This singer who regularly performs on the most famous opera stages – the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Vienna State Opera as well as La Scala in Milan – she shone as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, as Rosina in The Barber of Seville and Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann. “I have sung in the Czech Republic several times, for example on the occasion of the Olympic Games in Korea in 2010. I was pleased with the warm welcome which I received. The Czech Republic has a great cultural heritage and I love to come here. But I am going to visit Český Krumlov for the very first time,” said Sumi Jo. She won the favour of the audience in the Brewery Garden in Český Krumlov at the very beginning thanks to her easy manner as well as the gentleness and gracefulness with which she performed the arias from the Italian and French opera repertoire. For example, her interpretation of Coraline’s aria from the opera Le Toréador by Adolphe by Adolphe Charlese Adam with the subtitle “Perfect Harmony” elicited tumultuous ovations. And the audience really witnessed perfect harmony which Sumi Jo demonstrated together with flautist Mario Mesany.

A guest at this concert was Italian tenor Danilo Formaggia who sang several duets with Sumi Jo and the joint numbers were also a source of inspiration for mutual “teasing” which amused the audience. The audience was rewarded with four encores; after two solo arias and one duet, Sumi Jo and Danilo Formaggia bade farewell to the audience with a song of a fitting name Con Te Partirò or Time to Say Goodbye. Both soloists were accompanied by the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Petr Vronský.  

After the concert Sumi Jo said that she was really delighted with this evening, “I hope that the audience enjoyed the concert as much as we did on stage.” She only regretted not having more time to visit Český Krumlov. “Although I have visited many beautiful towns, I would like to return to this town and spend more time here. I must make a trip to Český Krumlov when I have my next concert in the Czech Republic,” added Sumi Jo. Also the weather stood by the festival during the entire opening concert. Although there were storms near Český Krumlov, the audience in the Brewery Garden enjoyed a warm cloudless evening.