Won Whi CHOI

Hailed for his “fearlessly impressive dynamic range with remarkable vocal strength,” tenor Won Whi Choi has appeared on operatic stages around the world. Choi’s current and future engagements include debuts at the Hamburgische Staatsoper; Theater Dortmund; Aalto Theater Essen; Canio I Pagliacci (Minnesota Opera); Macduff Macbeth (Atlanta Opera); and as tenor soloist Verdi’s Requiem (Trinity Church, New York). Previous highlights include Alfredo La Traviata (Metropolitan Opera House, Nashville Opera, Opera på Skäret, Virginia Opera); Duca di Mantua Rigoletto (Dallas Opera; Atlanta Opera; New York City Opera; Opera Idaho); Don José Carmen, Duca di Mantua Rigoletto, Roméo Roméo et Juliette, Tamino Die Zauberflöte, and Prince Sou Chong Das Land des Lächelns (Theater Erfurt); Don José Carmen (Croatian National Opera); Rodolfo La Bohème (Minnesota Opera); Ruggero La Rondine (Victorian Opera); Arcadio Florencia en el Amazonas, Giorgio The Garden of the Finzi-Continis (New York City Opera); Roméo Roméo et Juliette (Seoul Metropolitan Opera); Prince Sou Chong Das Land des Lächelns (Hong Kong Opera; Seefestspiele Morbisch Festival); title role Les contes d’Hoffmann (Opera Tampa; Opera Orlando; Martina Arroyo Foundation); and the covers of Count Loris Ipanov Fedora, Rodolfo La Bohème, Duca di Mantua Rigoletto and Nemorino L’elisir D’amore (Metropolitan Opera House).

Mr. Choi recently returned to The Metropolitan Opera for both Rigoletto and Fedora, joined Seoul Metropolitan Opera to sing Roméo in Roméo and Juliette, sang Alfredo in La Traviata with Virginia Opera, and returned to New York City Opera as Giorgio in The Garden of the Finzi-Continis. Choi spent three seasons at Theatre Erfurt in Germany, during which he sang a variety of leading roles, including, the Duke in Rigoletto, Don José in Carmen, Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Hyllus in Hercules, Andres in Wozzeck, Il Cantatore in Giulietta e Romeo, and Prince Sou Chong in Lehár’s Das Land des Lächelns which he also performed for the Morbisch Festival. In his first New York City performance, Choi was praised by The New York Observer for his portrayal of Rodolfo in La bohème and his “big, virile sound that rocketed fearlessly up to a high C, so secure he dared to run across the stage while holding the note.”

Recent seasons’ engagements also included a role début as Arcadio in Florencia en el Amazonas with New York City Opera; the role of Don José in Carmen for Minnesota Opera, Croatia National Theater, and in more than ten performances at the Domstufen Festival in Germany; Da-Ud in Die agyptische Helena with Odyssey Opera; the title role in Les contes d’Hoffman with Opera Tampa and Opera Orlando; Rodolfo in La bohème with Croatian National Theatre in Osijek and The Metropolitan Opera (cover); Prince Sou-Chong in Franz Lehar’s Das Land des Lächelns in a début with Hong Kong Opera and with Theater Erfurt; Ruggero in La rondine at Skylark Opera; Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera in Williamsburg; Chevalier in Dialogues des Carmélites with Mannes Opera Theatre; Alfredo in La Traviata for Williamsburg Opera, Nashville Opera, Mannes Opera Theatre, and Opera på Skäret in Sweden; the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann with the Martina Arroyo Foundation; and the Duke in Rigoletto at New York City Opera and Opera Idaho, where critics raved: “Choi made for a strapping and sexy Duke of Mantua, which makes it more believable that women would so willingly fall for his charms, and sacrifice themselves for his life. His soaring tenor easily and fearlessly reached the high Bs in ‘La donna è mobile,’ one of the most known arias in the operatic canon.”

Mr. Choi is emerging as a concert artist to watch after his performance of Händel’s Messiah with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The Winnipeg Free Press raved, “Won Whi Choi asserted his booming presence immediately with his opening recitative ‘Comfort ye my people’ followed by aria ‘Ev’ry valley shall be exalted.’ Demonstrating a remarkable vocal strength…the singer responded ably to the composer’s many virtuosic runs while also displaying an equally impressive dynamic range.” Recently, he also sang in an opera gala at Shanghai Symphony Orchestra Hall in Shanghai, China to great critical acclaim. Mr. Choi’s interpretation of Rodolfo in La bohème garners acclaim on every stage he graces. Of his performance in Croatia, Glas Slavinije wrote: “Won Whi Choi as Rodolfo sang his famous aria, with joyful accents, excited enthusiasm and nobility, with pure lilting melodies and striking vocal line, effortlessly climbing to a high C. Choi’s performance was absolutely perfect, showcasing his excellent legato phrasing. The range of voice was remarkable! His performance consisted of high notes that were strongly developed, dynamic contrasts, great diction, vocal coloring, combined with world class phrasing and dynamic shading.”

Mr. Choi was one of eight finalists at the Montreal International Musical Competition in 2012. He holds a Professional Studies Diploma and a Master of Music Degree from Mannes College of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Korean National University of the Arts.