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KYU CHOI

BARITONE

'Choi’s seductive baritone and attractive stage presence are cultivated and confident'

-  C l a s s i c a l   S o u r c e

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BIOGRAPHY

South Korean baritone, Kyu Choi, is a permanent member of the ensemble in Theater Basel

He graduated from the National University of Arts in Korea before taking up a place at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied for his master, supported by the San Martino Scholarship in 2016.  He successfully completed his training for the Advanced Diploma at the Royal Academy Opera, studying with Mark Wildman and Ingrid Surgenor, and is grateful for the support received from Independent Opera, the Charles Mackerras Opera Scholarship, the Stokes Bursary, the Henry Wood Award and the Josephine Baker Trust.

He has made numerous solo appearances, notably at the Wigmore Hall and the Seoul Art Centre Recital Hall.  In opera, he has performed several principal roles including the title role in Don GiovanniRobert in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta, Le Podestat in Bizet’s Le docteur Miracle with the RAO, as well as Dr Falke in Die Fledermaus in Berlin.

Mr Choi has won numerous awards: recent competition successes include 1st Prize wins at the N. Obukhova International Singing Competition in Russia (2018), the Pavarotti Prize (2019) and the Joaninha award (2019), 2nd Prize at the Clonter Opera Prize (2019), and the opera prize at the Mozart Singing Competition (2017). He was also a finalist in the Wilhelm Stenhammer International Music Competition in Sweden (2018).

During the 2019/20 season, he was a member of the National Opera Studio, going on to be part of the OperAvenir ensemble at the Theater Basel in the following year.  His many roles in Basel have included Bruder Rufin Saint François d’Assise, Sprecher Die Zauberflöte, Malatesta Don Pasquale, Marco Gianni Schicchi, Baritone Solo Carmina Burana, Baron Douphol, La traviata Doctor, Die Nase and Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia.

Kyu will sing several roles in the 22/23 season, including a title role in Don Giovanni,  Erste Soldat Salome, Marullo Rigoletto and Algerino in Luigi Nono’s Intolleranza.

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PERFORMANCES

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Bizet Carmen

TORÉADOR SONG

R. Schumann

DER SOLDAT

R. Schumann

DER SPIELMANN

Falstaff by G. Verdi

È SOGNO, O REALTÀ?

Karol Szymanowski ze zbioru Sześć pieśni op. 2 nr 1 (Six Songs op. 2 No. 1)

DALEKO ZOSTAŁ CAŁY ŚWIAT

Bizet Carmen

TORÉADOR SONG

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REVIEWS

RES MUSICA

Il barbiere di Siviglia

Kyu Choi est un parfait Figaro

Kyu Choi is a perfect Figaro

12.05.2022, Basel

Jean-Luc Clairet

DAS OPERNMAGAZIN

Il barbiere di Siviglia

Einen ganz starken Auftritt als Figaro hatte der südkoreanische Bariton Kyu Choi. Bereits mit seiner Auftrittsarie konnte er das Publikum für sich gewinnen. Ein besonders klarer Bariton, welcher die Hürden dieser anspruchsvollen Rolle aufs beste meisterte

The South Korean baritone Kyu Choi had a very strong performance as Figaro. Already with his entrance aria he was able to win over the audience. A particularly clear baritone who mastered the hurdles of this demanding role in the best possible way

25.05.2022, Basel

Marco Stücklin 

BERLINER MORGENPOST

Die Fledermaus

Kyu Choi überzeugte mit seinem raumfüllenden Bariton und seiner gelungenen Darstellung des Dr. Falke


Kyu Choi was convincing with his room-filling baritone and successful performance as Dr Falke

29.07.2018, Berlin

Mario-Felix Vogt

BERLINER MORGENPOST

Opera Gala Concert

Herausragend gerät der Auftritt des koreanischen Baritons Kyu Choi, der stimmgewaltig und expressiv eine Arie aus Verdis „Falstaff“ vorträgt


There was an outstanding performance by the Korean baritone Kyu Choi, who performed an aria from Verdi’s “Falstaff” powerfully and expressively. His stage presence was every bit as impressive as his clear articulation


16.07.2018, Berlin

Mario-Felix Vogt

CLASSICAL SOURCE

Iolanta

Choi’s seductive baritone and attractive stage presence are cultivated and confident


18.03.2019, London

Peter Reed

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