Metropolitan Opera to hold audition in Seoul

The Metropolitan Opera House in New York

By Do Je-hae

The Metropolitan Opera will audition singers in Seoul for the first time next month as part of the NYIOP (New York International Opera) Auditions.

The NYIOP Auditions were first held in New York City in 2002 and, since then, have generated hundreds of contracts and helped singers make contact with international opera houses and agencies. Auditions have taken place in more than 25 major cities worldwide.

Known as a venue for the world’s greatest voices, the Met has been under the musical direction of James Levine since 1976.

The best-known Korean singer at the Met is soprano Hong Hei-kyung, who debuted there in 1984 and has sung every season since then.

“We have heard Korean singers in auditions around the world in the past 20 years. They are a rising force in the classical music community,” said Lenore Rosenberg, associate artistic administrator of the Met in a press release.

The Los Angeles Opera will also take part in the auditions, seeking singers for both their main stage and their Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program, directed by Placido Domingo. There will also be representatives from the Maggio Musical Fiorentino in Firenze, Italy, and one of the most prestigious young artist festivals in Europe, the Festival della Valle D’Itria in Martina Franca, Italy. Other theaters present will be the Palm Beach Opera from Florida and the Australian Opera from Sydney.

“We are excited to begin entry into a new market where there is such a history and high-level of preparation as the Korean classical singer market,” said David Blackburn, founder of the NYIOP Auditions.

The auditions will be held from June 9-13 at the Practice Hall at Blue Square in Hannam, Seoul. There is a fee of $450 to participate in the auditions and candidates are required to register online at https://nyiop.appointy.com.

The auditions will select up to three NYIOP Ambassadors, who will receive professional consulting and audition opportunities.

The announcement of the NYIOP Ambassadors will take place at a reception on June 13.