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 Zauberflöte, Amanda Le Grande Macabre, title role Matsukaze, 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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Die englische Katze (Minette)
Bayerische Staatsoper, November 2025
Seonwoo Lee sang and acted the part of the naïve country cat superbly
Peter Jungblut, BR Klassik
Fabulous, innocent and unaffected by the arrogance of cat society, Seonwoo Lee's Minette shined
Michael Vieth, Bachtrack
Seonwoo Lee as Minette is a stand out, gaining evermore prominence as the evening continues
Egbert Tholl, Süddeutsche Zeitung
Bright voiced and playful
Joachim Lange, Die Deutsche Bühne
Lee was stupendous and outstanding as Minette
Marco Frei, Bayerische Staatszeitung
Seonwoo Lee with her finely balanced, secure coloratura soprano
Markus Thiel, Merkur.de
Soprano Seonwoo Lee sings the most difficult role of Minette. Her aria in the first act is full of octave jumps. She sings the second act lament with fervour and passion and with ease accomplishes the coloratura with bravura. In her death scene she allows the brightness and lightness of her voice to appear once more with noble honesty.
Frank Heublein, Klassik begeistert
Seonwoo Lee sings the the highest of high notes Minette's soaring outbursts of suffering and joy. Her soprano is a glittering silver - the role sounds like a Zerbinetta on speed.
klassikinfo.de
South Korean Seonwoo Lee is delightful in the role of Minette, the naive country girl who quickly learns the ropes. She effortlessly navigates the countless challenges of the role, which she masterfully overcomes with her clear, luminous soprano voice and moving sensitivity.
Luc-Henri Roger, Resonances Lyriques
Seonwoo Lee's coloratura soprano is finely tuned and confident
Donaukurier
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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