Pianist to put new spin on Chopin

By Lee Hyo-won

Lee Hye-kyung, a renowned pianist and professor of Chung-Ang University, will give a concert at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, at Seoul Arts Center.

The solo recital will feature the oeuvre of Chopin. Some critics say works by this “poet of the piano” are overplayed but Lee hopes to bring a new approach to his timeless compositions.

“Chopin’s works are widely performed and I myself have showcased his music many times. But I’ve prepared the pieces in order to express new musical ideas that come with age,” said the 52-year-old, who is known for tackling a wide ranging repertoire from Romantic staples to contemporary works by Unsuk Chin.

The upcoming concert will mark a return to something familiar but at the same time present new challenges for the pianist. The program features Sonata No. 2, Op. 35, Ballad No. 3, Op. 47 and 24 Preludes, Op. 28.

“These three pieces all have different structures: the sonata is representative of the architectural form that is unique to Chopin, while the ballad is characterized by a picturesque expressiveness. As for the 24-part prelude I am seeking ways to express diverse sentiments of joy and sorrow and hope and despair in a beautiful way,” she said.

Over the years, including through teaching for over a quarter-century, Lee has focused on revisiting the same pieces over and over again to make them her own — to achieve “deukeum,” or musical enlightenment. “I realized that I need to continue organizing my repertoire and put them into perspective.”

Born in Gangwon Province in 1959, Lee began playing the piano at age six under her mother’s influence. She moved to Germany before graduating from high school, attaining degrees in music from Essen and Munich with a scholarship.

A recipient of the Bach Prize at Vianna da Motta International Competition in Lisbon, she returned to Korea in 1984 to give highly acclaimed recitals and accept a professorship at Chung-Ang University. In 1988, she was named Musician of the Year by the prestigious Dong-A Music magazine among other honors from various music societies. Lee also has numerous albums of Frank, Rachmnaninov, Ravel, Mozart and Schumann to her credit, and continues to partake in recording projects.

The pianist has toured extensively overseas, including in the United States, Germany, Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Austria, Russia and Algeria, where she collaborated with major orchestras and chamber groups.

After her Seoul recital, Lee will perform with chamber artists in Germany from Oct. 25 to 27. Local fans can also look forward to hear her play modern classical works such as Bernstein, Ravel and Stravinsky as part of the Guro Art Valley Festival on Oct. 29. Visit www.guroartsvalley.or.kr.

For more information about the Seoul recital on Sunday, call (02) 585-2934.