By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
In a 2002 article, the Berkshire Weekly noted pianist Kim Sae-hee ``is on her way to bigger and greater things… It should be interesting to see where that career goes, especially with so many like her on the concert stage and more waiting in the wings. However, any subsequent appearances by Kim should not be missed by area music lovers.''
Among what seems like a myriad of classical musicians, particularly with the soaring number of pianists in South Korea, it seems to take an extra something to stand out.
Kim possesses emotional breadth and technical virtuosity, plus the looks to boot. In the 38-year-old's recital Tuesday at the Seoul Arts Center, she wooed the crowd with her lyrical tunes and lovely presence.
Kim has been praised for her ``wonderfully clear, bell-like tones as well as key-pounded fortissimi'' and possessing ``not only promise but realized accomplishment.'' (Herald Tribune, 1996). Indeed, she radiated a mature and relaxed demeanor as she played with fine-tempoed emotions, both high and low within the appropriate margins Tuesday.
Her renditions of Bach's Toccata in D Major BVW 912 and Mozart's Piano Sonata in D Major K. 576 were pure, with each tune organically giving way to the next. In Chopin's Sonata No. 3, she made the transitions between movements with grace, as stormy, heavy chords made way for the ebullient quaver of scherzo and the wistful serenity of the largo ― like how a tumultuous storm is followed by a beautiful ray of sunlight.
A graduate of Seoul National University, Kim went on to pursue higher degrees at Indiana University, the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Hartford. She is also a winner of the prestigious Dong-A Music Competition and the Connecticut Teacher's Young Artists Competition.
The pianist has appeared with top domestic and international orchestras like the Eurasian Philharmonic, with which she released an album in 2005 (Seoul Records). She currently teaches at Seoul Jangshin University and plays with the chamber group Trio Novus.