JULIAN KIM's Notable Concerts
Konzert für Salzburg at Salzburg Festival in 2013
In 2013, Julian Kim made his Salzburg debut at the Salzburg Easter Festival, performing under the baton of Myung-Whun Chung with the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden. As part of the Konzert für Salzburg, the evening featured a dual tribute to the bicentennial of Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner, with the program divided between the two composers.
In the first half, conducted by Christian Thielemann, the Staatskapelle Dresden performed a selection of Wagner’s works, including:
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Tannhäuser Overture
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Dich, teure Halle (from Tannhäuser, sung by Rachel Willis-Sørensen)
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Prelude and Liebestod (from Tristan und Isolde, performed in its orchestral version)
The second half, under Myung-Whun Chung, was dedicated to Verdi, where Julian Kim performed:
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Di Provenza il mar, il suol (La Traviata)
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O Carlo, ascolta (Don Carlo)
Bringing poise and expressive depth to his interpretations, Julian Kim delivered Verdi’s music with a commanding stage presence and refined phrasing.
For the Brindisi encore, he joined Maria Agresta and Attilio Glaser in a vibrant and celebratory rendition of Libiamo ne’ lieti calici (La Traviata), concluding the evening on a high note with the full orchestral brilliance of the Staatskapelle Dresden.
This memorable debut marked an important milestone in Julian Kim’s international career, affirming his ability to shine on the prestigious Salzburg stage.
La Bohème Closing Concert – 32nd Musica Riva Festival, 2015
Riva del Garda holds a special place in Julian Kim’s career, as it was here that his professional journey began. He won Second Prize at the Zandonai Competition, in 2009 where he also received the Mietta Sighele Prize, the Young Promise Prize, and the Special Prize of the Teatro San Carlo in Naples. During the competition, after hearing his performance of “Largo al factotum”, Gianni Tangucci cast him as Figaro in his operatic debut in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.Throughout the years, Julian Kim returned to Riva del Garda for the Musica Riva Festival on several occasions:
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In 2010, he performed in the Cavalleria Rusticana Concert as a past Zandonai winner.
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In 2011, he was a soloist in Carmina Burana.
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In 2014, he was a special guest star at the Zandonai Winners' Gala.
On July 28, 2015, he performed as Marcello in La Bohème, which closed the 32nd Musica Riva Festival, conducted by Ricardo Casero. This performance held great personal significance, as it took place between his two performances as Marcello in La Bohème on July 25 and 29 at Terme di Caracalla, in a production by Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, conducted by Paolo Arrivabeni and directed by Davide Livermore.
For the Musica Riva Festival 2015, La Bohème featured a cast that included several past and present winners of the Zandonai Competition, highlighting a strong connection between the festival and the competition.
Cast for La Bohème – Musica Riva Festival 2015
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Mimì (Soprano): Lili Zhao
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Musetta (Soprano): Maria Pia Molinari
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Rodolfo (Tenor): Rafaelle Sepe
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Marcello (Baritone): Julian Kim
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Schaunard (Baritone): Benjamin Cho
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Colline (Bass): Mariano Buccino
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Benoît & Alcindoro (Bass): Alberto Bonifazio
FIDELIO concert at Santa Cecilia, Rome, Italy in 2016
In 2016, an article announced that the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, under the direction of Sir Antonio Pappano, would open its 2016/2017 season with a concert performance of Beethoven’s Fidelio. Among the stellar international cast, Julian Kim was listed as Don Fernando, a pivotal role despite its brief stage time. Don Fernando’s arrival in the second act dramatically shifts the opera’s trajectory, and the role is traditionally assigned to a baritone with authority and gravitas. Remarkably, Kim was the youngest among the principal cast, making his participation in this prestigious production particularly significant. Performing in a German-language opera in Italy with a cast of seasoned opera singers underscored his growing prominence in the international opera scene.
Critics widely praised Kim’s performance, highlighting his warm and noble baritone. One review described him as the most musician-like of the cast, delivering Don Fernando’s moral proclamation with touching sincerity. Another remarked that he offered a surprise as the beautifully singing Don Fernando, noting his impressive vocal technique and almost Austrian German diction. His interpretation was lauded for its commanding yet gentle authority. His presence among such esteemed artists, including Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Günther Groissböck, affirmed his place as one of the most promising young baritones of his generation. The audience responded enthusiastically, recognizing his performance as both refined and memorable.
You can find more details on the Fidelio concert at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia through the linked articles below.
You can also watch the full concert for free on Rai5TV by logging into the RaiPlay site with Google, Apple, or Facebook. Julian Kim appears at 2:00:00.
Opera Performances In Concert Form
In addition to his extensive career in fully staged operatic productions, Julian Kim has participated in select concert opera performances. While most of the operas listed in his career were performed in staged productions, exceptions include his performances in concert versions of Otello, Rigoletto, Das Rheingold, Faust and Fidelio.
Among these, his role as Don Fernando in Fidelio under the baton of Sir Antonio Pappano at the prestigious Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome is highlighted in the section above.
In the Hana Classic Series 2 – Myung-Whun Chung and Wagner concert, Julian Kim performed the role of Donner in a concert version of Wagner’s Das Rheingold conducted by Myung-Whun Chung. His performance was praised for demonstrating his ability to sing flawlessly in German opera despite being primarily known for his expertise in Italian repertoire. The scene in Act IV, where Donner clears the oppressive fog and purifies the air, was a standout moment, combining Kim’s commanding presence with a powerful brass-driven orchestral performance that heightened the audience's engagement.
Julian Kim also performed as Montano and A Herald in Verdi’s Otello, presented in concert format with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Myung-Whun Chung at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall.
Additionally, Kim joined the Teatro alla Scala Opera's tour in Seoul and Beijing for a concert version of Simon Boccanegra, where he performed the role of Paolo Albiani. The performance was conducted by Myung-Whun Chung with the Orchestra Teatro alla Scala, Chorus Master Bruno Casoni, and the Chorus Teatro alla Scala.
He also participated in the opera collage The Taming of Casanova, a jukebox-style production featuring famous arias from various operas designed to engage broader audiences in Korea.
The complete list of Julian Kim's concert opera performances is provided below.
Giuseppe Verdi
Richard Wagner
Giacomo Puccini
Ludwig van Beethoven
Charles Gounod
Gaetano Donizetti
Various Composers
Julian Kim's Solo Concerts
Julian Kim held his first solo concert in 2008 in Korea, presenting a repertoire of Italian lyric songs and opera arias. However, his broader recognition among Korean audiences came with the Baritone Julian Kim Recital in 2015 in Seoul. The program showcased a diverse selection of works, featuring pieces by Franz Schubert, J. P. E. Martini, Giuseppe Giordani, Francesco Paolo Tosti, Stefano Gastaldon, and Frédéric Chopin. Alongside these, he performed opera arias from Lucia di Lammermoor and L'elisir d'amore by Gaetano Donizetti, Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Giovanna d'Arco and La Forza del Destino by Giuseppe Verdi. His compelling performance in this recital earned him the Best New Artist Award at the 2nd Seoul Art Center Award in 2016.
Following the release of his first album, Italiana, in 2019, he held the Baritone Julian Jootaek Kim Recital, Italiana, further exploring the rich tradition of Italian song and opera.
Currently, he continues to expand his artistic range through a series of themed concerts under the title Baritone Julian Kim Music Library. This series includes:
Each concert reflects his evolving musical interests, showcasing his versatility across classical, vocal, and crossover genres. Through these performances, Julian Kim continues to broaden his repertoire and engage audiences with his artistic vision.