Hyejin, hello. Nice to meet you.

Hyejin, firstly, our regular question. Please, can you give some advice for our readers: choose a more suitable Opera for first-time attendance, the best Opera for a romantic date, and the best choice for a family visit?

Hello. I’m very happy to connect with all of you. For a first-time opera experience, especially in this winter season, I would always recommend Puccini’s La Bohème. It is always moving and beautifully romantic, no matter when you see it.

Is there any ritual for the day before the performance? What is important for preparation?

I don’t have any special things the day before a performance. I actually try to keep the day as normal as possible. I prepare the clothes and items which I’ll need for the performance, and I try to go to bed a bit earlier. When I start thinking of a performance as something “extraordinary,” I tend to get more nervous, so keeping it close to my daily life helps me stay grounded.

Will there be operas written in the 21st century that will be performed in the 22nd century? What do you think about it?

I believe that works truly chosen and loved by audiences will continue to be performed. We already have many wonderful classics, but I’m sure audiences will always seek new experiences. Because of that, I believe great works from the 21st century will certainly remain and continue to be performed in the 22nd century.

Let’s imagine a concert at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. Which aria would you choose to perform first?

This question is especially interesting because just a few days ago I performed at the Sejong Center’s year-end concert really near Gwanghwamun Square:) If I will do the concert in the Square, an outdoor performance, I would love to open with something lively, like Juliette’s first aria or a Rossini piece. Glitter and Be Gay from Bernstein’s Candide, which I performed at the recent concert, would also be a wonderful choice.

Hyejin, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart!