The exceptional Verdi baritone Daniel Ihnkyu Lee is acclaimed for his rich bel canto voice, strong stage presence, and accomplished musicianship. He sang recently Genoa International Music Festival with Chile Universidad of Concepción Symphony Orchestra and Genova Concert Choir in Porto antico di Genova, Santa Margherita Ligure and Alessandria. Mr.Lee sang in the 2021 New Year’s Concert with the KBS Symphony Orchestra at the Seoul Art Center Concert Hall hosted by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the concert was broadcast live and televised nationally.
In 2019, he sang Amonasro in Aida at Cava La Beola di Monte, Montecrestese Summer Festival, Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore at Teatro Comunale Riccardo Zandonai, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Chengdu Art Center, China and was the baritone soloist in the Genova International Music Festival Opera Gala Concert in Genova and Bardonecchia, Italy.
In 2018, he sang The Dutchman in Der Fliegende Holländer at Fondazione Petruzzelli di Bari, Barak in Busoni’s Turandot at Fondazione Lirico di Cagliari, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly at Teatro Comunale Riccardo Zandonai and Baritone soloist in Gran Gala at Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Germont in La Traviata in Spoleto Festival, Assisi, Citta di Castello, Orvieto.
In the summer of 2017, Mr. Lee covered Rigoletto, Nabucco and Sharpless at Arena di Verona Festival. He sang Germont in La Traviata at Teatro Comunale Riccardo Zandonai, Marcello in La Boheme at Teatro Politeama di Catanzaro.
In the 2015-2016 season, Mr.Lee performed Gleby in Siberia at Teatro Grattacielo in New York and Oreste in Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride at Novaya Opera Theater in Moscow.
The New York Times hailed his performance of Giordano’s Siberia with Teatro Grattacielo: “Among the leading roles, the baritone part of the villainous Gleby is particularly intriguing, Daniel Ihn-kyu Lee sang with intelligence and resonant tone.”
He had a triumph performing Oreste. "Performing the role of Oreste needs a dramatic baritone and the American baritone Daniel Ihn-Kyu Lee, winner of numerous international competitions, meets the challenge with his commanding voice. His French pronunciation and his interpretation of the role are absolutely flawless." [Distinguished critic Alexy Parin, Radio Orpheus, Moscow]. He also joined the Metropolitan Opera roster in the 2010-11 season.
This was followed by his acclaimed US premiere performance in 2009 as Il Carpentiere in Il Piccolo Marat with Teatro Grattacielo at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. The New York Times praised his performance as “a substantial success.”
He sang Metifio in L’Arlesiana with Opera Orchestra of New York in Carnegie Hall in 2007 and the New York Times praised his appearance in L'Arlesiana with the Opera Orchestra of New York: “the award for completeness should go to another baritone, Ihn-Kyu Lee, well sung and well-conceived.”
Mr. Lee made his successful European debut recital at the Prinzregententheater in the Bell'Arte Concert Series, Munich (2007) and Süd Deutsch Zeitung acclaimed him as "The Asian Thomas Hampson, with a magnificent voice that melds profundity with lyrical fluidity. His concert highlights included New World Opera Gala Concert at the Seoul Art Center Concert Hall, Gran Gala at Teatro Massimo Bellini in Catania, Fondazione Arena di Verona Concert at La Gran Guardia with Soprano SaeKyung Rim, Operngala concert in Musikverein in Vienna art song recital for the private concert series of Countess Schoenborn in Vienna, Operngala concert with Mahler Philharmoniker in Schönbrunn Palace Vienna, Metropolitan Opera Guild Concert, World Organization Concert in Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall sponsored by United Nations, Opera Pagliacci with the Westfield Symphony Orchestra at PNC Bank Arts Center, New Year's Concert with the Korean Symphony Orchestra at Seoul Art Center with Soprano Su-Mi Jo, Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with the New York AAC Symphony Orchestra at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, United Nations 60th Anniversary Concert with the New York AAC Symphony Orchestra in the General Assembly Hall, Vaughan Williams' Cantata Dona Nobis Pacem with the New England Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall, the New Jersey State Opera’s 40th Anniversary Concert, and Korea Music Foundation Concert at Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall.
Daniel Ihn-Kyu Lee has won many competitions and received numerous awards, including the Sorantin International Music Competition, New Jersey Alliance of Performing Artists Vocal Competition, Joyce Dutka Foundation Competition in which he won first place, the Connecticut Opera Guild Competition for second place, The Puccini Foundation International Voice Competition for third place, the San Antonio Opera Competition for third place and Prize winner of the Caruso International Voice Competition, Opera Index Competition and the career grants from The Laural Schwartz Foundation, the Olga Forrai Foundation and the Korean Cultural Center New York.
Mr. Lee received full scholarships to The Juilliard School, where he graduated from the Professional Studies Program under Daniel Ferro. He earned his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in music from the Korean National University of Arts. He also studied in the Santa Cecilia Opera Studio in Rome and the Renata Scotto New York Academy with Laural Schwartz Scholarship and The Korean Cultural Center New York Scholarship.