Soprano Sumi Jo has signed an exclusive recording contract with SM Entertainment and will release a special album marking the 40th anniversary of her debut.
On April 21, SM Entertainment said Sumi Jo signed an exclusive recording contract covering album and digital production. She is the first exclusive recording artist to be signed to SM’s classical and jazz imprint, SM Classics.
Under the agreement, Sumi Jo will release her 40th-anniversary special album, Continuum, this May through SM Classics.
“This album is the fruit of a long journey and also a new beginning,” Sumi Jo said. “My music never remains in a single moment; it keeps moving toward new possibilities. The record includes demanding coloratura arias I’ve never committed to disc before, alongside new works by contemporary composers. I’m dedicated to collapsing the boundary between classical heritage and modern sensibility, and to continuing to pursue new music rather than staying on familiar paths.”
Continuum collects 11 tracks that trace Jo’s past, present and future. Domestic and international composers — including Yiruma, Park Jong-hoon, Kim Jin-hwan, Choi Jin, Go Young-hwan, Yoon Ja-eun and Muramatsu Takatsugu — contributed to the project, which was brought to life under conductor Choi Young-seon and the Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra. The album also features a duet with EXO’s Suho and a guest appearance by violinist Danny Gu.
SM Classics has entered its next phase by recruiting CEO Jo Hee-kyung, who has produced classical and jazz records for global labels such as Universal Music and Warner Music. Jo said, “Under the motto ‘Classical Heritage, Modern Soul,’ we will commit to taking Korean artists in classical, crossover and jazz to global audiences. This Sumi Jo album will be the starting point.”
SM Classics said the exclusive contract with Sumi Jo follows the model typically used by major global labels, focusing on planning, recording and distributing albums and digital releases. Under the deal, Sumi Jo will receive SM Classics’ support across all aspects of album and recording production.
After performances at London’s Cadogan Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall in March, Sumi Jo will launch a national tour in May with stops in Seoul, Changwon, Bucheon and Yongin. In July she plans to hold the 2nd Sumi Jo International Vocal Competition at Château de la Ferté-Ambroise in France and will continue mentoring the next generation of singers.
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