea.
Amazingly, I got the highest
score in that year, so I got a scholarship
and I could start to, you know, to sing.
So your studies began in Seoul.
Yeah. How many years did you study there before coming to America?
Well, I...I graduate...undergraduate
student in four years.
And then the interesting thing is, after
graduate
and then I passed two years, and I had to quit to sing.
Really? Yeah. Because
uh... it's hard to explain or...but uh... it's a long story
because I...
I got hurt so much in
the singing business
by a broken relationship
so I decide to myself
I...I had to leave.
And I never
ever come back. Wow.
And...and it...you know,
it's kind of...you know singing is my life
and it's totally my life.
So believe it or not I lost
a hund...almost a hundred kilogram.
My weight.
Oh really? Big guy. You're kidding.
I lost
in one month
like sixty kilogram.
How did you do that?
'Cause, you know, I...I
did it and I just
got sick. You were so depressed. Yeah, depressed
and um... you know,
but uh, I'm Christian, and my Lord
support me and healed my body and my soul, everything.
So I really...
it completely changed my life.
And I thought,
after that,
I really...I really think to God
I really
want to do something for Him.
So in my mind
I want to be like a missionary or pastor or something like that.
But I need to have a permission from Him.
Because I felt already, you know, I
got mistake before.
So I didn't want to make a mistake again.
So I pray to him...
to Him...
please let me know
the way. What should I do next?
I want to do something for you.
And then in my pray, I could hear His voice. It was my first experience to hear from Him.
And He said, I create you as a singer.
When you sing, I'm so happy.
And it brought
huge encouragement
and it changed my life.
And I could start to sing.
And He...you know,
kind of it's...kind of big guarantee by
my Lord. And
He blessed
my singing life, and now I'm here. So what...
what did you do to start singing again? You...
It was very difficult because, you know,
because my muscle, you know, I haven't sing for a while.
And also
financially, as I told you,
it was very, very, very difficult. I almost
tried to give up.
But uh...
my God
sent wonderful people around me I called angels.
For example, my...my voice teacher.
He...he said when I tried to give up to sing, he said,
don't give up.
I will give you uh...
Arthur's...my voice teacher, his name is...
his name is Arthur Levy, and he said,
I will give Arthur Levy Scholarship so until
when you get a professional uh... debut
somewhere.
So I received uh...
his lesson for free
for two years.
But you didn't know him before you came to New York. You met him here.
Actually in [inaudible] where I studied
in New York, [inaudible] College of Music.
How are you able to come from Korea to New York? How did that come about?
Actually I sent my singing CD.
Uh... and I passed and then I could come over
uh... here and make an audition.
And I got a
scholarship.
That's luck. And so without lot of money I could
start to
study in New York. Right after you finish at [inaudible], then
what's next? Did you do?
And I...I just
applied for a lot of competitions and I...I got
all first prize. Is that right? And...but...but nothing happened, you know, professionally.
And finally
I met my wonderful managers, Arlen
Green and Bruce Simsky.
Uh... they're angels.
They're I could get big support from them.
So um...
I could start my career. Actually, you know,
for a while
I...I couldn't have anything.
But uh...
uh...one day
the director from
Chile,
Santiago,
he came to New York
uh... to audition.
But uh...uh... I just sang
for a couple of arias for him. And then he said,
do you know "Don Carlos"? I said, no, I don't know. Uh, we are doing
four act version of "Don Carlos"
and we only left
less than two weeks.
So, um...
could you do it? So I...I
had a chance so I...
I must to take it.
So I learn it,
entire opera, in two weeks. Four act version of "Don Carlos".
So I made my debut in Chile.
I was big success. Right.
And then after that,
I made my European debut...In Frankfurt. Yeah. Frankfurt version of "Don Carlos". Frankfurt was uh...
uh...David [inaudible] production. Yeah.
Do you have different management for Europe or is also...no, same.
So you really are on your way.
So now you can probably say
yes and no
to people now, right? Absolutely.
Yeah. That's a wonderful feeling, isn't it.
Yeah. Do you have uh...
tenor idols that you have listened to a lot, say past and present singers that you...yes, I do.
Who are they?
Uh, Caruso. Caruso?
Caruso.
Enrico Caruso. It's a master for me.
And also uh...
Franco Corelli.
The number one is Caruso.
When you listen to him, what kind of things do you...
you don't want a copy, of course. You don't want to be like him, but you...what do
you take from him? The...the voice itself or the...the style or a combination of
everything?
Yeah. First of all, technique.
I mean, I never
met him personally, but
through the music
I can hear
he's singing from heart.
And uh...
very
uh... noble.
Not just about a sound.
Musically so...
it's beautiful, so I can, you know, have...
have a...some wonderful idea from
his singing. Do you think the time period,
because that was a little bit earlier, so it's really different now,
in as far as singing what, you know...Frankly, yes. Yes?
Then do you think
somehow
along the way something is missing?
Or you think is it getting better?
Well, very
difficult
questions.
Yeah. I mean,
as a singer, I...also I'm an
actor. So I want to do both
very well.
And
I think I cannot uh...
uh, make it separate. It's...it's
all in one. In one. Yes.
But uh... I think uh... uh...
the old singers,
they just
bat hundred percent for singing. That's right. And recently we also...we must...
it's like a fifty-fifty.
And we...
I...I not better say fifty-fifty. It's...it's one. Yeah. 'Cause
through the good...good
acting,
you can make...Make the singing better.
Beautiful, yeah. Exactly. And also, you know,
beautiful singing can make better...Sure, sure... emotion in acting. So...Yeah, it will bring out a lot of your emotions and everything.
Exactly. So I...
I'm working on every...every day.
But uh...Do you have an acting teacher?
I do not have, but
uh...
I learned very one
important thing
from someone. I...I forgot his name, so sorry. But, uh... he said
you always try...when you try to act
you always
try showing your acting to the people.
That's wrong.
You just
into it
in your role
and act naturally.
Just express what you feel. In other words, you don't want it
to use that word, act. Yeah, exactly. It's natural. Yeah, yeah.
You bring
the audience to you. Exactly. Exactly, yeah. Yeah.
So there was...I'm sure stage directors deal with that with you. Have you
had...well, you mentioned this one person, but
you've had stage directors who were particularly good at working with you to bring out
such things.
Yeah. You mean the name?
Sure, if you can tell me. Yeah,
so uh...
I have in uh... uh...
in Netherland Opera House
I sing "Carmen". It's uh...
so uh...
uh...
Carson.
Oh, of course. Robert.
Yeah, Robert Carson. Yeah.
He's fantastic really.
And also Devon [inaudible].
Really incredible.
"Carmen". Now that's quite a...Don Jose, that's quite a role to sing.
Yes, yes. You'll be singing that at the Met sometime, right?
Next season. Next season. Next season. Great.
How do you...do you prefer that to "Don Carlos" or they're just different or,
how do you feel about singing Don Jose vocally?
Uh...
of course it's different but um...
there's a lot of physical...uh,
...the movement in "Carmen".
Also, yeah, Don Carlos we do have, but
specially we have fighting and, you know,
lot of...More acting. Passion, yeah, yeah.
So it's...it's...
Hold onto that thought. Unfortunately we have to take a break. But we will come back
right here. We are here in Classic Talk with Bing and Dennis. We're speaking with
Yonghoon Lee today.
Classic Talk with Bing and Dennis.