Ken Benson Artist

Siman Chung

Siman Chung, Countertenor

Siman Chung, countertenor, from Busan, South Korea, spent much of the first half of 2024 at the Metropolitan Opera, where he made his official debut in the very successful Met Premiere of John Adams' EL NINO. In addition, he covered the title role of ORFEO.

Mr. Chung has previously covered leading roles in several operas at the Met, including in RODELINDA, AGRIPPINA and AKHNATEN.

In the 2022-23 season, he joined the San Francisco Opera for the first time, and then returned to San Francisco for concerts with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale, at the Herbst Theater and the Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University. In the summer of 2022, he sang the role of Siebel in FAUST at The Seoul Arts Center in Korea.

He then sang in the three Countertenors concert with L'Orchestre de L'Opera Royal at Chateau de Versailles

He also returned to one of his signature roles, the title role of ORPHEE in his debut with Edmonton Opera. In the spring of 2018, he made his role and company debut with Opera Columbus in the Berlioz version of Gluck's ORPHEE. This same production then travelled to Toronto and the Banff Festival. In all three venues, he had great personal success.

In 2018-19, Mr. Chung created a leading role in the new opera BEAUTY AND SADNESS, which had its World Premiere in Hong Kong. He returned to Korea National Opera in Vivaldi's ORLANDO FINTO PAZZO.

He made his NY solo recital debut, presented by The Opera Index Foundation, after winning one of the organization's prestigious awards. That same year, he also received a Grant from The Sullivan Foundation and First Prize at the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition. In addition, he won the "Best Countertenor Prize" at the Francisco Vinas singing Competition in Barcelona..

Siman Chung made his debut at Carnegie Hall singing Handel's MESSIAH. He attended Mannes School of Music in NY,where he sang the leading role of The Refugee in Jonathan Dove's opera FLIGHT, with Mannes Opera.

Opera Repertoire

Composer	Opera	Role
Britten	Midsummer Night's Dream	Oberon
Dove	Flight	Refugee
Gluck	Orfeo ed Euridice	Orfeo
Gluck (Berlioz version)	Orphée et Eurydice	Orphée
Händel	Giulio Cesare	Sesto
Händel	Rinaldo	Rinaldo
Händel	Rodelinda	Bertarido
Mozart	Mitridate, Re di Ponto	Farnace
Rossini	Tancredi	Tancredi
Johann Strauss	Die Fledermaus	Orlofsky

Concert Repertoire

Composer	Composition	Role
Bach	St. Matthew Passion	Alto Soloist
Händel	Messiah	Alto Soloist

Press Acclaim

Chung’s acrobatic counter-tenor was ideal, even though this role is most often voiced as tenor in this remounted Paris version (albeit with the overture cut). Chung has a ringing high F, florid ornamentation the likes of which we don’t hear nearly so well sung in North America, and he comes equipped with outlandish lung power and breathing ability.

In title role of ORPHEE, Banff Festival, 2018

Stephan Bonfield, Calgary Herald

The cast could hardly have been bettered. As Orphée, countertenor Siman Chung sizzled with firepower, star power, and every other kind of power. Mr. Chung has a haunting color to his meaty tone, with a thrilling brilliance to his upper range. While he lavished the famous laments with limpid, affecting tone, he also deployed his well-schooled instrument to fine effect as he ripped through spot-on passages of manic coloratura.

In title role of ORPHEE, Banff Festival, 2018

James Sohre, Opera Today

Chung has everything a countertenor brings to a role, the warmth and odd otherworldliness of the unnaturally high tessitura for a male singer, and the power to project passion with volume to spare. His performance was compelling both vocally and theatrically.

In title role of ORPHEE, Banff Festival, 2018

Bill Rankin, Classical Voice North America

As the Refugee, Siman Chung offered a creamy countertenor and a subtle characterization of an indefinably traumatized and disenfranchised man. His desperate yearning to belong was present in his watchful gaze and hopeful body language even when he silently observed the others.

OPERA NEWS-JOANNE SYDNEY LESSNER

South Korean counter-tenor Siman Chung brought a voice of power and emotion to the role of Grifone suggesting readiness for even larger counter-tenor assignments internationally.