ZHIGUANG HONG

BARITONE

A native of Beijing, Chinese Baritone Giuliano Zhiguang Hong is already gaining international recognition for his “beautiful, thunderous voice and magnetic stage presence”. Since joining China Oriental Performing Arts Group in 2018, Hong has held 10 solo concerts and recitals across major cities in China. His recent operatic engagements include singing the lead role of Wen Tian Xiang in Marco Polo (Enjott Schnaider) with Guangzhou Opera House. In 2024, Hong played the leading role of Zhang Shu Ji in the original opera Where the Flowers Bloom (Tong Liu), produced by the Liaoning Song and Dance Troupe. In 2022 and 2023, he directed and performed two opera concerts, Carmen and The Magic Flute with Shenzhen Philharmonic Symphony. In October 2022, he played the role of Vronsky in the Chinese version of Russian musical Anna Karenina. Hong has now participated in nearly 300 concerts and music events at home and abroad, including the epic gala held to celebrate China’s 70th National Day, CCTV’s Spring Festival Gala 2021, Labor Day Gala 2022&2024. He also involved in TV programs filming as reality show Super Vocal on Hunan TV, enabling him to gain a fan base.

Previous seasons highlights include covering the title role of Falstaff (Verdi) with National Center for the Performing Arts (Beijing, China) in a collaboration production between Vienna State Opera and NCPA under the baton of Zubin Mehta. And he was also covering Placido Domingo for the role of Athanael in Hugo de Ana’s production of Thais (Massenet) with NCPA. He also performed the role of  Baron Scarpia in Tosca (Puccini) with Connecticut Opera and Escamillo in Carmen (Bizet) and Astrologer & Abbot in The Burning Fiery Furnace (Britten) both with Central City Opera. He has performed Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro with HPAF; Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten), Sancho in Don Quichotte (Massenet) with Yale Opera, and Mr. Ford in Falstaff (Verdi) with the Seagle Music Colony. He was also a Baritone Soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Washington Ark Foundation at Strathmore Music Center.

In September 2017, Hong was giving a recital in Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and praised by China Daily as “Opera’s rising star charms Carnegie Hall”. In 2016, Hong was named MONC Boston’s District Winner. He was also honored with the 1st prize at The First International Opera Competition in Hong Kong, and was a second Prize winner at Concorso Internazionale di Canto di Santa Angela in Italy. Hong obtained third prize at the International Vocal Arts Institute Competition and received a full-scholarship from both Yale School of Music and Mannes at The New School of Music. In May 2014 he had his honor’s recital at Bruno Walter Hall at Lincoln Center for the Preforming Arts.

Hong received his Artist Diploma from Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Richard Cross and Master of Music degree from Mannes at The New School of Music in 2014 and his Bachelor of Music degree from China’s Conservatory of Music in 2012. He also is big fan of Bodybuilding and he won the WNBF competition in Fit Model division.