Seonwoo Lee

Soprano

"a lyric soprano of extraordinary focus and clarity"

Opera News

Munich-based South Korean soprano Seonwoo Lee has been acclaimed for her artistry, with Opera Canada praising her “phenomenal control” and Opera News calling her “a lyric soprano of extraordinary focus and clarity.”

She is a recent graduate of the Bayerische Staatsoper’s Opernstudio where roles included Oscar Un ballo in maschera, Frasquita Carmen, Papagena Die ZauberflöteAmanda Le Grande Macabre, High Priestess Aida, and 1st Flowermaiden Parsifal. Collaborations in her time there include working with conductors such as Susanna Mälkki, Vladamir Jurowski, and Kent Nagano and directors Andrea Breth and Krzysztof Warlikowski.

She returns to the company in the 2025/2026 season as Minette in Henze’s The English Cat and creates the role of the First Courtier in the world premiere of Brett Dean’s Of One Blood. She will also make her role and house debut as Gilda Rigoletto at Royal Danish Opera. 

Seonwoo holds an Artist Diploma from the Royal College of Music, a master’s degree from The Juilliard School, and a bachelor’s degree with high distinction from Seoul National University.

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Carmen (Frasquita)

Bayerische Staatsoper, March 2025

Seonwoo Lee is currently a member of the opera studio and she . . . polishes the part of Carmen's friend Frasquita to a high gloss

Oliver Bernhardt, klassik.com

The roles of Frasquita and Mercédès were played respectively by South Korean Seonwoo Lee and Australian Xenia Puskarz Thomas, two very talented young singers whom we would love to hear in more substantial roles.

J. G. Messerschmidt, pro ópera

Un ballo in maschera (Oscar)

Bayerische Staatsoper, January 2025

Seonwoo Lee, who made her debut in the role of Oscar, brought a freshness and vitality that balanced the darker moods of the opera. Her agile and light voice stood out for its brilliance.

Geoffroy Schied, The blogartpost

Die Zauberflöte (Papagena)

Bayerische Staatsoper, January 2025

[Papageno's] duet with Seonwoo Lee as Papagena is pure delight, overflowing with freshness and tenderness.

Henri, Opera Diaryu

La bella dormente nel bosco (Blue Fairy)

Royal College of Music, March 2023

Particularly impressive was Seonwoo Lee’s Blue Fairy, a demanding coloratura role that Lee tackled with deft precision and considerable success. We have a budding Zerbinetta there.

Dominic Lowe, Bachtrack

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