In his portrayal of Paolo Albiani in Simon Boccanegra, Julian Kim embodied the character's transformation with striking nuance. At the outset, he appeared as a young man driven by ambition and political conviction—seemingly patriotic, aligned with Boccanegra’s rise. As the opera progressed, his performance revealed Paolo’s descent into darkness. Julian Kim’s subtly twitching lips, menacing facial expressions, and increasingly sinister vocal tone painted a chilling portrait of a man hiding his true intentions behind a mask of loyalty. His velvety baritone, praised for its rich darkness, carried a demonic undertone that intensified as Paolo’s schemes unfolded. Critics noted the complexity of his interpretation, drawing comparisons to Iago for its psychological depth and layered villainy. Few portrayals of Paolo capture both the political cunning and inner torment as compellingly as Julian Kim’s did in this production.

This performance was part of Teatro La Fenice’s production of Simon Boccanegra, the inaugural work opening its 2014/2015 season.