Sumi Jo's New Album After 3 Years on the Theme of 'Love': "You Won't Hear Opera Singing" (Comprehensive)

Press Conference for New Album 'Saranghal Ddae' Release
First New Song in 3 Years Since 'Mother'
"You Will Hardly Hear Any Classical Vocalization" Confidence

Soprano Jo Sumi. [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Soprano Jo Sumi (60) is releasing a new album after three years to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Korean art songs. She calmly sings about the 'time of loving' that one feels and experiences throughout life, expressed in our language and emotions.

At a press conference for the new album held on the morning of the 6th at the Koreana Hotel on Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, Jo Sumi said, "I promised that the album would be released on the first snowy day around May or July, and today it snowed heavily," adding, "It feels like a miracle."

On this day, Jo Sumi released her new album When Loving, her first in three years since 2019's Mother. With the message of 'time of loving,' the album contains 11 songs in our language and emotions. It features a variety of genres from Korean art songs to popular songs and crossover. The Prime Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Choi Young-sun participated, along with bass baritone Gil Byeong-min, violinist Danny Gu, cellist Hong Jin-ho, haegeum player Haegeumnari, and jazz pianist Song Young-joo.

Jo Sumi expressed her affection, saying, "There has never been an album prepared with as much sincerity, love, and care as this one." She added, "There is a time for everything in life, and I feel that now is the time to love." She emphasized, "'Saranghanda' (I love you) is a beautiful Korean word. It is a word that can express all kinds of emotions well. I hope our songs will have opportunities to be sung along like K-pop."

While introducing the new songs, Jo Sumi recalled her first love. She said, "During the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone must have felt loneliness and realized how precious moments with loved ones are. I wanted to make this album before my first love was forgotten."

"Back in college, when there were no cell phones or internet, it was hard to keep in touch. I promised to meet my first love friend in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace. I usually didn’t study much, but that day I went to the library. After staying there all day, I went out because I was hungry and saw that it was snowing heavily. I ran straight to Gyeongbokgung Palace, but no one was there. It turned out he was waiting in front of my house. I still can’t forget the excitement and intensity of first love even at this age."

Jo Sumi said, "I want to share how thrilling, important, and beautiful love is." She explained, "Ultimately, when we leave this world, the face of the person I loved will come to mind, and I put that personal urgency into this album."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

She also showed exceptional confidence. Jo Sumi appealed, "You will hardly hear operatic vocalization." She said, "I re-recorded songs I wasn’t satisfied with. I reselected artists and was extremely ambitious. There were difficulties in the process, but after listening to the album multiple times, I am satisfied. It is so beautiful that you need to listen about three times to be fully content."

Especially focusing on the arrangements, Jo Sumi said, "I tried to add different colors to each song, from full orchestration accompaniment to traditional Korean music and jazz."

Jo Sumi will hold the Jo Sumi - Thomas Hampson Duo Concert Artsongs with baritone Thomas Hampson at Lotte Concert Hall on the 22nd. Artists who participated in the album production, including cellist Hong Jin-ho, violinist Danny Gu, bass baritone Gil Byeong-min, haegeum player Haegeumnari, and the Prime Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Choi Young-sun, will perform on the same stage. On the 23rd, a concert of the same name featuring the new album’s music will be held at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. All proceeds from the performances will be donated to socially vulnerable groups.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.