Yonghoon Lee’s story is as unconventional as it is unlikely: a singer in his church choir, the Korean tenor sought out singing lessons just to sound better. “I never ever thought, ‘I'm going to be a professional opera singer’.”
The young tenor is now in demand all over the world to sing on the most prestigious stages. His schedule is booked through to 2018. He sings the role of Cavaradossi in Opera Australia’s brand new production of Tosca.
Tell me about your character, Cavaradossi.
Cavaradossi is a hero: very noble, gentle, an artist, a painter. In our production we are going back to 1943. In Italy, it’s a fairly dark period under Fascist rule. Cavaradossi is not exactly revolutionary, but he is on the side of the revolutionaries. He is never afraid to die. Only in the last moment before his execution, he thinks about his love for Tosca, and it is only that which makes him afraid to die. He’s a very strong person.
What do you connect with in his personality? What can you draw on to find your character?
I've never experienced that kind of dark period, but when I fall in love, when I love someone, it brings me a lot of energy and passion. So the thought that I may never see that person again ... that touches my heart. In Act 1, Cavaradossi and Tosca sing the love duet. The conversation is about love and jealousy and even though you learn that Tosca is a super jealous person, I still love her. The audience sees both her jealousy and her sweetness, and they can feel that I still love her.
What is it about Tosca that you think speaks to people?
Tosca has everything. This is not really a big opera, compared to Verdi’s Don Carlos, compared to Wagner, this is short. But it has everything: passion, love, jealousy, murder, execution and friendship. We can see in one opera every human thing that happens in our life. It’s understandable. And also ... Masterpiece! It’s a masterpiece! Beautiful music, beautiful arias, everything.
How do you go about preparing a role?
I try to find out as much as I can about the background and the history. I try to find any real testament from the period, especially if it’s a real story. I read about the composer and the story and the musical background as well. I study a lot about the text, delving into the words. I try to put my feelings into the music, so when I sing something it can be stronger, from my heart, not just because it is written in a particular way.
What brought you into the world of opera?
When I started to learn singing, people around me including my teacher said, “You must sing! You must be a singer!” I thought about it, and I thought ‘It’s a gift from above, I have to follow that’. After just five months I got a scholarship to Seoul National University, which is the best musical college in Korea. But after I graduated, I quit singing. It was too political. But I prayed, and heard God calling: “I created you as a singer.” So I felt very strongly: I must sing! That brought me to New York City where I went to Mannes College of Music and could start my career.
What do you love about opera?
They are real stories: it’s life! Everything that is in opera is not fake. It’s of a different generation, but in this day, also, we can feel everything they feel: love, passion, murder – everything. It is real. And the music, the beautiful music! That makes me fall in love!
I love Tosca, I love Carmen, all the Verdi operas: Il Trovatore, Un ballo in maschera. My dream role is Otello, I haven’t ever done this part but I will, I think the opera is incredible. One day!
This is your first time singing at the Sydney Opera House.
It’s my first time in Australia! It’s really lovely to make this debut, because you never know if it will be the last time you are somewhere. My schedule is booked until 2018, so it’s very exciting to be here to work with these wonderful people. Alexia Voulgaridou and I have sung together before, she was my Michaëla in Carmen, and we will sing together in Hamburg again in a new production of La battaglia di Leganano.
Do you have any advice for young opera singers?
It’s tough ... if you have a dream, your passion can drive it, I believe that. Don’t give up. When you are ready, go and audition. My teacher told me not to go for a Young Artist Program. He said, “Do you feel ready?” I said, “Yes, I’m ready!” He said, “Go for it!” So I did. People told me I was too young. “You cannot do this, you cannot sing these parts, in three years you will have lost your career.” But I’m still working! I haven’t changed anything. I always tell people I’m 40, 45, 42, or I can’t remember! It doesn’t matter – if it’s good, it’s good!