Introducing Juyeon Song
Rapidly becoming the Isolde of today, soprano Juyeon Song has garnered recognition for her arresting performances of opera’s most dramatic heroines. Effusive praise and admiration from audiences and critics alike for the intensity of her acting balanced with sheer vocal power establish the foundation of her artistry. Ms. Song creates a rare intimacy and immediate connection with the listener in her performances. Having studied and collaborated with a virtual who’s who of internationally renowned artists, Juyeon’s talent is informed by a rich musical legacy.
Ms. Song appeared as Isolde with the Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra Ostrava in the Czech Republic in August 2019. This followed her appearance in the same role under the baton of renowned Maestro Robert Reimer at the Emanacje Festival at The Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music in Luslawice Poland. Oliver Macdonald of The Vienna Opera Blog wrote about her performance, “Ms. Song sings with great emotional sensitivity and sincerity throughout.”
Hailed as one of the top ten best performances of 2018 in the San Francisco Bay area, Ms. Song’s appearance in the role of Isolde won acclaim for her “unflagging energy throughout the incredibly demanding vocal marathon,” by Joshua Kosman in The San Francisco Classical Voice. The Isolde Project, a concert performance produced by the Claude Heater Foundation under the baton of acclaimed conductor Jonathan Khuner, drew admiration from The San Francisco Chronicle: “Song’s Isolde was marked by capacious vocal power and expressive intimacy.”
In the role of Abigaille, in a production of Verdi’s Nabucco presented by San Francisco’s Claude Heater Foundation in October, 2019, Janos Gereben in The Classical Voice, described Ms. Song’s performance as possessing “high intensity in acting and great vocal power. This balance also figured prominently in the singing: beyond Song's power and high notes in portraying the evil Abigaille (an anti-hero presaging Lady Macbeth), her most remarkable performance came with her quiet, sorrowful final aria, Su me ... morente ... esanime.”
Noted critic Susan Steinberg called her “the most visually believable Aida in memory” who created “an emotional vocal performance that connected viscerally with the audience.” Ms. Song generated record-breaking ticket sales when she performed this role with Berkeley Opera (California) in 2007. Director Yuval Sharon stated in Korean Weekly, “This performance should signal the birth of the next great star”.
In her role as Madame Butterfly for Opera Southwest (New Mexico), The Albuquerque Journal noted Ms. Song’s performance in the title role as a “sympathetic portrayal full of dramatic gesture … emotive and expressive.”
Ms. Song developed her dramatic voice with international heldentenor, Claude Heater in San Francisco. She established her operatic roles and repertory with international luminaries including Daniel Sarge (Vienna State Opera), Wolf Michael Storz (Bayerische Staats Oper), Christoph U. Meier (Bayreuth Festival), Peter Grunberg (San Francisco Opera), Jonathan Khuner (West Edge Opera, Metropolitan Opera), Thomas Bagwell (Royal Danish Opera) and Louise Costigan Kerns (San Francisco Conservatory of Music). Song has sung title roles at Golden Gate Opera, Opera South West, Berkeley Opera, Ruse Opera and Philharmonic Society (Bulgaria). She has appeared with the Belgrade National Opera (Serbia), Ruse Opera and Philharmonic Society (Bulgaria) New Year's Gala, Emanacje Festival at The Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music (Poland) with Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), Opera Classica Europa (Germany), the Bohuslav Martinu Philharmonic Orchestra (Czech Republic), and at the Umbra Music Festival (Italy). And, she was the featured soloist in Stabat Mater by Cardinal Domenico Bartolucci broadcast on Vatican TV and RAI, Italy.
Her first Album " Heldin Arias of Wagner & Strauss " by Affertto recording distributed by Naxos Recording is released in July 17, 2020. This recording is submitted to Grammy Award Nomination 2020.
Also Ms. Songs entire performance of Isolde from Tristan und Isolde with Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of international conductor, Robert Reimer was recorded and will be released by PARMA Recordings in November 2020, distributed through Naxos, which is also being submitted as consideration for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards.
Biography
Beside her Heldin Arias of Wagner & Strauss Album,
Ms. Song's entire performance of Isolde from Tristan und Isolde is also submitted for Grammy Award 2021. Live Performance of this recording with Janacek Philharmonic Orchestra at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Music Centre, Poland,will be released by PARMA Recordings in November 2020, distributed through Naxos, which is also being submitted as consideration for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards.