A South Korean Tenor Makes His Mark at the Met, With La Scala Next

By ANTHONY TOMMASINI

The South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee won a lot of fans at the Metropolitan Opera for his recent performances in the touchstone title role of Verdi’s “Don Carlo” at the Metropolitan Opera, starting with his Met debut on Nov. 29. Roberto Alagna, who sang the role in the Nov. 22 premiere of Nicholas Hytner’s new production and garnered all the opening-night reviews, was the big-name draw of “Don Carlo,” along with the young conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, making his Met debut.
Mr. Alagna sang four of the eight performances and Mr. Lee took the others, including the final one on Saturday afternoon, the first of the season’s Met radio broadcasts. This was my only chance to hear Mr. Lee, 37, and the buzz about him is justified. He is an outstanding tenor. Handsome and youthful, he is a natural onstage and a sensitive listener during duets and ensembles. He made a touchingly earnest Don Carlo, exuding what could be called charismatic modesty.

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