Piano Virtuosos to Give Solo Recitals
By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Vibrant piano tunes will add color and rhythm to the nippy winter air, as artists with splendid techniques and unique styles give solo recitals this week. Stay tuned as pianists Katia & Marielle Labeque, Lim Dong-hyek and Andras Schiff paint music with their piano keys at the Seoul Arts Center. You can visit the English Web site www.sac.or.kr/eng for more information.
Katia & Marielle Labeque
Duo-pianists Katia and Marielle Labeque offer a night of Mozart, Schubert and Ravel at the Seoul Arts Center, Wednesday.
For more than 20 years, the French sisters have been at the forefront of music for two pianos.
Both began playing at the age of three and entered the Paris Conservatory in their early teens. Then they met pianist Alfred Brendel, from whom they ``learned more about Schubert in 15 minutes than their years at the conservatory.''
Rather than pursuing solo careers, the two decided to play together, with Katia generally leading on the first-piano part and Marielle on the second. Their 1980 best-selling album ``Rhapsody in Blue'' threw them into the international spotlight, and the sisters were soon seen in major halls around the world.
Tickets for the Wednesday concert cost 20,000-70,000 won. Call (02) 580-1300.
Lim Dong-hyek
Beginning with Busan on St. Valentine's Day, young virtuoso Lim Dong-hyek has been touring Korea and will continue through March 7: Daejeon Feb. 19, Ulsan Feb. 20, Goyang Feb. 22, Nowon Feb. 23, Seoul Feb. 26, Seongnam Feb. 28, Suwon Feb. 29, Seosan March 3 and Gwacheon March 7.
The 23-year-old made headlines when he shared the third prize in the 2006 International Frederick Chopin Piano Competition with his brother Dong-min. With two award-winning recordings with EMI under his belt, Lim has established himself as a Chopin specialist.
He will now show a different musical perspective with a new repertoire, which he said was ``stealing a glimpse of Bach'' in a recent Korea Times interview.
Trained in Moscow and Hanover and currently studying at the Juilliard School in New York, the artist recently went through a slump. But hearing Glen Gould's rendition of the Goldberg variations inspired him to get back on his feet and continue performing music.
Lim is presenting a full program that includes the famous variations as well as Chaconne, BWV 1004 and the chorale preludes by Bach/Busoni.
The Seoul performance will take place at 8 p.m. at the concert hall of the Seoul Arts Center. Tickets cost 30,000-80,000 won. Call (02) 318-4303 for inquiries.
Andras Schiff
Bach seems to be the composer of the month, as celebrated Bach interpreter Andras Schiff will give his first recital in Korea, Sunday at the Seoul Arts Center.
``There is nothing more reliable in the world of classical music today than pianist Andras Schiff playing Bach,'' wrote the New York Times. The Hungarian-born pianist has long been considered a musician's musician, fathoming a concentrated, consistent and deep repertoire.
A winner of the 1974 Tchaikovsky Piano Competition, Schiff has been seen all over the world stage with major orchestras. He is also a recipient of numerous prizes including the Royal Academy of Music Bach prize, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the performance and scholarly study of the music of Bach.
He will bring to life Bach's Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971, Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 21 (aka. ``Waldstein'') among other selections. Tickets cost 40,000-120,000 won. Before his Sunday recital, Schiff will take the stage Friday with Miklos Perenyia, a distinguished Hungarian cellist, for Beethoven's cello sonatas at the same venue. Call (02) 541-6234.