South Korean baritone hits high note with surprise European win

Kim Tae-han first Asian male opera singer to clinch Queen Elisabeth prize

Kim Tae-han performs some of his favorites, including parts of Wagner's "Tannhauser." (Courtesy of Queen Elisabeth Competition)

CATHERINE DE BEAUREPAIRE, Nikkei staff writer

June 15, 2023 08:00 JST

BRUSSELS -- Baritone Kim Tae-han admits that he did not expect to win the prestigious Queen Elisabeth 2023 Voice Competition held in Belgium in early June.

Not only was the 22-year-old South Korean the youngest of the 12 finalists, but he was also the first Asian male opera singer to win the mixed-gender competition. South Korean female sopranos won the voice competition in 2011 and 2014.