A great article in this weekend’s New York Times about the rise of Asia in classical music, in particular in opera. While I knew about Korea’s pianists and violinists, not to mention coloratura soprano Jo Sumi, I had no idea Korea was producing so many top opera singers these days (or that China was coming along so strongly).

Increasing numbers of Western conservatories seek to cash in by recruiting the best young Asian opera singers — particularly those from Korea, Taiwan and China. Last year, in Germany’s prestigious Bertelsmann competition, all three top finalists were Korean, while in America’s top competition at the Metropolitan Opera, one of the four finalists was the Korean tenor Sung Eun Lee. A majority of new tenors hired in Berlin, Stuttgart and a number of other important German opera choruses are Koreans.

I have been spending more time recently listening to Barcelona’s local orchestra (the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and National Orchestra of Catalunya). It is interesting to be in a place where classical music is so deeply ingrained … and so overlooked at the same time. The local orchestra is maybe 10 percent Catalans, and many of them are alternates. Going to the symphony here is such a different experience than it was in American cities, like Baltimore or Philadelphia, and different than the faux grandness that one usually experienced in Asia. Or maybe I am a different person than I was then.