Soprano Sumi Jo on Classical Music and Her Role in Paolo Sorrentino’s New Film ‘Youth’

Sandra Miska

Sumi Jo, considered by many to be the best soprano living, plays herself in “Youth,” the latest from Italian director Paolo Sorrentino. Born in South Korea, Jo moved to Italy at age 21 to continue her musical training, and she remains there today. She has made over 50 recordings in her 30-year career and performed all over the world even earning a Grammy. She has also lent her voice to a variety of projects, including the HBO miniseries “Mildred Pierce” for which she recorded the singing voice for the character played by Evan Rachel Wood.

Sumi Jo recently sat down and spoke with Entertainment Voice about Paolo Sorrentino’s “Youth,” her mission to expose more people to classical music and why she prefers being a singer over an actor any day.

How did you come to be involved in “Youth”?

I was in Italy one year and a half ago. I was performing, I don’t know exactly where, but I got a phone call from Paolo Sorrentino’s secretary saying that he would like to meet me to discuss the role. So I wanted to meet him. He was talking about the song called “Simple Song,” and he felt that I should sing that song. I [asked] to hear the song, and I liked it. I said, “Well, maybe I can interpret the song quite well, so let’s try.” That’s it. Very naturally it happened. Obviously, I was very happy to receive this offer.

Were you familiar with Paolo before?

I saw his movie “The Great Beauty,” obviously. I was so touched by that movie. Before I didn’t know who he was, actually. After “The Great Beauty” I started to find other movies that he had done, “Il Divo,” “This Must Be the Place,” famous movies. I completely fell in love with his movies. I think he’s an amazing director. Everybody thinks that he’s the new Fellini; I completely agree with this. He’s a wonderful, wonderful person.

How was performing in this film different from any other performance?

When I’m performing on the stage, obviously, I have more freedom to move and do very spontaneous things. In opera and even concert, I play a lot with the audience. I was not supposed to move too much. My body had to be quite steady, but I was allowed to move my hands, and my eyes, and my head, because of the camera rolling. Paolo wanted to see me on stage as he was imagining it. It’s a completely different kind of performing.

The scene you were in was filmed in London. What is your favorite place to perform?

My favorite place is Paris. I love Parisians. I love that their cultural level is so high and they respect art so much. I love Paris very much and I also love very much [performing] in Seoul and Tokyo. But, in general, I love everywhere I go, because it’s my mission to make them love me. It’s sort of challenging, but interesting work.

What are your favorite pieces to perform?

Well, when I used to work as an opera singer, my favorite roles were “Lucia di Lammermoor” or “Rigoletto” or even Mozart or French opera. I have some guests who sing together. I work with Andrea Bocelli; I work with other pop stars and we love doing open-air concerts for charities.  I love this kind of performance for [a wider audience]. It’s beautiful performing as a soprano, but I also love very much to give more [chances for people to see me].

What was that like working on “Mildred Pierce”?

 That was interesting because somehow the daughter of Kate Winslet was singing onstage with my voice, and it was a strange feeling to watch her singing with my voice. But I know that [Evan Rachel Wood] used to live with the recording of my voice the whole time and, actually, she asked me some questions – how to breathe, and how she had to act. It’s not easy, but she was amazing. She looked wonderful and when I was watching that miniseries, I said, “Oh my gosh, she is just gorgeous.”

Would you like to be involved with more projects like that?

Yeah, actually what I want to do is that. As a classical singer obviously I love performing in the famous classical halls and opera houses, but I never forget that there are many people who are not very familiar with classical music so I think they should [also have the chance] to appreciate classical music. So, in Italy, in Korea, and also in the United States, I try to do more open concerts.  My voice was used for this movie “Youth” and “Eat Pray Love.” Julia Roberts, while she was eating spaghetti, you can hear my “Queen of the Night” arias, and in “The Ninth Gate” with Johnny Depp, my voice was used as the voice of Diablo who was the demon in that movie. 

Would you ever take on a speaking role in a film?

Sumi Jo: Actually, I did something in my country. Let me tell you, it was awful [laughs]. Somehow I don’t have patience. For me, it was a very intense but short scene, but I had to wait like nine hours. I said, “My god, this is difficult.” All these actors and actresses, they just wait and wait for their turn. I said, “This is not for me.” I begged the director, “Can I go? Because tomorrow I have a rehearsal.” But he said, “Please, you have to wait.” A singer is much easier,because I’m used to it, but I must tell you, after this experience of “Youth,” I really realized that the actors and actresses and all the film people they work so hard. It’s unbelievable. Just to make one take, everybody concentrates to make the best [one]. It’s a really, really hard job, but I bet it’s a beautiful job.

“Youth” opens in select theaters Dec. 4.