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
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's, 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 Giovanni, Robert 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 and 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, Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia, Don Giovanni, Erste Soldat Salome, Marullo Rigoletto and Algerino in Luigi Nono’s Intolleranza, Escamillo Carmen and Soloist in Mozart Requiem. Papageno Die Zauberflöte with Korea National Opera
Kyu will play several roles in the 24/25 season, including Figaro Il barbiere di Siviglia, Escamillo Carmen and Germont in La traviata.
PERFORMANCES
Leoncavallo Pagliacci
E FRA QUEST'ANSIE
R. Schumann
DER SOLDAT
Richard Wagner
O DU MEIN HOLDER ABENSTERN
Verdi Falstaff
È SOGNO, O REALTÀ?
Szymanowski Six Songs op. 2 No. 1
DALEKO ZOSTAŁ CAŁY ŚWIAT
Bizet Carmen
TORÉADOR SONG
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
