SeungHyeon Baek
Baritone SeungHyeon Baek is quickly gaining recognition throughout the American Opera circuit as a young artist of significant talents and versatility. Specifically, he has been applauded and recognized for recent performances over the past few seasons for his “full, generous baritone voice” and his considerable “histrionic abilities combined with his rich artistry.”
This season, Baek will join the roster of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera for their productions of La bohème and Falstaff. Additionally, he will have a role début as Scarpia in Tosca with St. Petersburg Opera, and will return to the role of Father Hansel and Gretel in his house début with New Orleans Opera. Future seasons engagements include the role of Marcello in La bohème.
Last season, Mr. Baek joined Opera Orlando as the eponymous Rigoletto, the Canadian Opera Company in Madama Butterfly as Yamadori/Grand Inquisitor, and performed the role of Frate in Don Carlo with Maryland Lyric Opera. In concert, Baek was a featured soloist in Five Mystical Songs at Carnegie Hall with Mid-America Productions and in Faure’s Requiem with Maryland Lyric Opera.
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May 15
Bethesda, Maryland
Artist Bio
Baritone SeungHyeon Baek is quickly gaining recognition throughout the American Opera circuit as a young artist of significant talents and versatility. Specifically, he has been applauded and recognized for recent performances over the past few seasons for his “full, generous baritone voice” and his considerable “histrionic abilities combined with his rich artistry.”
This season, Baek will join the roster of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera for their productions of La bohème and Falstaff. Additionally, he will have a role début as Scarpia in Tosca with St. Petersburg Opera, and will return to the role of Father Hansel and Gretel in his house début with New Orleans Opera. Future seasons engagements include the role of Marcello in La bohème.
Last season, Mr. Baek joined Opera Orlando as the eponymous Rigoletto, the Canadian Opera Company in Madama Butterfly as Yamadori/Grand Inquisitor, and performed the role of Frate in Don Carlo with Maryland Lyric Opera. In concert, Baek was a featured soloist in Five Mystical Songs at Carnegie Hall with Mid-America Productions and in Faure’s Requiem with Maryland Lyric Opera.
Mr. Baek recently made several débuts, including his début with Opera San Jose as Conte di Luna in Il trovatore, and his début with Opera Tampa, performing the role of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro where The Tampa Bay Times praised his “commanding baritone.” He also made a role début as Tonio in Pagliacci with Opera Fairbanks, and house débuts with Opera North as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and New York City Opera as Billy Jackrabbit in La fanciulla del West. Additionally, he performed the title role in Gianni Schicchi with St. Petersburg Opera, Lord Enrico Ashton in Lucia di Lammermoor, Sonora in La fanciulla del West, as well as a soloist in An Evening of Puccini concert, all with Maryland Lyric Opera; Marcello in La Boheme with Opera Ithaca, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with MidAtlantic Opera, Tonio in Pagliacci with Opera Ithaca and Dandini in La Cenerentola with Opera Ithaca and New York City Opera for their Park Concert Series.
As a Concert artist, Mr. Baek made his début at Carnegie Hall as a soloist in Fauré’s Requiem with MidAmerica Productions and as a soloist in Dvorak’s Te Deum. He also performed as a soloist in Dubois’s The Seven Last Words of Christ with Christian Broadcasting System of New York, Dvořák’s Te Deum with Adelphi Chamber Orchestra and made his Lincoln Center Concert début with InterSchool Orchestras of New York as a soloist in Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
A native of South Korea, SeungHyeon Baek received a Professional Studies Degree in Mannes College of Music. During his professional studies, he performed the title role of Gianni Schicchi, Don Alvaro in Il viaggio a Reims and Di Cosimo in the New York Premiere of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino with Mannes Opera. He also holds his master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music where he appeared as Pandolfe in Cendrillon and Peter in Hansel and Gretel as well as Valentin in Faust with the Manhattan School of Music Opera Repertory Ensemble. Additionally, Mr. Baek holds a Bachelor of Music degree at ChungAng University in Korea. He has won NJ State Opera’s Alfredo Silipigni Competition in 2017 and the Career Bridges Competition in 2015.
Updated January 9, 2023
Audio Samples
Video
“Nemico della patria” from Andrea Chenier
“Zaza, piccola zingara” from Zaza
“Vision Fugitive” from Hérodiade
Pictures
Press
"...Baek was suave, wry, and amusing..." – Opera News
Gianni Schicchi – “As Gianni, Seung-hyeon Baek was suave, wry, and amusingly mocking in his impersonation of Buoso.”
"...the strongest singing in a male role – Tampa Bay Times
Le nozze di Figaro – “SeungHyeon Baek has a commanding baritone, delivering the strongest singing in a male role.”
"...a delightful surprise...baritone bad boy" – DC Metro Theater Arts
Lucia di Lammermoor – “Baek’s Enrico was a delightful surprise. Baek musters enough menace to earn his baritone bad boy bona fides”
...sensitive and warm baritone..." – Rutland Herald
Madama Butterfly – “SeungHyeon Baek was a rock as Sharpless, with his sensitive and warm baritone”
"...exceptional vocal power, expression and beauty..." – Á La Carte Productions
Rigoletto – "In the title role, baritone SeungHyeon Baek had exceptional vocal power, expression and beauty to bring to life this tragic humpbacked jester."