DukeKim
- Tenor


About Duke
Duke Kim is the Second Prize Winner of both Operalia (2022) and the inaugural Juan Pons International Singing Competition (2022), as well as a Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition (2021). He is an alumnus of the Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera.
In the 2025 - 26 season, Duke returns to Los Angeles Opera as Tony in West Side Story and to Houston Grand Opera for a new production of Silent Night (Nikolaus Sprink). He also makes five major European house debuts: as Roméo in Roméo et Juliette at both Dresden Semperoper and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma; as Gennaro in Lucrezia Borgia at Teatro de la Maestranza; and as Alfredo Germont in La traviata at Teatr Wielki, Polish National Opera. He will conclude the season at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. In concert, he performs the role of Duca di Mantova in a staged concert of Rigoletto at the Philharmonie de Paris with Le Cercle de l’Harmonie under Jérémie Rhorer and appears as Nadir in a staged concert of Les pêcheursde perles with Washington Concert Opera.
Recent highlights include his Metropolitan Opera debut as Tamino in The Magic Flute, his Los Angeles Opera debut as Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, and his role debut as the Duke in Rigoletto at Santa Fe Opera. He has also appeared as Tamino at Seattle Opera and as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Irish National Opera.
Contact

Rowan Bidmead

Dominic Domingo

Grace Hewett
Representation
European management with Askonas Holt
General management with Opus 3 Artists
Season Highlights
Selected Repertoire
Donizetti
L'Elisire d'amore (Nemorino) • Lucrezia Borgio (Genaro) • Don Pasquale
Gounod
Faust (title role) • Roméo et Juliette (Tybalt, Roméo)
Lehar
Die Lustige Witwe (Camille de Rosillon)
Mozart
Die Zauberflöte (Tamino) • Così Fan Tutte (Ferrando) • Don giovanni (Don Ottavio)
Rossini
Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Il Conte d'Almaviva)
Verdi
La Traviata (Alfredo Germont): Rigoletto (Duca)
News
Press
Roméo et Juliette (title tole)
Los Angeles OperaNov 2024Duke Kim, as Romeo, was her equal in every way. His Romeo was not merely a romantic hero, but a deeply human figure, vulnerable and earnest. Kim’s voice — rich, supple, and powerful — brought Romeo’s passions to life with vivid immediacy. His “Ah! lève-toi, soleil” was a highlight of the evening, sung with such longing that it seemed to hang in the air, shimmering with the weight of Romeo’s hope and despair. Kim’s chemistry with Edris was palpable, their duets smoldering with passion and tenderness, making their tragic fate even more poignant.
- Michael M. Landman-Karny, Stage and Cinema
- 04 November 2024
Il barbiere di Siviglia (Conte Almaviva)
Seattle OperaMay 2024Di ritorno a Seattle dopo il suo debutto come Alfredo nella Traviata del 2023, Duke Kim, ha conferito al Conte Almaviva un'aura di eleganza, con spigliata sicurezza e padronanza del ruolo. La sua voce chiara e rotonda, sostenuta da un fraseggio preciso, ha brillato nell'impegnativa serenata "Se il mio nome", anche se talvolta è apparsa un po' offuscata negli ensemble. Kim ha convinto anche per la sua notevole capacità attoriale, essenziale in un ruolo che prevede diverse sfaccettature, dati anche i travestimenti che il personaggio deve affrontare. - Returning to Seattle after his debut as Alfredo in La Traviata in 2023, Duke Kim, lent Count Almaviva an aura of elegance, with confident assurance and mastery of the role. His clear, rounded voice, supported by precise phrasing, shone in the demanding serenade ‘Se il mio nome’, even if it sometimes appeared a little blurred in the ensembles. Kim was also convincing for her remarkable acting ability, which is essential in a role that involves several facets, given also the disguises the character has to face.
- Viviana Coppo, Opera Click
- 10 May 2024
Count Almaviva spends most of the show in a series of silly disguises. Sung by Duke Kim (most recently Alfredo in last season’s “La Traviata”), it’s hard to decide what’s more impressive — his delivery, or the fact that he delivers while sliding across the stage on his knees.
- Gemma Alexander, The Seattle Times
- 07 May 2024
La Traviata (Alfredo Germont)
Pittsburgh OperaMar 2024Kim is both charming and energetic, adding to his strong tenor voice resolute passion. Accomplished in every manner of operatic voice
- Prentiss Orr, Entertainment Central
- 18 March 2024
Duke Kim, as Alfredo Germont, also making his first appearance with Pittsburgh Opera, gave another stellar performance. His tenor voice is secure and brilliant, equally placed throughout, and he acted the part as well as he sang. He, too, was clearly an audience favorite.
- George B. Parous, On Stage Pittsburgh
- 17 March 2024
Duke Kim, who plays Alfredo, the other half of the lead duo of lovers, has a powerful voice that fills the theater. His love, sorrow and especially anger are palpable. Especially in the third act, every note feels piercing. Such dramatic emotions, even in the exaggerated context of opera, are difficult to make real, but Kim succeeds with his performance.
- Alexis Papalia, Trib Live
- 17 March 2024
Faust (title role)
Irish National OperaOct 2023Duke Kim's Faust soared, delivering one of the best performances I've seen in the role, playing off a fine Mephistopheles from Nicholas Brownlee and Jennifer Davis's sympathetic Marguerite.
- Noel Megahey, Opera Journal
- 07 October 2023
Duke Kim (Faust) possesses a pleasing tenor voice that opened up wonderfully from Act 2 onwards, his aria “Salut, demeure chaste et pure” like liquid gold, while his love duet with Jennifer Davis’ Marguerite was utterly captivating.
- Andrew Larkin, BachTrack
- 01 October 2023
This performance by the Irish National Opera stars tenor Duke Kim in his INO debut as the leading role of the younger Faust. Kim has a magnificent voice and an impressive back repertoire and he brings it all to the role.
- Gearoid O’Byrne, No More Workhorse
- 03 October 2023
Così fan tutte (Ferrando)
Palm Beach OperaFeb 2023Tenor Duke Kim as Ferrando absolutely shines as an operatic star in the aria, “Un aura amorosa” from Act I, Scene III. Kim performed with effortless technique and a brightness in the voice that displayed every stunning transition.
- Sarah Hutchings, Palm Beach Daily News
- 26 February 2023