Summi Jo Celebrates 40th Debut Anniversary: “My Career is Still in the Present Tense!”

Summi Jo has been a legendary figure in the global classical music scene for 40 years since her 1986 debut as Gilda in the opera “Rigoletto” at Italy’s Verdi Theatre. She has graced the world’s most prestigious stages, including La Scala in Italy, the Vienna State Opera, the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Carnegie Hall, and the Salzburg Festival, earning her reputation as a world-class coloratura soprano. Her impressive resume includes a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording, the Commandeur of the French Order of Arts and Letters, and the Samsung Hoam Prize in Arts.

The legendary soprano is still charging ahead toward new stages! At a press conference held on May 6 at the Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas to celebrate her 40th debut anniversary, she looked back on her journey and shared her vision for the next chapter of her musical life. This new project is titled “CONTINUUM,” signifying that her journey is far from over.

During the event, Summi Jo spoke more about “time” than her glittering achievements. She recalled the moments she endured language and cultural barriers in Italy, the devoted love and faith of her parents, and the long years she spent clinging to her passion for music.

“If I could talk to myself from 40 years ago, I’d want to say two things. First, ‘Thank you,’ and second, ‘Well done, Summi Jo. You made it. I’m so proud of you.’ It wasn’t an easy path, but I believe my faith in music brought me here.”

We met the diva at her 40th-anniversary press conference to hear about her life as a global prima donna, her unstoppable present, and the new music awaiting her tomorrow.

Q: The title of this 40th-anniversary project is “CONTINUUM.” What does it mean?

“‘CONTINUUM’ means that things continue. I believe human life and art don’t have a strict start and end point. I feel my 40-year career is still ongoing. This album isn’t just a retrospective; it started from my thoughts on what kind of music I can create in the future.”

This album was produced in collaboration with “SM Classics” (the classical and jazz label under SM Entertainment).

“Classical music is a very refined and strict genre, but I didn’t want to stay confined to that. I wanted to introduce classical music to more people, and the global content power and connectivity of SM were crucial. I’ve always loved a life of courage and challenge. I believed that masters from different fields could meet to create something entirely new.”

The album also features a duet with EXO’s Suho.

“I truly love and am proud of K-pop. I chose Suho not just for his popularity, but because his voice is comforting, and he possesses the responsibility and stability of a leader. He challenged himself with lower notes for this song, and watching the recording via video, I could tell he practiced incredibly hard. I was very moved, and it resulted in a wonderful track.”

Q: Who has been the biggest mentor in your musical life?

“My parents. My mother wanted to achieve her own unfulfilled dream of becoming a vocalist through me. She had a strong passion and stubbornness about raising me as a prima donna. As a child, she had me play the piano for eight hours a day, and English cassettes played in the morning while French ones played in the evening. At the time, I was often angry, wondering why I had to go this far, but I later realized that to become a global figure, one needs time to endure solitude.”

There was also an impressive anecdote about her father.

“When I was in my third year of high school, my father visited the Royal Opera House in England without an appointment. He asked them directly, ‘What does my daughter need to do to stand on this stage?’ In the end, I stood on that stage before I turned thirty. I wouldn’t have made it this far without my parents’ faith and love.”

Her past comment, “I wanted to be a lover of all rather than the wife of one man,” also became a hot topic.

“Watching my mother, I naturally came to think that way. Rather than a life loved by only one person, I wanted to be someone loved by many and someone who could provide comfort through music.”

Q: Are there any moments from your 40-year musical journey that stand out the most?

“I remember a moment at a competition where I was the ‘second place without a first place.’ After that experience, I learned that music honest to oneself is more important than music meant to show off to others. I was also once kicked out of a Salzburg Masterclass because my understanding of German poetry and philosophy was lacking, which led me to study language and culture intensely. The joint performance with North and South Korean vocalists also remains memorable. Seeing how they couldn’t even freely choose an encore song made me realize once again that freedom is the most important thing for a human and an artist.”

She is also actively working to nurture the next generation.

“I believe it’s now time for me to share what I’ve received. It shouldn’t end with just discovering vocalists who sing well. It’s important to create actual opportunities and stages for them to perform. I want to foster artists who have their own worldview and pride in their own country.”

The 2nd Summi Jo International Vocal Competition is also coming up.

“It will be held this July at a castle in the Loire region of France. This year, over 500 people from 55 countries applied. The level of talent is so high that I’m actually a bit worried. The thought of standing on stage with the winners is even more exciting than my own 40th-anniversary performance.”

Q: What are your future goals?

“First, to continue studying and live as a vocalist who creates deeper music. Second, to nurture juniors. Third, to bring classical music closer to more people. Many feel classical music is difficult or expensive, but I want to create performances where families, friends, and couples can come without burden and feel happiness.”

Although Summi Jo has already left behind countless records and accolades as a global vocalist, she is still talking about new challenges. At 64 years old, an age where many would say they’ve achieved everything, she is preparing for her next stage. “I’ve worked really hard for 40 years and achieved a lot. That’s why I think it’s now important to share and give back to more people. I don’t want to stay on a familiar path; I want to keep moving toward new music.” For Summi Jo, her 40th anniversary isn’t just a number to commemorate the past, but seems like another ‘present tense’ of a musical life that continues even now.