Conductor Kim Bong-mi Interview

 Conductor Kim Bong-mi.

The publishers interview

Appointed as the general artistic director

of the Busan Opera House this season.

Inaugurated as the chairperson of the Asia Headquarters

of the Italian Aslico International Competition

 

Conductor Kim Bong-mi breaks through the glass ceiling

and writes new histories of korean opera and classical music

The first female conductor to conduct Grand Opera

at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House.

Conductor Kim Bong-mi has many accolades

One significant record among them is that she is the first female conductor to conduct at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House Grand Opera. Along with the history of the Korean Arts Center, it is a historical record that cannot be broken or changed.

At the 2nd Korea Opera Festival held at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House in 2011, she was the first female conductor to take on a large-scale opera festival representing Korea. She successfully finished the performance and left a great impression. The Korea Opera Festival is the biggest event in korean opera world.

Due to her special marketability, she recently appeared in a Hi-Mart advertisement and gained popularity among the general public. Prominent vocalists like Kim Dong-kyu and conductors like Seo Hee-tae have also appeared as exceptional classical musicians in commercials for public broadcasting, but the impact is not small. Unlike popular music that the general public encounters in their daily lives, this opportunity creates a favorable environment for the general public to become familiar with classical music.

 

Appointed as the general artistic director

of the Busan Opera House.

Inaugurated as the chairperson of the Asia Headquarters

of the Aslico International Competition in Italy.

Starting this year, she took on two significant roles, which are both a special honor and a challenge. She began serving as the Seasonal Artistic Director of the Busan Opera House, a position that garners attention from all opera enthusiasts in Korea.

Furthermore, she will serve as the chairperson of the Asia Headquarters for the prestigious Aslico International Competition held in Italy. This competition focuses on casting young artists under the age of 32 and is renowned worldwide for producing and debuting exceptional vocalists like Carlo Bergonzi, Renata Scotto, Mirella Freni, Cappuccilli, and Ricciarelli.

 

She is the female conductor who has conducted

the most operas in Korea.

She has conducted a greater number of operas

than all other female conductors combined.

She has broken through the glass ceiling in the Korean classical music and conducting world, achieving remarkable milestones such as being the female conductor who has conducted the most operas in Korea and the youngest conductor.

These achievements mark a new chapter in her career and stand as a testament to her unique contributions in the field of opera. In fact, she actively conducts opera performances to such an extent that it is said she has conducted more operas than all other female conductors combined.

What is particularly noteworthy is her active involvement in opera conducting, which sets her apart from other female conductors. Opera conducting requires a distinct skill set as it involves not only conducting the orchestra, but also coordinating with the main vocalists, chorus, and even the dance team and actors, synchronizing their performances with the music. Her exceptional achievements in opera conducting have earned her rare and remarkable records in this specialized field.

Opera conducting is a distinctive form of conducting that encompasses not only the orchestra but also vocal music and all stage situations. It requires comprehensive artistic skills to achieve overall harmony, including directing, lighting, and stage management. As a result, opera conducting demands a deep understanding and insightful interpretation of all these elements, supported by charisma and physical strength. However, it is often considered more challenging for female conductors.

Producers and artistic directors involved in opera preparations tend to prefer experienced male conductors due to various reasons. This is because opera conducting necessitates a level of experience and expertise that is traditionally associated with male conductors. Nonetheless, despite being a young woman of small stature, she has conducted numerous operas and established an unparalleled career, earning her the nickname "little giant."

She holds the distinction of being the only woman and the youngest person to win the grand prize in the conducting category at the Korea Opera Awards. To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Korean opera, she conducted the World Masterpiece Opera Gala Concert, a significant event organized by the Korea Opera Awards Organizing Committee.

Taking place on January 16th 2023 at the Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea, she led the Beha Philharmonic Orchestra in an intense performance, marking her first conducting of the new year.

Despite the prevailing atmosphere of internal and external difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, she managed to invigorate and emotionally engage the audience with her energizing performance.

The concert featured world masterpieces in parts 1 and 2, highlighting her exceptional skills in collaboration with vocalists. In the third part, commencing with the Carmen overture, she poured tremendous energy into renowned songs familiar to the audience, such as La Boheme, La Traviata, and Carmen, achieving a performance that passionately connected with the audience.

She shares a profound relationship with the Korea Opera Awards. As the first female conductor to receive the grand prize in the conducting category, an award bestowed only upon the best conductors in Korea, she joined the ranks of esteemed conductors like Choi Seung-hwan and Jang Yoon-seong. Conductor Kim Bong-mi remains the sole female conductor to have received this prestigious award, 16 years after its inception.

 

"Communicating with the audience is

the true mastery of music."

Conducting the Busan Municipal Youth Orchestra

 

One crucial aspect of Conductor Kim Bong-mi's career is her role as the artistic director of the Busan Municipal Youth Orchestra. Although it is called a Youth Orchestra, it comprises young artists under the age of 40 who are at the height of their skills and talent. In her interactions with these young artists, she emphasizes the importance of engaging with the audience during performances.

"Just like music without a soul, I believe that music that is enjoyed solely by oneself will fail to resonate with the audience. Isn't it the essence of true art to create anticipation and longing in the audience, making them yearn for the music they love and want to listen to it again? Just as I love music, I believe that true mastery of music lies in making the listeners share the same love and passion."

Conductor Kim Bong-mi recognizes the significance of forging a connection between the performers and the audience, aiming to create performances that leave a lasting impression on the listeners.

 

"We will strive to create performances

that leave a strong impression on the audience."

The path of a conductor who naturally

followed her father's footsteps

Conductor Kim Bong-mi initially displayed exceptional talent as a piano student and pursued studies at the St. Petersburg National School of Music in Russia and the Folkwang National School of Music in Essen, Germany. She excelled in the piano department, ranking among the top performers. However, she eventually made a pivotal decision to switch her major to conducting, a choice influenced by her father, which she believes made her a natural conductor.

Subsequently, she enrolled and graduated from the Essen National University of Music in Germany and earned a master's degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Music and Music in Detmold, Germany.

 

Gained recognition on the global stage first

Through dedicated efforts, her skills gained recognition on the global stage, leading her to become the first woman to win an award at the Hungarian International Conducting Competition.

This accomplishment propelled her into the spotlight, and she started receiving acclaim for her abilities. She has also collaborated with esteemed ensembles such as the Bielefeld Opera House Orchestra and the German Big Band Orchestra, participating in concerts featuring contemporary composers.

Her performances garnered favorable reviews and resulted in the release of recorded works.

Recognized for her outstanding skills on the world stage, she became the first Asian woman to conduct the Stuttgart Bach Orchestra.

Upon her return to Korea, she won the 1st Rising Female Cultural Award from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Korea. In 2012, she also won the Korea Opera Grand Prize for Conductor Award.

She has been recognized both domestically and internationally through numerous performances, including a gala concert and an invitational performance at the concert in Vietnam, held in commemoration of the APEC World Summit in 2017. Currently, she serves as the artistic director of the United Philharmonic and the Beha Philharmonic, and is actively involved as the music director in the world's four major opera festivals. Her activities continue to unfold.

 

She expresses a sense of mission to spread the power of music in what she calls the "New frontier" of classical music.

She believes that in the future, she wants to create a new impression even in a classical music scene that may be considered underdeveloped. She acknowledges that Western music has only been in Korea for about 100 years, but during this time, Korea's classical music scene has made remarkable progress. While many musicians aspire to be recognized in Europe, the traditional home of classical music, she holds a different perspective.

She believes that Korea, with its growing expertise, should take on the role of disseminating classical music in what she refers to as a "wasteland" of classical music. Similar to how opera was introduced and spread in Korea 75 years ago, she envisions advancing into Southeast Asia and sharing the power of music there. Ultimately, her goal is for people all over the world to be able to enjoy the scent of classical music.