Four only the fourth time in its nearly 100-year history, the San Francisco Opera will have a new music director: Eun Sun Kim. Effective August 2021, the 39-year-old South Korean conductor will begin her five-year contract leading the SF Opera.
With the appointment, Kim becomes the first Asian woman to lead a major North American opera company, and she has already expressed her excitement about her new role.
“From my first moments with the San Francisco Opera, I felt like part of the family,” Kim said in an interview. “The whole organization is super professional, but I also saw a lot of love and passion for the music. For me, it felt very natural to be here."
Naturally, the SF Opera is equally as enthused to welcome Kim's remarkable talents, which they recognized almost immediately.
“There were two things that we saw early on," SF Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said. "One was her clear vision and sense of artistic purpose. But at the same time, there’s a welcoming generosity that happens with the orchestra and the singers, a message that says, ‘I want you to do your very best, and I’m here to facilitate that.’”
Kim made an impactful debut at the SF Opera back in June, leading Dvorák’s “Rusalka” to rave reviews. In her new position as music diretor, she'll be conducting up to four operatic production each season, as well as conducting concerts at the War Memorial Opera House and participating in executive leadership of the organization.
"Whatever repertoire I’m conducting at a particular time, that’s what I fall in love with," she said. "When I was conducting ‘Rusalka’ and also preparing Dvorák’s Eighth Symphony, then Dvorák was my favorite composer. Now I’m working on Rachmaninoff’s Third Symphony, and he’s the one I love best."
For more about the San Francisco Opera, including ticket information, visit their website.
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