Francesco Hong

Calaf (Turandot)

Korean tenor Francesco Hong studied singing at the University Kyung-Hee in Seoul. In 2002 he moved to Italy to learn Italian opera repertoire with Paolo Barbacini. Victory in the Viotti Competition in Vercelli led to his debut at the Teatro Regio in Parma, where he sang the part of the Duke in Rigoletto. This was followed by invitations to Trieste, Tel Aviv, Vienna, Genoa and Bari. In 2008 he sang in Frankfurt (Don Carlo), Piacenza, Modena and Madrid, and Calaf at the Puccini Festival, in Rovigo and Bolzano. January 2009 saw his debut at La Scala, Milan in Don Carlo. Other engagements for this year include the part of Calaf in Philadelphia and at the Puccini Festival, and visits to the Bilbao Opera and the Vienna State Opera.