Korean bass Young Bok Kim has established himself as a commanding presence on the operatic stage, earning acclaim for his resonant voice, dramatic authority, and compelling portrayals of the great bass repertoire. Equally at home in Italian, French, Russian, German, and contemporary works, he has appeared with many of North America’s leading opera companies and remains a favorite with audiences and critics alike.
Recent seasons have included performances as Colline in La bohème, Ferrando in Il trovatore, Don Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Jorg in Stiffelio, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, and the title role in Verdi’s Attila with Sarasota Opera. He has also appeared with Opera Colorado as Ferrando in Il trovatore, Bonzo in Madama Butterfly, and Timur in Turandot, and with Opera Delaware as Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Alidoro in La cenerentola, and Seneca in L’incoronazione di Poppea. In the fall of 2026, Mr. Kim will join the Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera as Ferrando in Il Trovatore and spring 2027, he will make an important role debut as Pimen in Mussorgsky’s Boris Godunov with Opera Southwest.
A native of Korea, Mr. Kim has enjoyed a distinguished career with several of the country’s leading opera companies. His appearances include Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte with both the National Opera of Korea and Seoul Metropolitan Opera, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, Nino’s Ghost in Semiramide, the Abbot in Curlew River, and Don Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia.
Mr. Kim made his New York City Opera debut as Colline in La bohème and subsequently returned for performances as Zuniga in Carmen, Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte, and Bonzo in Madama Butterfly. Additional engagements have included appearances with Dallas Opera, Utah Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera Boston, Opera New Jersey, Baltimore Concert Opera, Teatro Grattacielo, and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, where he was featured as the bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Mr. Kim holds degrees from Chung-Ang University in Korea and the Mannes College of Music and pursued further studies at the Juilliard Opera Center.
Currently In
Opera: Verdi, Il Trovatore, in concert
Conductor
Ari Pelto
SopranoAviva Fortunata
TenorDiego Torre
Mezzo-Soprano Deborah Nansteel
Baritone Stephen Powell
BassYoung Bok Kim
Mezzo-SopranoCourtney Miller
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