By Honorary Reporter Eman Elashker from Egypt
Photos = Hera Hyesang Park's official website

Soprano Hera Park Hyesang is a graduate of Seoul National University and earned a master's degree from the Juilliard School in New York. In 2015, she placed second in Placido Domingo's Operalia, The World Opera Competition.

Based in New York, she has performed extensively abroad and released two albums, with her latest "Breathe" coming out in February this year. 

Park performed for the first time at the K-Music Festival in London last month.

The following are excerpts from an email interview with Park from Oct. 7-25.

Hera Park Hyesang is a graduate of Seoul National University and the Juilliard School in New York.

Why did you pursue a singing career, specifically opera?
I deeply love music and storytelling through vocal expression. For me, live performances and recordings are not just artistic expressions; they represent acts of self-discovery and emotionally honest connections. I hope to draw attention to diverse voices that should be heard and celebrated.

How do you merge traditional Korean and Western styles of singing? What are the similarities and differences between them?

Both emphasize emotional expression. Traditional Korean music focuses on deep feelings much like Western opera, which prioritizes character and emotion.

But they differ significantly. Traditional Korean singing features a more flexible approach to pitch and rhythm, while Western music is generally more structured. Additionally, vocal techniques vary, with Western audiences often surprised by the sounds in traditional Korean art songs. I strive to blend the emotional depth of Korean music with the technical precision of my Western classical training.

This is the cover of Park's latest album "Breathe."

Are the voice types of pansori (traditional lyrical opera) and a soprano are similar?

Both emphasize emotional expression and storytelling. As a soprano, I find the powerful vocal techniques of pansori very inspiring. The breath control and techniques required in both forms are similar, and studying pansori can enhance a soprano's ability to convey a range of emotions.

The soprano performs at one of her concerts held at the Korea National Opera in Seoul.

Which of your performances are the most memorable to you?
One memorable experience was in the U.K., when an audience member spontaneously joined me on stage, singing along and dancing. Another was in Mexico on my birthday, when the audience sang "Happy Birthday" to me.

What projects are you working on?
This season, I'll be performing with the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo led by Sascha Goetzel and the Wiener Symphoniker (Austria) conducted by Petr Popelka. I'll have a concert with the Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine (France) led by Sora Elisabeth Lee. 

Now, I'm playing Zerlina in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at Staatsoper Hamburg (Germany) 

and Pamina in "The Magic Flute" at the Metropolitan Opera House (New York). Next year, I'll also return to Korea to celebrate a new album.

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*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.