Veteran Artists Turn New Chapter in Career

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

Two of South Korea's most feted classical musicians, violinist Lee Sung-joo, 55, and cellist Chung Myung-wha, 65, will host special recitals in Seoul that mark a special moment in their careers.

Following the marathon recitals of Beethoven sonatas by pianist Paik Kun-woo and cellist Yang Sung-won in 2007, Lee will realize her own longtime dream of playing the German composer's complete violin sonatas, Sunday, at Kumho Art Hall.

Lee paid attention to finding the right balance of presenting well-known pieces together with the lesser-known ones, ``to tell a story of Beethoven's transforming music over time,'' she said in a statement.

Sunday, beginning 3 p.m., Lee will play Sonatas Nos. 1-5 and No. 10, in between Nos. 3 and 4. At 7:30 p.m., the violinist will deliver Nos. 8, 6, 7 and 9, in that order. She explained the recital would be a long journey exploring the life and music world of Beethoven. ``I am vis-a-vis with the great artist Beethoven. I hope to share this wonderful yet extremely arduous experience with everyone,'' she said.

Lee was one of the first Korean students to study at the Juilliard School of Music in New York. She launched her career in New York in 1977 as a Young Concert Artists winner and was immediately recognized as a ``first rate violinist'' by the New York Times.

She had to obtain American citizenship in order to participate in the 1978 Tchaikovsky Competition because no Korea-Russia relations existed at the time. She became the second Korean-born artist to win a prize in the conservative event after maestro Chung Myung-whun.

In 1994, she gave up her U.S. citizenship and returned to Korea. She now teaches at the Korea National University of Arts.

Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 50,000 won for each concert. A 10 percent discount is available if you purchase tickets for both concerts. Call (02) 780-5054.