In November 2019, Julian Kim made his debut as Rodrigo (Posa) in Verdi’s Don Carlo at Teatro La Fenice, under the baton of Maestro Myung-Whun Chung. This production was the inaugural opera of the season and became a powerful symbol of resilience for Venice. Just days before opening night, the city was struck by the most devastating flood in over 50 years. The theater’s control and fire-prevention systems were damaged, rehearsals were canceled, and both singers and orchestra were displaced — with stage director Robert Carsen hosting rehearsals at his home and the orchestra commuting daily to Treviso. Despite serious concerns, the opera opened as scheduled on November 24 to a full house, with Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro delivering a speech and the Italian national anthem performed before the curtain rose.

Carsen’s signature minimalist staging — defined by its dark palette and emotional austerity — took on new significance in the wake of the city’s crisis. The absence of ornamentation emphasized the opera’s psychological depth, and Rodrigo’s role was reinterpreted as a manipulated figure, whose apparent death is part of a broader political maneuver.

Julian Kim’s Rodrigo was met with strong acclaim. Critics praised the beauty and strength of his voice, calling it “dark in timbre, with masterful control of dynamic contrast from forte to piano,” and commended his musical phrasing and stage authority. His performance was noted as one of the most distinctly Verdian of the cast. The production — already emotionally charged — would go on to be one of the last major operas staged at La Fenice before the COVID-19 pandemic forced widespread closures across Italy.

Julian Kim’s contribution was formally recognized in La Fenice’s 2020 Bilancio di esercizio (Annual Report), where he was named among the house’s First Class Artists — a distinction given to only 55 singers that season, including just 11 baritones. Among them, only two were Korean: Julian Kim and bass Simon Lim.