“In soprano Sylvia Lee, the company found a Gilda who could place every note with exquisite accuracy while projecting a full palette of innocent haplessness, filial devotion and passion. Nothing she did sounded forced, and she used her splendid vocal equipment subtly and with artistic restraint. The only dramatic sparks came from Lee, whose Gilda was captivating.”
The Washington Post, Joan Reinthaler
“Her name is Sylvia Lee…electrifying, she will be remembered as a star appears…she alone could have sent the audience home happy.”
Ha’aretz, Tel-Aviv
“One must marvel at this young singer’s flexibility, talent and sheer grit. She was a spirited flirt; a shy, veiled bride; and something of a shrew. Lee’s bright soprano soared through Norina’s role; her stage presence was considerable.”
The Advocate, Connecticut
With a range of more than three octaves, Sylvia Lee specializes in the high coloratura soprano repertoire, as well as in bel canto style and early music. She recently performed the title-role Lucia di Lammermoor with Musica Viva in Hong Kong, Gilda Rigoletto with the Virginia Opera. She was Ilia Idomeneo with Maestro Myung-Whun Chung with the Korea National Opera. With the Korea National Opera, she played the role of Pamina Die Zauberflote, the title-role Lucia di Lammermoor, and CioCio San Madama Butterfly. And she also performed Rosina with the Opera theater of Lakeland, the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflote with the International Vocal Arts Institute; Norina Don Pasquale with Connecticut Grand Opera, conducted by Will Crutchfield; Pamina Die Zauberflote, Despina Cosi fan Tutte, and Nannetta in Falstaff with the Natchez Opera Festival; and the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, Olympia in Les Contes D’Hoffmann, Madam Goldentrill in The Impresario, and Gilda in Rigoletto with the International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel, France, and Japan.
Recent concert engagements have included a Gala Cristina Deutekom 80 Jaar with Ramon Tebar in Amsterdam, Netherland, a Gala Concert in Koninklijk Theater Carré in Amsterdam, an Opera Gala with Inspiratum in Antwerp, Belgium, an Annual Opera Gala Concerts with Korea National Opera conducted by Marco Balderi, both the Brahms Requiem and Carmina Burana with the Southwest Florida Symphony, conducted by Paul Nadler; Pamina in Die Zauberflote at Korea’s Sejong Concert Hall; Messiah with the New Jersey Philharmonic; Opera Galas with the Institute Canadien d’Art Vocal and France’s Au Château de la Ferté; and Night of Stars with the Natchez Opera Festival.
Sylvia Lee is a winner in the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions for the Eastern Region. She also received awards from the National Opera Association Competition, the Olga Koussevitzky Competition of the Musicians’ Club of New York, the Connecticut Opera Guild’s Young Artist Scholarship Competition and the Five Towns and Music Young Artist Competition.
Ms. Lee holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Seoul National University, and a master’s degree in music from Mannes College of Music. In addition to this, she completed a one-year professional studies course at the Manhattan School of Music. While a student, she appeared with Mannes Opera, conducted by Joseph Colaneri and Ted Taylor, in scenes from Lucia di Lammermoor; The Impresario; Ariadne auf Naxos; Cosi fan Tutte; Il Barbiere di Siviglia.
Future engagements include Gilda in Rigoletto in Hong Kong, the Queen of the Night with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra and Opera Tampa.
