In the solo part, countertenor Yongbeom Kwon interpreted the text with a gorgeous, powerful, and deeply intimate voice of immense authenticity…

Altus Yongbeom Kwon impressed with his versatile, colorful countertenor, which soared effortlessly over the orchestra and touched hearts in the expressive recitatives…

…and the young countertenor Yongbeom Kwon, who rightly won two awards—including the Audience Award—at the Farinelli Competition in Karlsruhe in March. Even here, countertenor Yongbeom Kwon captivated with his solo in the second movement, sung with a beauty and expressive warmth that could hardly be surpassed. As Bernstein specified, this solo must be sung by a boy or a countertenor…

The presentation of the Audience Award created particular suspense, being a ‘tight race,’ as Christoph von Bernuth, Opera Director in Karlsruhe, emphasized: ‘Out of 318 votes cast, one received 92 and the other 89.’ … In the end, Yongbeom Kwon won over the majority of the audience's hearts with his warm timbre and extraordinarily alluring expression….. This prize also went to Kwon, who thus received two awards at the first Farinelli Competition in Karlsruhe.

Countertenor Yongbeom Kwon shone with a warm, expressive alto voice that remained perfectly controlled even in the most demanding coloraturas. His interpretation of the aria ‘Schlafe, mein Liebster’ was undoubtedly an emotional highlight of the evening.

The young countertenor Yongbeom Kwon, who actually celebrates his operatic debut as David tonight. And what a debut it is: with his extraordinarily beautiful and expressive voice, he delivers vocal highlights—and occasionally shows remarkable power with astonishing volume in ensemble scenes…