By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Celebrated German clarinetist Sabine Meyer, 49, and fellow professor and husband Reiner Wehle, 54, visited Korea for the first time last week, giving two packed concerts and two master classes for young students in Seoul.
Meyer comes from a family of clarinetists including her father Karl and brother Wolfgang. ``I had a very natural way to become a musician. It was very logical. I played the piano and violin and the clarinet. I never thought about it,'' she said. Wehle, on the other hand, wanted to become an architect, but fell in love with the clarinet. Now, both appear in world music capitals with premier orchestras and chamber groups like the Sabine Meyer Ensemble.
``It's perfect,'' Meyer said about her musical partnership with her husband, smiling.
In the June 2 concert with the Seoul Philharmonic, the clarinetist couple created perfect harmony with Krommer's Concerto for two clarinets (Op. 91). Offstage, the two completed each other's sentences as they spoke about music and life.
The couple met with The Korea Times before giving their second master class at Sun Hwa Arts High School in central Seoul, Tuesday. ``Fantastic! It's so open and creative, and the organization was perfect,'' they said about their first visit to Korea. Meyer sat down after signing a few autographs for eager young fans. ``We had a good connection with the conductor and orchestra members.''
Meyer's concerts were indeed a treat for classical music fans here. ``It was more special because I played the Mozart Concerto with the basset clarinet, which is originally from the time of Mozart. It has more keys and a darker, softer sound,'' she said.
``We didn't know it was not custom in Korea to have wind soloists. We were astonished that the Seoul Philharmonic didn't play the Mozart (Clarinet) Concerto. Because in Europe, it's normal, we play it every season,'' said Wehle. ``We knew that that Koreans are absolutely top fans of classical music; we see the sales of (Meyer's) CDs here are big. Many Korean students are studying in Europe, but most of them play string or organ instruments or are singers,'' he said.
Nevertheless, there were many local clarinetists eager to receive lessons from the two. What is most important for playing? ``It's of course important to have technical things, but you must have something to say with your music. You have to understand the music first and let the expression from the music come out,'' said Meyer.
``I think the clarinet, among the wind instruments, is the most flexible. Flexible in sounds and color,'' she said. ``And dynamic,'' added her husband. ``It's very close to the human voice,'' said Meyer.
``Yes it's like singing. You see that in the repertoire (for the clarinet) ― Mozart, Brahms, Schumann ― pieces aren't technical but like pieces for singers. This is the real quality of the clarinet, to sing. And there are many pieces combining vocals and clarinet like the `Titos Aria,' '' he said.
Meyer is most famous for being the first female musician to enter the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1982 under Herbert von Karajan ― at the young age of 23 through two blind rehearsals. Yet, her experience was a rather dark one marked by sexual discrimination. After nine months of being ostracized during rehearsals, she quit and went solo.
``I'm not going to comment. He's better,'' she said, a slight shadow cast upon her face. ``Of course the Karajan story was disappointing but it showed how difficult it was for a woman to get a very, very good job. It's still so, it was so 30 years ago,'' said Wehle. ``You have to fight for women. There are many women now, but no principal (female) player, no (female) concertmaster. Many men have a problem accepting that women could be better than them,'' he said.
In addition to playing, both teach at the Luebeck Academy of Music in Germany. ``(Teaching and playing are a) wonderful combination,'' said Meyer. ``I like to play but it's important for me to teach because you have to think about technical things, problems and each student has different problems,'' she said.
During the master classes with students ranging from elementary school to Ph.D levels, Meyer repeatedly emphasized using the whole body. ``Remember not only fingering but sound and accent, or people will fall asleep. Don't hold back and be more self confident,'' she told one student.
``I have been a big fan of hers ever since I was little, and it was amazing to hear live what I have heard through CDs. I wish the lesson would have been longer, but I learned a lot of new things like utilizing body movement,'' said Choi Jae-hee, a Ph.D student at Seoul National University.