Jo Su-mi Sings Olympic Theme Song for Chinese Bigwigs

The world-famous Korean-born soprano Jo Su-mi has premiered the theme song of the Beijing Olympics alongside three Chinese, an American and a Russian singer for Chinese leaders. "Under the Five Rings," a song that had been kept a closely guarded secret, was accompanied by the chorus of the Opera Theatre of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Monday evening.
The performance was watched by Chinese President Hu Jintao and other Communist Party leaders and International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

"I was staying at my home in Rome last Friday when I got an urgent phone call from the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee,” said Jo (46). “They asked me to give a performance of the Beijing Olympics' theme song in front of the Chinese president. I was surprised, because I was taking time to prepare for my performances in China scheduled for Aug. 11 and 14. But I took a plane immediately."

Jo spoke to the Chosun Ilbo at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Beijing on Monday.

She said the song is as powerful as “Hand in Hand,” the theme song of the Seoul Olympics in 1988 sung by the Group Koreana. The style “reflects the Chinese people's confidence and their desire to make a leap forward through the Olympics."

“The words are in Chinese, which I'm not very familiar with, so I memorized them,” she admits. “But I was praised for having pronounced them quite well."

Jo is also to perform during a concert celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Republic of Korea in Seoul on Aug. 15.

Source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200808/200808050011.html

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