Team 2021 Carmen|Hong Kong
ARTISTIC TEAM AND CAST
Jennifer Williams- Stage Director
Hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as an ‘imaginative’ director of ‘particular ingenuity’, Jennifer Williams is an innovator in multimedia, immersive and site-specific approaches to opera. She recently directed acclaimed new productions of Mohammed Fairouz's Sumeida's Song and Ricky Ian Gordon and Royce Vavrek's 27 for Pittsburgh Opera; BMP: Next Generation, a double-bill of world premieres for Beth Morrison Projects at National Sawdust; the world premiere of Backwards from Winter for soprano, electric cello and electronics for the Center for Contemporary Opera, New York; a new production of Amahl and the Night Visitors for Michigan Opera Theatre; ‘consistently imaginative’ and ‘extraordinarily beautiful’ new productions with video projections of Ainadamar, Dark Sisters, Les contes d'Hoffmann, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and La bohème for Miami Music Festival; and Ariadne auf Naxos at Austin Opera. Williams, an experienced acting teacher and dramatic coach, has also served as Drama Coach for the Houston Grand Opera Studio.
A Fulbright Scholar, Williams holds an Artist Diploma in Opera Stage Directing from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Ph.D. in Theatre Theory and Criticism from Cornell University and an A.B. with Honors in Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities from the University of Chicago.
https://www.jenniferwilliamsdirector.com/
Elio Orciuolo- Artistic & Music Director
Elio Orciuolo began his career in 1988 as Assistant Conductor at Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy. Since then he has been dedicated to opera theatre in a number of roles, including chorus master, conductor, artistic director and music arranger. He conducts a wide range of symphonic repertoire and operas, including Aida, Rigoletto, Tosca, La traviata, Madama Butterfly, Carman, Don Carlo, L’elisir d’amore, Così fan tutte and many more, in Italy and across the globe.
Keen on teaching, Elio is often invited to give masterclasses for opera conductors and singers. In 2017 he was engaged by Opera Hong Kong as guest coach to its vocalists and chorus and under the Young Artist Development Programme supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
KENNETH HUI CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER
Ka Chun Hui, Kenneth completed his professional dance training at Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts with first class honors and started his professional career in Hong Kong Ballet (HK), Danish Dance Theater (DK) and Mainfranken Theater Würzburg (DE) from 2014 to 2020. He is now a freelance dancer, choreographer, director of screen dance and photographer in Hong Kong.
Kenneth has choreographed his own solo “Portrait Me” and has performed in Germany 2019. His videography creations “ Underlying Being” and “ Who taught you to see” have been selected to be shown in Unfolding Futures- Body Motion Short Film Festival 2020 (Taipei).
Julia Noulin-Mérat- Stage & Costume Designer
In addition to being More Than Musical's Creative Director, for the past eight years, Julia has been the Associate Producer at Boston Lyric Opera and is the co-Artistic Director of Guerilla Opera. Julia has worked on over 400 opera, theater, and television productions, including 25 new operas and 22 new plays, and is the principal designer at Noulin-Mérat Studio. Julia received OPERA America’s Women Opera Network mentorship distinction as well as the Leadership Intensive. Recent credit includes; Rigoletto (Minnesota Opera), Le Monde a l'Envers (Wolf Trap Opera), Tosca and Falstaff (Opera Omaha); Albert Herring (Curtis Institute); Gallo, Pedr Solis, and Troubled Water (Guerilla Opera); Sumeida’s Song and 27 (Pittsburgh Opera); The Kaiser of Atlantis (Atlanta Opera) and The Rake’s Progress, The Barber of Seville, and Pagliacci (BLO). Other projects include a TedX talk on site-specific opera in the modern age; a Neverland (with China Broadway): a 50,000 square immersive theater piece in Beijing based on Peter Pan; and Playground (Opera Omaha) a touring operatic sound sculpture in collaboration with composer Ellen Reid.
Samuel Chan- Projection Image & Lighting Designer
Samuel Chan received his MFA from Yale School of Drama, majoring in Design. He was selected as resident artist in Asia Culture Center in Gwangju and Academy for Theater and Digitality in Dortmund. His work on Twelfth Night was nominated for Outstanding Lighting Design in the Connecticut Critics Circle Awards, while his installation work Aesthetics and Freedom of Human Beings is one of the finalists at the IFVA awards in 2021.
https://www.samuelcvlx.com/about
CAST
MOON JIN KIM (MEZZO-SOPRANO) AS CARMEN
Graduating from Yonsei University, South Korea, with a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts, Moon Jin Kim went on to hone her vocal technique in Italy in 2001–2006. Since then Kim has sung extensively in major European theatres such as Grosses Festpielhaus in Salzburg, the Philharmonic Concert Hall in Munich, the Giuseppe Verdi Auditorium of Milan, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Kunstmin Theatre in Dordrecht (Netherlands), Ljubjana Opera House, the Slovene National Theatre Maribor, and the State Opera Rousse in Bulgaria.
Kim’s operatic roles include Azucena in Il trovatore, Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Zita in Gianni Schicchi, Beppe in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Teresa in Donizetti’s Teresa e Gianfaldoni, Rosa Mamai in Cilea’s L’arlesiana, Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Mamma and the Chinese Cup in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilège. In 2015 she debuted as Donna Ximena in Gazzaniga’s Don Giovanni Tenorio at Teatro del Giglio in Lucca; in 2016 she sang Pantalis in a new production of Boito’s Mefistofele at Teatro Verdi in Pisa. Kim is well known for her interpretation of the title role of Carmen, winning several competitions with arias from Bizet’s opera. Future plans include Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana at the Oderzo Opera Festival and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly at the International Festival in Scansano, Italy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSQSZGB3XB8
Bumjoo Lee (tenor) as Don José
Tenor Bumjoo Lee was born in South Korea in 1985. He studied at the Dankook University in Seoul, followed by a Master-Studio in Folkwang University of the Arts in Germany with Prof. Wolfgang Millgramm. He is currently studying with Raina Kabaivanska in Modena Academy.
Lee is the winner of the International Singing Competition “Maria Caniglia” in Sulmona and the second prize winner of the International Competition “Voci Verdiane” in Busseto. He has held his debut recital at Theater Aquila, and in Summer 2015 he has sung in a concert at the Festival Verdi.
Lee has participated in a number of operas in Korea, including Aida, Carmen, La Traviata, Madama Butterfly and Tannhäuser. He has made his debut in Valencia in 2019 with the role of Arminio in I masnadieri.
Hidenori Inoue (Bass) As Escamillo
Hidenori Inoue was hailed as ‘the smoky-voiced bass’ by The New York Times and ‘assertive’ by Opera News for his performance of Monstre Cathos in Jacques Ibert’s Persée et Andromède with the Manhattan School of Music. He debuted the role of Timur in Turandot and covered Méphistophéles in Faust with Tulsa Opera in the 2017-18 season. Engagements in 2018-19 season include the roles of Leporello and Commendatore in Don Giovanni with Opera Steamboat, and a role debut as Sarastro in The Magic Flute with Opera Maine.
Colette Lam (Soprano) aS Frasquita
Hong Kong-born soprano Colette Lam has interpreted a wide range of roles throughout Asia and Europe. These include Adina in L’elisir d’amore, Gilda in Rigoletto, Juliet in Roméo et Juliette, Micäela in Carmen, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, and Violetta in La traviata. She has performed in productions by Opera Hong Kong, Musica Viva (Hong Kong), Brent Opera (London), and Opera Lyrica (Oxford).
Lam has also appeared as soloist in such venues as Colston Hall in Bristol; Esplanade in Singapore; Millennium Centre in Cardiff; Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Westminster Abbey, and Banqueting House in London; the Elena Obraztsova Cultural Centre in St Petersburg; and Abay Opera House in Almaty.
Lam obtained a Bachelor of Music (Hons) degree at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She completed her Master of Music in Voice at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Anna Chan (Mezzo-soprano) as Mercédès
Anna Chan attended Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD), and is currently studying with Prof. Nancy Yuen at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) with full scholarship. She has appeared as Idamante in Idomeneo (HKAPA) and Inez in The Gondoliers (RWCMD), and covered Vera Boronel (The Consul) at Welsh National Opera. Her performance of Mrs. Herring in Britten’s Albert Herring at RWCMD was praised by critic Glyn Pursglove.
Frankie Fung (bass-baritone) AS Zuniga
Frankie Fung has been studying with renowned Italian soprano Isabel Gentile and baritone Roberto Abbondanza since the age of 14. After graduating from university, he pursued a master’s degree in chamber vocal music in the G. Briccialdi High Institute of Musical Study in Terni, Italy, under the tutorship of Abbondanza. During his study in Italy, he performed in different cities such as Castel Viscardo, Porano and Perugia.
Fung has performed as a soloist in different concerts, including Bruckner’s Te Deum, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle and Haydn’s The Creation. His roles in opera include Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, the Duke in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, Ufficiale di Registrar in Madama Butterfly, Araldo in Otello and Ambrogio/Officer in Il barbiere di Siviglia.
Stefan Gordon (Baritone) as Le Dancaïre
Stefan Gordon has appeared in over 500 performances in 50 different productions across Asia, Europe, and the United States, including over 100 performances of Le nozze di Figaro in Vienna (as the Count). He has created two leading roles in American opera premieres, and was praised by Opera News for his featured appearance on an album with Albany Records. He holds a doctorate in musical arts and served as Assistant Professor of Voice at Northwestern State University before relocating to Hong Kong.
Dennis Lau (Tenor) as Le Remendado
Dannie Lau went to G. Briccialdi High Institute of Musical Study in Terni, Italy to pursue his study in singing under soprano Isabel Gentile and baritone Roberto Abbondanza, graduating with distinction. He was invited to perform in Italy and Hong Kong in various operas, namely Carmen, Così fan tutte, La traviata and Madama Butterfly, and as soloist in such important works as Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, Bruckner’s Te Deum and Haydn’s Creation.
Team 2018 TOSCA
Nic Muni, Director
Nic Muni is Artistic Director for both the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and More Than Musical (HK). He has also served in that capacity for both Tulsa Opera and Cincinnati Opera.
For the A. J. Fletcher Opera Institute, he has directed La Tragédie de Carmen, Florencia en el Amazonas and Impressions de Pelléas, and, elsewhere, Norma at Dallas Opera and Florida Grand Opera, Lucia di Lammermoor at The Academy of Vocal Arts (Philadelphia), Higglety, Pigglety, Pop and Die Zauberflöte at Bard Conservatory Vocal Arts Program, Don Giovanni at San Diego Opera and Don Pasquale at San Francisco Opera Merola Program. He served as Director and Production Designer of La Traviata for More Than Musical (2016 and 2017).
Wei-En Hsu, Music Director
A graduate of Juilliard School and Taipei National University of the Arts, and winner of the 2010 Los Angeles International Liszt Piano Competition, Wei-En Hsu enjoys a busy performing career throughout the US, Europe and Asia. He has established himself as a specialist in Baroque opera. He has also worked closely with living composers of his generation, promoting new music. Hsu now holds the repetiteur position at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
Karen Chia-ling Ho, soprano (Tosca)
Karen Ho studied music and vocal performance in Taiwan and at the Eastman School of Music. She is a winner of the prestigious Renée Fleming Award from the Eastman School of Music. In 2015 she made her role and company debut as Liù in Turandot at St Petersburg Opera. In 2016–17 she made her debut at the San Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Dream of the Red Chamber as Princess Jia, a role she reprised at the 2017 Hong Kong Arts Festival. The same season also saw her Carnegie Hall debut with the American Symphony Orchestra. In 2017–18 she toured Japan as Violetta in La Traviata.
http://www.karenchialingho.com
Jung Soo Yun, tenor (Cavaradossi)
Hailed by Opera Now magazine as a rising star, the South Korean tenor Jung Soo Yun was first prize-winner of the Richard Tauber Prize (2010)‚ the Stuart Burrows International Voice Award (2010), Les Azuriales Opera competition (2010), and the Montserrat Caballé International Singing Competition (2011).
Jung has sung Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore; Italian Tenor in Der Rosenkavalier and Macduff in Macbeth (Opera North); Lensky in Eugene Onegin (Grange Park Opera); Alfredo in La Traviata and Rodolfo in La Bohème (Danish National Opera); Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi (Göteborg Opera); and Mainfroid in Les Vêpres Siciliennes (Royal Opera House, London). He made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2013 with a recital programme of Schubert‚ Liszt‚ Strauss and Korean art songs. He has also performed in programmes for BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3.
Carlo Kang, baritone (Scarpia)
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Carlo Kang is a winner of several vocal competitions including Placido Domingo’s Operalia (2001) and Jaume Aragall of Girona (2002). Kang’s past performances include Otello in Novara; La Bohème in Toyama Hall, Japan; as Scarpia in Tosca at Bari Festival; Bellini’s Zaira in Montpellier; Il Trovatore in Piacenza; L’elisir d’amore, Rigoletto, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Carmen in Seoul; and Nabucco in San Galgano Festival. More recently he was invited by The Japan Opera Foundation (Fujiwara Opera) to sing Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor and the title role in Don Giovanni. Kang is currently a professor at Kyung Hee University in Seoul.
STefan Gordon, baritone (The Monk)
Stefan Gordon has performed in operas, theatres, churches, and in concert throughout Germany, Austria, Italy, Hong Kong, Macau, and across America. He has created two leading roles in American opera premieres: Craig Bohmler’s Riders of the Purple Sage with Arizona Opera, where he appeared as the villainous Elder Tull, and with Ohio Light Opera, premiering the role of James Paradene in Jerome Kern’s The Cabaret Girl, a role he recorded with Albany Records.
Other roles include Count in Nozze di Figaro (numerous performances in Vienna), Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Eisenstein in Fledermaus, Sid in Albert Herring and Demetrius in Midsummer Night’s Dream among numerous others.
In the season 2018 he performed as Sharpless in Musica Viva’s Madama Butterfly and direct operas in the US, Austria, and England. When not singing or directing, Dr. Gordon teaches with the American Vocal Studio in Hong Kong.