By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Award-winning South Korean composer Chin Unsuk is back in town and invites concertgoers to the exciting world of contemporary classical music ― be prepared for toy piano performances, orchestral solos by up and coming musicians and premieres of works by esteemed modern composers including Chin herself.
Upcoming concerts on Friday and Sunday mark the third season of ``Ars Nova,'' a project with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, of which Chin is composer in residence. She will also give master classes to aspiring composers through Monday.
The 46-year-old said she agonized over months to choose premier contemporary pieces. ``The order in which contemporary music is presented is very important. If they're played consecutively, listeners won't be able to remember which was which,'' she said, emphasizing quality over quantity and finding a good mix and contrast of the old and new.
The orchestral concert ``Couleurs exotiques'' will be held 8 p.m., Friday at the LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul. It brings together pieces by composers who, while coming from different corners of the world, commonly seek a new color in music, said Chin. Classics include Messiaen's ``Oiseaux exotiques'' and Debussy's ``Images: Gigues.''
Contemporary pieces include ``Alma III: Soma for Orchestra and sampler'' (1998) by Finnish composer Jukka Tiensuu. ``This is a piece that isn't easy to hear, but is very powerful and deep,'' said Chin. Other featured songs include Bela Bartok's ``The Miraculous Mandarin Suite'' (1918-24) and Chin's own Piano Concerto (1996-97).
The composer said she feels great affection for the Piano Concerto, even more so for her critically acclaimed Violin Concerto. ``In terms of technique, it's a killer for both the piano and orchestra. I'm ecstatic that pianist Wilhem Latchoumia is playing it. Not only does he have immaculate technique, but also the leisure and artistic freedom artists often compromise when playing unfamiliar, contemporary works,'' she said.
The composer also expressed delight in working with Stefan Asbury, who returns to Korea for the second time to conduct the Seoul Philharmonic. Tickets cost 10,000-50,000 won. Call (02) 3700-6300.
The chamber concert ``America'' featuring pieces by American composers will take place 7:30 p.m., Sunday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, near Gwanghwamun in northern Seoul. ``Korea and the United States have a common trait in that it has a classical music tradition despite being far away from Europe,'' Chin described the theme.
``In this performance, the soloist will have a blast. After the intermission, (Latchoumia) will play three piano pieces by John Cage, one with a toy piano, the next with the piano strings and finally a regular piano piece,'' she said.
Another highlight of the program, Chin said, is the world premiere of Korean composer Chung Il-ryun's ``Glut for Ensemble'' (2008), which highlights percussion instruments. The piece was commissioned for ``Ars Nova.'' Tickets cost 10,000-30,000 won. Call (02) 3700-6300.
``I'm very self-critical. I've never felt satisfied about my own work but I am very proud of `Ars Nova' so far.'' she said, even though her opera piece ``Alice in Wonderland'' was ranked in the ``Best of 2007'' list of the Los Angeles Times and was named ``World Premiere of the Year'' by European critics for Opernwelt magazine.
Chin will give pre-concert lectures 40 minutes prior to the start of both showa. At 2 p.m., Saturday, she will give an open lecture about American contemporary composers at the Seoul Philharmonic rehearsal room (located behind the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts).
The next ``Ars Nova'' series will be held in November, featuring more pieces by Olivier Messiaen in time for the 100th anniversary of the late composer's birth.
Chin is currently giving master classes through June 16. What should young composers keep in mind? ``It's rather philosophical, but I say, know yourself first. You must first learn about yourself in order to create something; it doesn't help to just copy. What I always tell Korean students is that, while it's great to accept Western traditions, they should focus on being unique, something only a Korean can write,'' she said.