Soprano Sumi Jo will be awarded the Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture.
According to the Korean Cultural Center in France on May 21 (local time), Sumi Jo is scheduled to receive the decoration from Fleur Pellerin, former French Minister of Culture of Korean descent, at the Op?ra Comique in Paris on May 26.
Established in 1957 by the French Ministry of Culture, the Order of Arts and Letters is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional creative activity in the fields of art and literature or have contributed to enhancing the international stature of French culture.
The order is divided into three ranks: Chevalier, Officier, and Commandeur. Sumi Jo will receive the highest rank, Commandeur.
Since her debut in 1986 as Gilda in the opera "Rigoletto" at the Teatro Verdi in Trieste, Italy, Sumi Jo has gained worldwide recognition and has been praised as "the voice sent from God." She has enjoyed high recognition in Europe and has captivated audiences on major stages in France, including the Th??tre du Ch?telet and the Th??tre des Champs-?lys?es in Paris.
Last year, she hosted the inaugural Sumi Jo International Vocal Competition at Ch?teau de La Fert?-Imbault in the Loire region, marking the first overseas international competition to bear the name of a Korean musician.
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