Kristen Choi photographed by Kate Marley.
(Santa Fe, NM) - The first time I encountered mezzo soprano Kristen Choi, she was onstage as Wowkle in The Santa Fe Opera’s 2016 production of La Fanciulla Del West. At the time, I didn’t realize Kristen was an apprentice artist in a principal role. It wasn’t until her second apprentice season that we properly met and became friends, Kristen having some of my fave musical moments (and 80-90s outfits) in the world-premiere of Mason Bates and Mark Campbell’s The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
It was a delight to get to know this incredible artist through her Instagram feed and DMs as she worked and traveled across the USA and Europe. In addition to operatic roles, Kristen joined the Lincoln Center Broadway Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I as an ensemble member and Lady Thiang understudy; we were thrilled to see her June 20, 2018 performance of this classic in Albuquerque.
I was hopeful that Kristen would be interested in sharing her pop music and opera thoughts because in addition to opera, her Instagram account is my one-stop shop for all things K-pop - the latest hits regularly shared though dance videos of her original choreography (not to mention avid rock climbing, nature, food and family adventures). Authentic storytelling is the key, as you’ll see below. - JM
By Kristen Choi
(Los Angeles, CA) - “What could opera learn from pop music?” What a simple yet loaded question. Let me begin by introducing my background in music and the journey of my falling in love with opera and then pursuing it as a career.
I was a Disney kid who loved singing along to classic songs from Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Popular mainstream music was always on my playlist, too, along with boy bands, Britney Spears, musical theater and jazz in the mix. My musical tastes have always been eclectic, especially since I love dancing; I was no stranger to 90s and 2000s hip-hop.
In truth, I never really listened to classical music recreationally unless it was to help me practice piano or to focus while studying so, understandably, I wasn’t drawn to opera or exposed to it. However, I was always open to it. So when I was fortunate enough to go on school field trips to see an opera, I was always blown away. But opera didn’t really stick until I was older. I’d begun studying classical voice at university, but was still undecided on what career path to take. It wasn’t until I landed the role of Barbarina in a regional production of Le nozze di Figaro that I truly fell down the opera rabbit-hole. Maybe it was the power of Mozart, but something about telling this hilarious story in Italian captured my full and undivided attention. From that point forward, I was hooked. I’d had my “A-ha” moment and finally understood the big deal of this beautiful art form.
So, what can opera learn from pop?
What it all comes down to is why “pop” music so appealing. As a K-pop fan, why is this genre garnering so much attention globally and in the United States? How did this South Korean Hallyu (South Korean wave) arrive and then go on to sweep the global music market?
I honestly don’t think opera must conform or change itself to sound more like pop. As librettist Mark Campbell said, it doesn’t need to be “accessible” in order to be successful. Pop music is popular music and right now that means an array of eclectic sounds and styles. Further to this point, artists are actively blending genres and styles. Fusion is most definitely “in”.
If fusion is a pop music trend, couldn’t pop music borrow from opera, becoming even more unique and exciting?
Just like when I was growing up, many people aren’t exposed to opera or their idea/impression of the art form, as a whole, is that it’s archaic, traditional, boring and elitist.
I do have a theory as to why K-pop became popular in the USA. One of the biggest K-pop groups is BTS - you’ve probably heard of them because their song “Dynamite” just hit Number One on the Billboard Hot 100, making BTS the first all-South Korean group to achieve this; they’ve pretty much taken over the genre and are a global phenomenon. But how did they achieve this incredible success? Their secret sauce is actually quite simple.
BTS uses their music and art to encourage healing, and to spread a universal message of self-love to people of all ages around the world.
This BTS fan knows that group members are heavily involved in the writing and production of their music, and that they consistently demonstrate how they care about their listeners and fans. Like opera singers, their art is genuine. Their storytelling is also genuine and feels that way, too. So often, it’s this genuine STORY-TELLING that gets lost in translation across so much of today’s popular art and music. BTS is different, though, and it shows up in their success and fan loyalty.
We also connect through stories in opera. The majority of us aren't in this industry just to make money or flaunt musical knowledge and/or our egos. And yes, I understand that not all operatic works tell a great or coherent story (ahem, Handel’s music or some Rossini operas), but the spectacle and virtuosic talent found in these works remain integral to the global, musical firmament.
Whether it’s K-pop, opera, musical theatre or pop music, we all benefit from genuine stories told through song.
Kristen Choi as Suzuki in Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s Madama Butterly (2018).
Photo by Julius Ahn.
Mezzo-soprano Kristen Choi has been hailed by Opera News as a “powerhouse in the making” for her portrayal of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. Her 2019-2020 bookings included a house debut in this signature role, with performances at Opera Omaha. Kristen is set to make her Opera Philadelphia house debut in their 2022 production of Puccini’s masterpiece. Recent engagements also included a role and house debut with Opera Maine as the Third Lady in Mozart's The Magic Flute, as well as creating the title role in a brand new production of Murasaki's Moon, a completely new work in partnership with Onsite Opera and the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Wall Street Journal review here). Kristen Choi is represented by Stratagem Artists.
Visit Kristen Choi on Instagram | kristenchoi.com