Sumi Jo isn't the only Asian star to have taken the Western opera scene by storm in recent years. Below are three other talents fast stamping their presence on the international stage.
Who: Liao Changyong, baritone, China
Background: Born in 1968 to a farming family in rural Sichuan, Liao was recruited by the Shanghai Conservatory of Music at the age of 19. Considered the best baritone in China, Liao has accumulated a long list of international awards. He made his much-acclaimed U.S. debut in 2000 at the Kennedy Center singing Count de Luna in "Il Trovatore" with the Washington Opera, conducted by Placido Domingo.