ArtistSM Classics
Sumi Jo
Sumi Jo (조수미) is one of Korea's defining classical exports, a Grammy winning lyric coloratura soprano whose international career has run from major opera houses to concert halls across Europe, the US, and Asia. She made her international debut in 1986 in Rigoletto at Teatro Verdi in Trieste, then built a career around bel canto precision, crossover fluency, and a rare level of global cultural recognition for a Korean classical vocalist. In 2026, Jo entered a new chapter by signing an exclusive recording deal tied to SM Entertainment and its classical imprint SM Classics, with her 40th anniversary album Continuum positioned as the label's first major exclusive artist statement. The project also links her to Suho of EXO and violinist Danny Koo in a crossover move that broadens her audience without flattening her classical identity.
0 articles1 creditsDebut: January 1, 1986South Korean
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Discography
2026
ContinuumAlbum
Fans Also Ask
Who is Sumi Jo?
Sumi Jo is a South Korean lyric coloratura soprano known for her Grammy winning work and long run of international opera and concert performances. She made her international debut in 1986 in Trieste and became one of Korea's most globally recognized classical musicians.
What is Continuum by Sumi Jo?
<em>Continuum</em> is Sumi Jo's 40th anniversary album, scheduled for May 2026 through SM Classics. Reporting said the 11 track project blends coloratura arias she had never recorded before with new works by contemporary composers, alongside crossover appearances from Suho and Danny Koo.
Why is Sumi Jo's SM deal significant?
The deal matters because it makes Sumi Jo the first exclusive recording artist under SM Classics, the classical and jazz imprint of SM Entertainment. It gives SM a prestige classical anchor while giving Jo a new label structure for recording, distribution, promotion, and digital rollout.
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