Biography
Born in South Korea, James Lee studied singing at the University of Yeungnam in Kyongsan, South Korea and later at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf, Germany. In 2011-2013 James Lee was the finalist and prize winner at numerous competitions, among them the First Prize at the International Singing Competition Masters of Lyrical Art – Valentin Teodorian in Bucharest, Romania and First Prize and Special Prize at the Competizione dell’Opera 2013 in Linz, Austria. After winning this latest award, he made his debut as Calaf in a new production of Turandot at the Graz Opera and as Arrigo in I Vespri Siciliani at the Theater Freiburg, as well as Radames in a new production of Aida at Opernfestspiele St. Margarethen, staged by renowned director Robert Dornhelm. The following seasons he performed Don José (Carmen) and Manrico (Il trovatore) at the Theater Freiburg, as well as Riccardo (Un ballo in maschera) at Saarländisches Staatstheater Saarbrücken, Radames (Aida) at Cairo Opera House in Egypt. His latest engagements include Calaf (Turandot) with Maestro Antoni Wit at the Teatr Wielki in Łódź, Poland, as Radames (Aida) at Schlossfestspiele Schwerin of Mecklenburgischen Staatstheaters Schwerin, as Radames in a Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Aida at State Opera House of Georgia.