Young-Kwang Yoo, a baritone from South Korea, is highly praised by Opera News for his vocal dexterity and outstanding Italian diction. He graduated from the College of Music at Seoul National University and earned a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under Mark Oswald. He also holds a certificate from the Opera Institute at Boston University.
Mr. Yoo has won several awards for his performances, including first place at the Osaka International Competition in Japan, second place at the Manhattan International Music Competition, and the Grand Prize of the Opera Division in the Metropolitan International Vocal Competition. He was also awarded first prize in the 2020 SAS performing arts company vocal competition.
His previous credits include performances in a number of operas, such as Rigoletto (Rigoletto) with Seoul National University, La Bohème (Marcello), Lakmé (Frederic), Luisa Miller (Miller) with Manhattan School of Music, The Telephone (Ben) with Te Art Ro Production, Emmeline (Mr. Maguire), Le Nozze di Figaro (Il Conte), The War Reporter (Paul Watson), and Pelléas et Mélisande (Pelléas) with the Opera Institute, La Tragedie de Carmen (Escamillo) with the City Lyric Opera in NYC, and L'enfant prodigue (Siméon), L’elisir d’amore (Belcore), and La Bohème (Marcello) with Camerata New Jersey Foundation. He also performed Don Pasquale (Malatesta) and Madama Butterfly (Sharpless) with Martina Arroyo Foundation, and three operas with the Cleveland Opera Theater, including Madama Butterfly (Sharpless), La Bohème (Marcello), and Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Figaro), which was praised by Cleveland Classical as "Baritone Young Kwang Yoo brought an ultimate suavity, and a special combination of tone and power to Figaro."
Young-Kwang's portrayal of Sharpless received positive reviews from The New York Times, who wrote "His solid baritone voice and stolid bearing suited Sharpless." Opera News stated that "He provided sturdy, empathetic presence." and his role as Escamillo was hailed by Operawire as "The stand-out performance of the evening came from baritone Young-Kwang Yoo," and by ConcertoNet as "Escamillo could be the least attractive of the quartet, but Young-Kwang has such a magnificent voice that his toreador is terrific."
In 2016, Young-Kwang portrayed Le Monstre Cathos in the U.S. premiere of Ibert's Persée et Andromède, directed by James Robinson and conducted by Maestro Pierre Vallet at the Manhattan School of Music. This performance was selected as one of the ten best classical performances in New York by The New York Times.
Young-Kwang's oratorio work includes appearances as Adam in Haydn's Creation at Symphony Hall in Boston, as a baritone soloist in Orff's Carmina Burana at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center in New York City and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., and in Faure's Requiem with the Goyang Civic Choir in Korea. He has also sung Handel's Messiah every year.
Yoo has made appearances on television in the U.S. and Korea, including a performance that brought hope and peace to people during the pandemic, which was introduced on CNN News and Reuters. He has also been featured on Voice of America and on famous Korean TV shows, including KBS, MBC, tvN, C channel, and CTS. He is becoming a well-known and beloved opera singer, especially among Koreans, as he not only performs but also shares his life as an opera singer and a human being through performances and broadcasting.
This coming season, Young Kwang will work with the Met Opera Guild for opera tour, New Jersey Festival Opera for Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi(Betto&Marco) Opera Camerata New Jersey for L’elisir d’amore(Belcore) and Don Giovanni(Giovanni) with 5th ave production. Also, he will make his Florida Grand Opera debut with Il Barbiere di Siviglia as the title role, Figaro.
