Cellist Chang Han-na to perform Rachmaninoff

By Do Je-hae

The Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was one of the finest pianists of his days. But he managed to write one of the greatest cello sonatas of the 20th century, according to the Korean cellist Chang Han-na.

Chang has chosen the work as the centerpiece of her first recital here since 2009.

“It is a piece of extreme intensity and is full of moving melodies that speak to the heart,” the cellist-conductor said at a press conference Monday at the Plaza Hotel in central Seoul.

“The sonata was written around the time Rachmaninoff wrote some of his representative works, like the second piano concerto and the second symphony.”

His single cello sonata in g minor was largely overshadowed by the popularity of the second piano concerto, but it remains a key piece for cellists. Most of the themes are introduced by the piano, while they are embellished and expanded in the cello’s part.

The world-renowned cellist will go on stage with her pianist and recital partner Finghin Collins at Seoul Arts Center on Dec. 8.

“The cello sonata by Rachmaninoff is the big highlight of our program,” Collins said. “It is a dramatic piece and very exciting for the audience.”

Chang’s last recital here was a program of Brahms sonatas only.

This time, Chang has paired the Rachmaninoff masterpiece with folk tunes by Astor Piazzolla, the Argentine tango composer. The recital is entitled, “Songs Without Words.”

“I wanted to create a program that could speak to anyone, even people who don’t regularly have music in their lives,” Chang said. “I think that songs are universal, regardless of whether people are trained in music or not.”

Chang and Collins will also play the “Vocalise” by Rachmaninoff. “It is one of the most famous songs in classical music,” Chang said.

The former child prodigy started her music career as a cellist but now she divides her time between soloing and conducting.

But she made it clear that her devotion to her instrument has not been diminished by a growing demand of her services as a conductor all over the world, particularly in Europe.

In December 2010 and January 2011, Chang worked with the Bavarian State Youth Orchestra for two weeks and conducted them at five concerts in Germany, performing Tchaikovsky’s “Francesca da Rimini” and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5. Following their successful tour together, she was appointed the Artistic Director of “Das Bayerische Landesjugendorchester,” the first in its 30-year history.

She has recorded Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 with the Bamberger Symphony in Bamberg, Germany, in June 2011, which was broadcasted through the Bavarian Radio Broadcasting network.

“For me, conducting and playing the cello is equally important. I do not place more focus on one or the other,” Chang said.

“For the next several years, I have many conducting engagements, including symphonies and operas.”

This does not deter her as she continues to do about 40 cello performances a year. Even before she started conducting seriously, she limited the number of her performances as she was pursuing a degree in philosophy at Harvard University.

Her interest in conducting first began with a desire to share music with children.

Chang has launched “Absolute Classic” at Sungnam Arts Center in Gyeonggi Province by conducting Tchaikovsky symphonies in 2009.

The 28-year-old records exclusively for EMI and has collaborated with the most respected conductors and orchestras of our time.

In 1993, her family moved to the United States, where she was enrolled in the pre-college division of the Juilliard School.

Her career took off when in 1994, at only 11 years old, she won the 5th Rostropovich International Cello Competition.

For more information on the concert, call (02) 741-1763~5.