SEOUL, August 03 (AJP) - South Korean soprano Sumi Jo has received the 12th Premio Internazionale Maria Callas, becoming the first Asian artist to receive the Italian honor in the year she marks the 40th anniversary of her international debut.
PRM, Jo's publicity agency, said Monday that she accepted the award in Verona on Sunday, where organizers hold the annual ceremony each Aug. 2, the anniversary of Maria Callas' debut at the Arena di Verona in 1947. The prize recognizes artists who have made lasting contributions to opera and classical music, and previous recipients include director Franco Zeffirelli and baritone Leo Nucci.
In a statement, Jo said the timing made the honor especially meaningful because she received the award exactly 79 years after Callas made her own Verona debut in the same city. She described it as one of the most meaningful moments of her career.
The award comes during a milestone year for Jo, one of South Korea's most internationally acclaimed classical musicians. She launched her international career after winning Italy's Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Singing Competition in 1986 and has since appeared at many of the world's leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera House and the Vienna State Opera.
This year, she has marked the anniversary with the release of the commemorative album "Continuum" and the second Sumi Jo International Singing Competition, held in France in July. She is also preparing for an international tour later this year.
Jo will return to Korean audiences with a concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of her international career at the Seoul Arts Center on Sept. 4.
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