Cellist Yang Sung-won ends 12-year hiatus
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Cellist Yang Sung-won / Courtesy of Universal Music
By Yun Suh-young
Cellist Yang Sung-won released a new Bach album "J. S. Bach Cello Suites" with Decca Records 12 years after his 2005 eponymously titled recording with EMI. It has been four years since he played Bach's collection of suites for cello in public.
Yang recorded his second album of Bach's cello suites in April at the La Chapelle de Notre Dame de Bon Secours in Paris. Yang commented that the second time around was more difficult than the first because he had to react more sensitively than the first time. Bach's cello suites are known to be the "Old Testament" of cello repertoires. For Yang, they always challenge him.
"My interpretation on the pieces changes every time and I realize fresh opportunities when I perform. It's inspirational," he said.
"I have an old habit which is to play a very slow piece by Bach when I'm out of energy or fatigued by my daily life which is when my senses are numb. I follow the flow of the music and I become one with it. I engage only with music until the complexities are emptied from my hardened body.
"After several hours of playing, I gain courage to confront the world inside me, like a fresh leaf growing from a tree. Bach's music provides something beyond joy _ it's both intellectual and spiritual."
The complexity, simplicity, fulfillment and emptiness of Bach's cello suites are characteristics that make Yang keep challenging himself. Bach composed the cello suites in the 1720s. They are unique in that they allow just one instrument to produce multiple melodies at once.
Yang has several performances scheduled in Korea _ Aug. 31 in Daegu, Sept. 10 in Busan, Sept. 23 in Incheon, Sept. 28 in Yeosu, and Oct. 15 in Seoul. In between his performances in Korea, he will be traveling to France and Japan to perform. From Sept. 15 through 17, Yang will perform at Chateau Chaumont sur Loire and on Sept. 19 at La Chapelle de Notre Dame de Bon Secours, Paris. On Oct. 7 he will perform at Rakuyo Church in Kyoto and on Oct. 19 at Hakuju Hall in Tokyo. The Seoul performance will take place at Lotte Concert Hall in Jamsil, southeastern Seoul.
His program includes six of Bach's cello suites. The first half will be Suite for Cello No.1 in G Major, BWV1007, Suite for Cello No. 4 in E-flat Major, BWV1010, and Suite for Cello No.3 in C Major, BWV1009 and after the 40-minute intermission will be Suite for Cello No.5 in C Minor, BWV1011, Suite for Cello No. 2 in D Minor, BWV1008, and Suite for Cello No. 6 in D Major, BWV1012.