Baritones and Basses Unite: Showcasing the Charm of Low-Voiced Singers

Kwangchul Youn, Samuel Youn, and Kim Kihun
Join Forces for a Rare Bass and Baritone Concert
Highlighting the Beauty of Low-Voiced Singers
Three World-Class Vocalists to Perform Together After Years of Preparation

"I believe this will be a great opportunity to show just how many beautiful songs can be performed by low-voiced singers."

Bass-baritone Samuel Youn made this statement during a press conference held at Museum Hanmi Samcheong in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on August 4.

Among male vocalists, who are typically classified as tenors, baritones, and basses, tenors?who sing the highest notes?tend to receive the most attention. In fact, the leading roles in numerous opera works are almost exclusively dominated by tenors.

Determined to showcase the appeal of low-voiced singers rather than tenors, bass Kwangchul Youn, bass-baritone Samuel Youn, and baritone Kim Kihun have joined forces. The three will perform together under the title 'Sing Low & Soft' at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on August 23 and at the Cheongju Arts Center on August 24.

This is a rare stage featuring only basses and baritones, without any tenors.

Kwangchul Youn commented, "In Korea, there are many performances by tenors or sopranos," and added, "It's unfortunate that a concert like this is happening so late." He further said, "I believe this new attempt will have a positive impact on our music scene."

Samuel Youn remarked, "I always want to present performances that are new and challenging, and I think this concert will be one of them." He continued, "I want to continue taking on challenges so that talented younger vocalists can have new opportunities on stage."

The three are among Korea's leading vocalists, actively performing on the world stage.

Kwangchul Youn and Samuel Youn have long been active in Europe and were each awarded the title of 'Kammersaenger' (Court Singer), the highest honor for vocalists in German-speaking countries, in 2018 and 2022, respectively. This title signifies their recognition as top vocalists in the German-speaking world. Kim Kihun, who is more than 20 years younger than the other two, is gaining attention as a next-generation vocalist. He was the runner-up at the 2019 Tchaikovsky Competition and, in 2021, became the first Korean to win the 'BBC Cardiff Singer of the World' competition hosted by the British public broadcaster BBC, earning widespread recognition for his talent.

Kwangchul Youn and Samuel Youn have both been regular performers at the Bayreuth Festival, one of Europe's leading opera festivals in Germany, often meeting there almost every summer. Samuel Youn and Kim Kihun performed together in Wagner's opera 'The Flying Dutchman' at Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain, in 2017, and although they were in different casts, both participated in the Seoul Metropolitan Opera's production of 'Faust' this past April.

However, this is the first time all three will share the same stage. All three are world-class vocalists, and their performance schedules are typically booked two to three years in advance; moreover, securing a venue in Korea is not easy. According to Art & Artist, the concert organizer, it took three years to prepare for this event.

Kwangchul Youn said, "Our schedules are already set for about two to three years in advance. So, we have to plan two to three years ahead, but in Korea, it's not possible to book a concert hall that far in advance. Unless these issues are resolved, it is extremely difficult for outstanding musicians to perform together."

Kim Kihun also commented, "In Korea, casting proposals often come at very short notice?sometimes with only three months or even just one month to go. Even if they are considerate, it's about a year in advance, but with performance schedules already set, even a year is a very tight timeline. That's why it's hard to coordinate schedules. Institutional improvements are needed."