Soprano Hong Hei-kyung reflects on 40-year career at Met, upcoming recital

Soprano Hong Hei-kyung / Courtesy of the Seoul Arts Center

Hong Hei-kyung, a renowned soprano who has been performing at New York's Metropolitan Opera for 40 years, is known for her meticulous self-management.

She carefully selects her roles and limits her performances. Ahead of her recital, "Vocal Master Series," at the Opera House of the Seoul Arts Center on July 3, she gave an interview to the Hankook Ilbo, a sister paper of The Korea Times.

This solo recital in her home country is her first in 10 years, following the "30th Anniversary of Met Opera Debut" concert in 2014.

Speaking from her home in New York, Hong reflected on her debut, saying, "I was very saddened when the casting director said that such good opera roles would end in 10 years. From that time, I believed true growth comes from mastering roles suited to my voice and steadily building my career. I've seen many who shone brightly but disappeared from the stage within 3 to 5 years."

Hong Hei-kyung, left, performs in Gluck's opera "Orfeo ed Euridice" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, 2019. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

Performance worthy of master title

Regarding the upcoming performance, she said, "Maintaining a good voice is harder than singing itself. As this stage bears the name 'Master,' I aim to deliver a performance worthy of that title."

Hong moved to the United States at the age of 15 and won the Met Competition in 1982, becoming the first Korean to do so.

She made her Met debut in 1984 as Servilia in Mozart's "La clemenza di Tito." Having performed nearly 400 times at the Met, she last appeared in spring 2022 as the Fifth Maid in Richard Strauss's "Elektra."

"Now, there are no singers who debuted before me in any production I join," she humorously said.

Hong is often referred to by her manager as "Artist No" due to the frequency with which she turns down offers.

"It is most important to be someone who carefully chooses what they want and leads their own life." Despite advice to delay marriage and having children to prolong her career peak as a soprano, she married shortly after her Met debut and had three children.

Hong Hei-kyung on stage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York / Courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera

No return to stressful hustle of the past

Hong prefers opera over her own concerts. "What excites me is using my voice to carry on the drama and transform into another woman. I also enjoy and find it fun to return to my life as a mother once the wig and makeup are off."

Performing on home soil is always a joy for Hong, as it allows her to share her international career with Korean fans.

In this recital, she plans to perform beautiful arias she loves but missed due to her busy schedule, such as "Casta Diva" from Bellini's "Norma" and "Piangete voi?" from Donizetti's "Anna Bolena."

She also included familiar pieces like "Signore, ascolta!" from Puccini's "Turandot" and "Vissi d'arte" from "Tosca."

The 1980s, when Hong began her career, was a time when Asian singers were rare in Western opera productions.

Reflecting on those early years, she said, "I felt the weight of representing not just myself but also as a Korean and Asian on stage. It was tough because I had to manage both my professional and personal life well."

Looking ahead, Hong plans to embrace more "no's" and enjoy a more ordinary life.

"I will choose only the performances I truly want to do and spend more precious time with my grandchildren. I may never go back to the stressful hustle of the past."

Soprano Hong Hei-kyung / Courtesy of the Seoul Arts Center

This Hankook Ilbo article was translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.