Bass Baritone Samuel Yoon, German Vocalist Awarded Prestigious Title of 'Kammers?nger'

Active as a Lifetime Singer at Cologne Opera House, Training Future Talents at Seoul National University

Art & Artist announced on the 22nd (local time) that Samuel Yoon received the title of Court Singer at a ceremony following Bizet's opera "Carmen," in which he performed the role of Escamillo at the Cologne Opera House. The photo shows Samuel Yoon posing for a commemorative photo at the award ceremony. Photo by Art & Artist

[Asia Economy Reporter Heeyoon Kim] Bass-baritone Samuel Yoon has been awarded the prestigious title of "Kammers?nger," the highest honor for vocalists in German-speaking countries.

On the 22nd (local time), the agency Art & Artist announced that Samuel Yoon received the Kammers?nger title during a ceremony held after the performance of Bizet's opera "Carmen," in which he appeared as Escamillo at the Cologne Opera House.

The title of Kammers?nger was originally a royal designation given by kings during the monarchy era, officially bestowed upon outstanding vocalists as a mark of mastery. Today, it is awarded by German state governments to honor vocalists who have made remarkable contributions and achievements. It is comparable to the title of Living National Treasure in Korea. Vocalists who receive the Kammers?nger title add the prefix "KS" before their names to signify the honor.

Notably, the ceremony also served as Samuel Yoon's farewell stage to the theater and audience with whom he has shared a long journey.

Samuel Yoon expressed, "I am grateful to the theater that has always believed in and supported me for 23 years, allowing me to grow not only as a vocalist but also as an artist, and I thank the German government for bestowing upon me the honor of Kammers?nger."

Samuel Yoon, who was a lifetime member singer at the Cologne Opera House, was appointed as a professor at Seoul National University College of Music in March this year and is currently active both domestically and internationally while nurturing future talents in Korea.

Samuel Yoon studied vocal music at Seoul National University, Milan's Verdi Conservatory, and the Cologne University of Music, making his debut in 2004 at the Bayreuth Wagner Festival in "Parsifal."

He gained attention as the lead in the opening production of the 2012 Bayreuth Wagner Festival, "The Flying Dutchman." In 2014, he became the first Korean to receive the 3rd Opera Singer Award presented by the city of Cologne, Germany. In 2016, he was honored with the Republic of Korea Culture and Arts Award (Presidential Award) for elevating the status of Korean cultural artists on overseas stages.

He has collaborated with renowned conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Zubin Mehta, and Christian Thielemann, and has performed at world-class venues including London's Covent Garden, Berlin's Deutsche Oper, Paris's Bastille Opera, Cologne Opera House, and Madrid's Royal Theatre, maintaining a vigorous international career.

Meanwhile, Korean vocalists who have previously received the Kammers?nger title include soprano Helen Kwon (Hamburg, 2011), bass Seunghyun Jeon (Stuttgart, 2011), and bass Kwangchul Youn (Berlin, 2018).