French Soprano Natalie Dessay, Mentioned as a Rival by Sumi Jo, to Hold Farewell Performance in Korea

KBS Symphony Orchestra Masters Series on November 13

Natalie Dessay, the renowned soprano representing France, will hold her farewell performance in Korea on November 13 at Lotte Concert Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

Dessay gained popularity in Korea after being mentioned as a rival by Sumi Jo, the world-famous soprano from Korea. Since her debut, she has established herself as a global soprano, performing on major opera stages such as the Paris National Opera, Vienna State Opera, New York Metropolitan Opera, and Milan La Scala. She is particularly acclaimed for her outstanding interpretations of Mozart and Strauss operas, as well as French opera works.

This concert is expected to be Dessay’s final performance in Korea. In an interview with a French music magazine in May 2023, she announced her intention to retire from the classical music scene at the end of 2025, when she turns 60.

Soprano Natalie Dessay [Photo by KBS Symphony Orchestra, (c)Simon Fowler]

Dessay’s performance will be part of the KBS Symphony Orchestra’s Masters Series, joined by pianist Philippe Cassard and conductor Ji Jungbae.

The first half of the concert will feature overtures, arias, and concertos by Mozart, while the second half will showcase works by American composers such as Menotti, Barber, and Previn.

Since 2012, Dessay has performed over 120 duo concerts with pianist Philippe Cassard at prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall in New York, Jordan Hall in Boston, Barbican Centre in London, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Musikverein in Vienna, and Th??tre des Champs-?lys?es in Paris.

The KBS Symphony Orchestra announced a special discount event for students who have completed the 2026 university entrance exam.

Students who have taken the 2026 university entrance exam can attend the concert for 10,000 won for any seat, and one accompanying person can receive a 50% discount. The discount applies only to seats excluding C-seats and those with obstructed views, and the exam admission ticket must be presented when collecting tickets. The accompanying person’s discount is only available if they visit with the student and present the exam admission ticket together.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.