SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation Hosts Opera Il Trovatore in Commitment to the Fine Arts

Key Highlights:

• The foundation will stage Verdi's mid-career masterpiece, Il Trovatore, at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on November 17.
• Internationally acclaimed tenor Yonghoon Lee will make his Korean stage debut as Manrico, joined by a premier cast of vocalists including Sunyoung Seo, Donghwan Lee, and Danbi Lee.
• Honoring the legacy of the late SeAH Group Chairman Woonhyung Lee, the foundation continues to champion the fine arts by offering the public high-quality cultural experiences.

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bringing a celebrated classic to Seoul, Korea, the SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation will stage Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece, Il Trovatore, on November 17 at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. This performance marks the second major SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation Concert of 2026.

Established to honor the legacy of the late SeAH Group Chairman Woonhyung Lee, the foundation has hosted its regular concert series since 2015. To make high-quality cultural experiences more accessible and to support the sustainable growth of the fine arts, the foundation thoughtfully curates and stages premier opera productions every year.

The centerpiece of this upcoming concert, Il Trovatore stands alongside Rigoletto and La Traviata as one of Verdi's mid-career masterpieces. Set in 15th-century Spain, the opera unfolds a tragic tale of love, jealousy, and revenge. The performance highlights dramatic orchestration and demanding vocal artistry, featuring monumental pieces like the "Anvil Chorus" and culminating in soaring tenor high notes that anchor the dramatic tension.

Reflecting the foundation's mission to support the fine arts and popularize opera, the production features a cast of globally acclaimed vocalists. Tenor Yonghoon Lee—who has commanded leading roles at the world's top seven opera houses, including New York's Metropolitan Opera, London's Royal Opera House, and Milan's La Scala—will make his Korean stage debut as Manrico. He is joined by International Tchaikovsky Competition laureate soprano Sunyoung Seo as Leonora. The performance is further anchored by a robust supporting cast active across major European stages, including baritone Donghwan Lee and mezzo-soprano Danbi Lee, alongside bass Dongho Kim, mezzo-soprano Gayoung Kim, and tenor Jinhoon Kim.

An accomplished creative and musical team backs the production. Acclaimed for her sophisticated work across numerous operas, director Hyunjin Pyo will helm the staging. Under the baton of Classic Busan Orchestra Music Director Kwanghyun Kim, the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra and the Noi Opera Chorus will bring Verdi's dramatic orchestration and powerful choral arrangements to life.

"This is a truly meaningful production that unites world-class vocalists who share our foundation's vision, showcasing their exceptional artistry on a single stage," said a representative of the SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation. "We hope this performance, highlighted by Verdi's intense music and tragic narrative, will offer audiences a deeply moving and comforting experience in their daily lives."

About SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation

Founded in August 2013, the SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation was established to honor the legacy of the late SeAH Group Chairman Woonhyung Lee, who demonstrated a profound commitment to the arts and served as the inaugural chairman of the Korea National Opera for 13 years. The Foundation is dedicated to advancing Korea's cultural landscape by promoting classical music and opera, aiming to elevate the value of creative endeavors by artists and foster a sustainable environment for the arts.

To achieve its mission, the Foundation operates through four core initiatives encompassing artist sponsorship, regular concerts, regional outreach, and academic research support. It provides comprehensive backing to promising vocalists and opera talents to help them grow into globally recognized artists, while also sponsoring various arts organizations. As part of these efforts, the Foundation has hosted the annual SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation Concert since 2015, alongside regional classical performances designed to broaden public access to the arts. In the academic sphere, it actively supports musicology research and the publication of music book series, providing scholars with a stable foundation for in-depth study. To learn more about the SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation, visit www.woonhyungleefoundation.org.

About SeAH Group

SeAH Group is a leading steel materials company headquartered in Korea, with core businesses in steel pipes, special steel, and advanced metal materials. The Group supplies energy steel pipes for the oil and gas industry, piping and structural steel pipes for the construction market, and special steel used in automotive and industrial machinery components. Building on more than 65 years of expertise in steel materials manufacturing and engineering, SeAH Group continues to expand into future growth industries, including aerospace and defense, nuclear energy, and renewable energy such as offshore wind power.

The Group's business portfolio is built around two key pillars: special steel and steel pipes. Its special steel businesses are centered on SeAH Holdings, while its steel pipe businesses are led by SeAH Steel Holdings. SeAH Group operates 61 affiliated companies worldwide, including 24 in Korea and 37 overseas, while maintaining a global manufacturing and business network serving customers across key international markets. The Group's four publicly listed companies in Korea are SeAH Holdings, SeAH Steel Holdings, SeAH Besteel Holdings, and SeAH Steel. For more information about SeAH Group, visit www.seah.co.kr.

SOURCE SeAH Woon Hyung Lee Foundation