Jo was born Jo Su-gyeong [tɕosʰuɡjʌŋ] in Changwon, South Korea. Her mother was an amateur singer and pianist who had been unable to pursue her own professional music studies because of politics in Korea during the 1950s. Determined to provide her daughter with opportunities she never had, Jo's mother enrolled her in piano lessons at the age of 4 and later voice lessons at the age of 6. Although Jo's family lived in a rented property, her parents bought a piano for her to play.[4] Her mother raised and trained Jo strictly. Jo recalled even when her mother went out, she locked the door outside so that Jo could not play truant.[5] As a child, Jo would often spend up to eight hours a day studying music.[6]
In 1976, Jo entered the Sun Hwa Arts School from which she graduated in 1980, receiving dual diplomas in voice and piano.[7] She entered the department of vocal music at the Seoul National University (SNU) with the best practical score since the department had opened.[8] There she continued her music studies from 1981 to 1983. While studying at SNU, Jo made her professional recital debut, appeared in several concerts with the Korean Broadcasting System, and made her professional operatic debut as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro with Seoul Opera.[2]
In 1983, Jo left SNU in order to study at the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia in Rome. Among her teachers were Carlo Bergonzi and Giannella Borelli. While Jo studied in Italy, she was frequently heard in concert in Italian cities and on national radio broadcasts and telecasts. It was during this time when Jo began to use "Sumi" as her stage name in order to make her name more friendly to European language speakers who often found it difficult to pronounce Su-gyeong. She graduated in 1985 with majors in keyboard and voice.[citation needed]
Following graduation, Jo began to study with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf[6] and won several international competitions in Seoul, Naples, Enna, Barcelona, and Pretoria. In August 1986, she was unanimously awarded first prize in the Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Competition in Verona, one of the world's most important contests, open only to first-prize winners of other major competitions.[9]
In 1989, Jo made her debut with the Vienna State Opera and returned to the Salzburg Festival to sing Oscar in Verdi's Un ballo in maschera. That same year, she made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera, once again portraying Gilda in Rigoletto. Jo would later reprise this role numerous times with the Met over the next fifteen years.[13]
In 1990, Jo made her debut with the Chicago Lyric Opera as the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute.[14] The following year, she returned to the Metropolitan Opera for another performance as Oscar in Un ballo in maschera and made her Royal Opera, Covent Garden, debut as Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann.[13] She returned to Covent Garden the next year to sing Adina in L'elisir d'amore and Elvira in I puritani.
In 1993, Jo appeared in the title role of Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor with the Metropolitan Opera and sang the role of the Queen of the Night at the Salzburg Festival and Covent Garden.[13] The following year she made her debut with Los Angeles Opera as Sophie in Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier.[10] In 1995 she sang the role of Countess Adèle in Le comte Ory at the Aix-en-Provence Festival.
In 2021, Jo was appointed as the visiting distinguished professor at KAIST's Graduate School of Culture Technology.[19] In October 2023, she was awarded the first-class Geumgwan Order of Cultural Merit for her contributions to the promotion of Korean culture.[20]
On the red carpet prior to the ceremonies, Jo and Lang voiced their disappointment with the producers' decision to exclude the song, indirectly referencing the controversy related to that year's Academy Awards and its lack of racial diversity.[21]
Personal life
Jo is the cousin aunt of South Korean actor Yoo Gun, his father's cousin sister.[22]
Just before she performed Ave Maria at Chatelet, Paris, in 2006, Jo's father, Eonho Jo, died. When she learned that her father had died, she wanted to cancel the performance and return to South Korea for the funeral. Her mother reminded Jo of her promise to her audiences, and said that it was better if she went on with the show in honor of her father. Her performance was dedicated to her father and released as a DVD titled Sumi Jo in Paris – For my Father.[23]
Jo's mother, Malsoon Kim died in 2021 after suffering from Alzheimer's for 10 years in hospital. She was unable to attend to her mother's funeral in South Korea due to COVID-19 quarantine, while she was in Italy.[25]
Legacy
Aria of Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, written by Richard Strauss in 1912, is a difficult piece over 20 minutes in length with numerous high notes. Therefore, Strauss modified part of the sheet music because he thought it was impossible to sing. In 1994, however, Jo became the world's first artist to record the unedited original version of the song.[26] She recorded the song with a Japanese-American conductor, Kent Nagano, in Lyon, France.[27] Jo said it was the hardest record to sing ever. In 1993, she became the first Asian soprano to win La Siola d'Oro. In addition, Jo won six international competitions for the first time as an Asian soprano, and was recorded as the first Asian prima donna who starred in the world's opera theaters.[28]
"Her voice is the best gift God has given," said Herbert von Karajan, who is considered as one of the greatest conductors of the 20th century, and praised her as "a voice from above".[29] Karajan also admired, "I am surprised that you have learned in Korea, are there such excellent teachers in Korea? Korea is a great nation".[30] The New York Metropolitan Theater Opera News praised "her song has already risen above the criticism". Le Monde of France praised her vocals by saying that "Even fairies listen to her songs".[31]
Recordings
Jo has released over 40 albums since her European operatic debut in 1986.[32] This list is adapted from Jo's Melon profile, her official website, and other sources as noted.[33][34]
Albums as principal artist
Carnaval! French Coloratura Arias (Decca Records, January 1994)
^조수미 세계 3대 소프라노 자격, 베이징올림픽 특별무대 오른다 [Sumi Jo, qualified as one of the top 3 sopranos in the world, will perform on a special stage at the Beijing Olympics]. The Dong-a Ilbo (in Korean). August 4, 2008.
^Lee, So-yeon (October 28, 2023). 조수미 금관문화훈장… 임윤찬 젊은예술가賞 [Jo Su-mi, Golden Crown Cultural Medal... Lim Yoon-chan, Young Artist Award]. The Dong-A Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
^유건, “소프라노 조수미가 내 5촌 고모” [Yoo Gun, "Soprano Jo Su-mi is my 5th cousin aunt"] (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^조수미, 아버지 장례식날 독창회 무대 올라 “어머니 서운했다” [Sumi Jo, on the stage of the solo recital on the day of her father's funeral, "I felt sorry for my mother" -Newsen]. Newsen. Archived from the original on June 10, 2015. Retrieved March 2, 2012.
^'무릎팍' 소프라노 조수미, "잔인하다. 슬픔 이기고 노래한다는 건…" ['Kneepak' soprano Sumi Jo, "It's cruel. Singing after overcoming sadness..."]. My Daily (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^신이 내린 목소리 ‘조수미’& ‘AAM’ 이 온다. ‘폭풍이 몰아치고’, 가슴이 뛴다 [The voices of God, 'Sumi Jo' & 'AAM' are coming. ‘A storm is coming’, my heart races]. Segyo Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Soo-hyeok. 소프라노 조수미,의정부예술의전당서 '봄의 왈츠'공연 [Soprano Sumi Jo performs 'Spring Waltz' at Uijeongbu Arts Center] (in Korean). Retrieved January 28, 2023 – via Naver.
^Cumulative sales of Only Love (including special editions):
"2000년 POP 순위집계" [2000 Pop Ranking]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
"2001년 - POP 음반 판매량" [2001 Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 16, 2007. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
"2002년 - POP 음반 판매량" [2002 Pop Album Sales]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on March 22, 2005. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
"2003년 - POP 음반 판매량 (상반기)" [2003 Pop Album Sales (First Half of Year)]. Music Industry Association of Korea (in Korean). Archived from the original on April 16, 2006. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
^""소녀 조수미 감성으로 추억 담아…"" ["I captured memories with the emotions of a young Sumi Jo..."]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). March 23, 2010. Retrieved March 28, 2024 – via Naver.
^"조수미 "새 앨범은 내 자유로운 음악 여정의 기록"" [Sumi Jo: "The new album is a record of my free musical journey"]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). August 31, 2011. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미, 내달 새음반 발매기념 '라 루체' 공연" [Sumi Jo to perform ‘La Luce’ to celebrate the release of her new album next month]. Yonhap News (in Korean). October 22, 2012. Retrieved March 28, 2024 – via Naver News.
^"소프라노 커리어의 정점에서 부르다…조수미의 첫 바흐 아리아 앨범 'Only Bach'" [Singing at the peak of a soprano's career...Sumi Jo's first Bach aria album "Only Bach"]. Herald Business (in Korean). April 15, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미 첫 가요 앨범 '그.리.다.' 오늘 발매" [Sumi Jo's first pop album 'Longing' out today]. Herald Business (in Korean). August 27, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미×이 무지치 새앨범 'LUX3570' 발매" [Sumi Jo and I Musici release new album 'LUX3570']. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). December 10, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"신보 '사랑할 때' 낸 조수미 "첫사랑의 애틋함 전해드리고파"" [Sumi Jo releases album "In Love", says "I want to convey the feelings of first love"]. Yonhap News (in Korean). December 6, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"평창의 꿈 (Remaster) – 2018 평창동계올림픽유치 공식 주제가 - 조수미" [Dreams of Pyeonchang (Remaster) – Official theme of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics – Sumi Jo]. Melon (in Korean). Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미·윤도현, DMC문화축제 주제곡 부른다" [Sumi Jo and YB to sing theme song for DMC Culture Festival]. OSEN (in Korean). July 15, 2015. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미 신곡 'I'm a Korean', 3.1운동 100주년 기념 전야제서 '최초 공개'" [Sumi Jo's new song "I'm a Korean" to be released on eve of 100th anniversary of March 1st Movement]. Star Today (in Korean). February 20, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미 씨, 신곡 'Life Is a Miracle' 수익 이화의료원에 기부" [Sumi Jo donates profits from new song "Life Is a Miracle" to Ewha Medical Center]. Munhwa Ilbo (in Korean). July 23, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"조수미·비 '수호신' 클래식 음원차트 장악" ["Guardians" by Sumi Jo and Rain dominates classical music charts]. Kyunghyang Shinmun (in Korean). February 18, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^"소프라노 조수미, '2030부산세계박람회' 홍보대사 위촉" [Soprano Sumi Jo appointed as public relations ambassador for Busan World Expo 2030]. Newsis (in Korean). December 27, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
^Han, Hye-jung (July 12, 2022). "조수미·임재범·유희열·비…넷플릭스, 美친 라인업 '음악쇼' 제작" [Jo Su-mi, Lim Jae-beom, Yoo Hee-yeol, Rain… Netflix to produce 'Music Show', a beautiful lineup] (in Korean). Maeil, Star Today. Retrieved July 12, 2022 – via Naver.
^Ahn, Tae-hyun (September 15, 2022). "조수미부터 임재범까지…넷플릭스 '테이크 원', 10월14일 공개 확정" [From Jo Sumi to Im Jae-beom... Netflix's 'Take One' to be released on October 14] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved September 15, 2022 – via Naver.
^"<방송가>KBS 해외동포상 선정" [<Broadcasting> KBS Overseas Compatriot Awards selected]. Busan Ilbo (in Korean). December 4, 1996. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^"[단신] 제1회 '한중 청년학술상' 수상자 확정" [[Brief] Winners of the 1st ‘Korea-China Youth Academic Award’ confirmed]. The Korea Economic Daily (in Korean). December 24, 1996. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
^"조수미, 이탈리아 '티베리니 금상' 수상" [Sumi Jo receives Italy's 'Tiberini d'oro" award]. Yonhap News (in Korean). October 27, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
^Jang Ah-reum (December 16, 2021). "오징어게임' 황동혁 감독, 조수미·김제덕과 '한국 이미지상' 수상" ['Squid Game' Director Hwang Dong-hyuk wins 'Korea Image Award' with Jo Su-mi and Kim Je-deok] (in Korean). News1. Retrieved December 16, 2021 – via Naver.