Julian Kim returned to the role of Figaro at Teatro La Fenice in 2016, performing in the theater’s traditional production directed by Bepi Morassi. As his third Figaro of the year, the engagement underscored his rising stature on the Italian operatic scene. In this classic staging, Kim delivered a performance full of energy and assurance, navigating Rossini’s comic pacing and linguistic demands with impressive ease. Rather than following the trend toward lighter-voiced Figaros, Kim’s interpretation drew comparisons to the great Leo Nucci, offering a rich, full-bodied sound anchored in vocal strength and dramatic conviction — a portrayal both grounded in tradition and marked by his own artistry.