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| Pianist Cho Seong-jin speaks at a press conference at the Seoul Arts Center, Monday. / Youhap |
Winner of Chopin Piano Competition to hold gala concert
By Kwon Ji-youn
Pianist Cho Seong-jin, winner of the 2015 International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, is set to perform at a gala concert with other prize winners tonight at the Seoul Arts Center. It is the first winners' gala concert in Korea, as well as the young pianist's first concert in Seoul since he won the prestigious contest in October last year.
"It has been almost a year since I stepped foot in Korea," Cho said at a press conference, Monday. "I am both thrilled and anxious to be back. I want to thank all of my supporters."
In October, Cho became the first Korean to win the International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition, one of the oldest and most prestigious music competitions in the world. In the final round of the 17th event held from Oct. 18 to 20 in Warsaw, Poland, Cho won the top prize and 30,000 euros (36.8 million won). The competition saw 160 participants from 27 countries in the preliminary round in April, and from this group, the jury invited 78 from 20 countries to the main competition that began on Oct. 3. Ten pianists from eight countries appeared in the final.
"I don't particularly enjoy entering competitions because of the stress and nerves that come with the experience," Cho said. "But I entered because I wanted to become a concert pianist who performs on the international stage. The Chopin competition was not a goal, but a means for reaching other goals. This is just the beginning."
Artur Szklener of the Chopin Institute, who joined Cho at the press conference, described Cho as a "hero."
"The Chopin competition is one of the most important events in Poland ― with a long history ― but the impact that it has on the musical world and on the general public has never happened at this scale before," he said. "And most of this activity and interest was here in Korea. Cho, a real hero, is the real reason behind of all that interest."
Cho added, "I, too, was surprised at all the attention. But as a pianist, it is great to know that Koreans are showing more and more interest in classical music."
Cho said he began playing the piano because he did not enjoy playing the violin.
"I loved classical music as a child and I listened to a lot of classical music at home," he said. "I actually played the violin, but it was difficult for me to practice because I had to stand up to play it," he added with a laugh.
For Cho, Chopin's music has been particularly difficult because of its many interpretations.
"Every person gives a different reading of Chopin's music," he said. "As I prepared for the Chopin competition, I began developing my own sound. It helped me better understand the piece."
When asked who his role model is, Cho replied: "I never decided on a role model because I want to explore my own path."
The gala concert falls in line with the competition winners' Asia and Europe tour. Tickets for the concert sold out in record time.
"No matter how big or small a concert is, I try to approach it in the same manner," Cho said. "But (tonight's) performance will be my first in Korea since the competition, so I am especially anxious."
Cho last month signed a five-year deal with record label Deutsche Grammophon (DG). DG and Cho will record five albums, two of which may include work by other composers.
A live recording of his competition-winning performance was also released through DG and sold more than 80,000 discs in Korea alone, starting an extraordinary classical music boom here. His first album will feature a performance with the Staatskapelle Dresden under maestro Chung Myung-whun's baton.
"Cho's music is very thoughtful, reflective, and careful and he approaches music with great dignity and dedication," said Ute Fesquet, vice president of artists and repertoire at DG. "He reaches out for the best possible results. He is critical with himself, and yet when you listen, his playing has a tenderness, delicacy as well as strength and power."
Tonight's concert will feature all the prize winners of the Chopin competition, including Charles Richard-Hamelin of Canada, Kate Liu and Eric Lu of the U.S., among others. They will perform with the Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra.
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