By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
In 2000, Kim Dae-jin gave a historic, one-day performance of Beethoven’s complete piano concertos. Now, less than a decade later, the feted pianist takes the baton and passes on the solo spot to his former student, Kim Sun-wook.
The elder Kim, now in his 40s, is still considered relatively young in the classical music world. But during the past year, he opened a new chapter in his career as artistic director of the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, while the younger Kim also expanded his horizons, studying abroad for the first time and making critically acclaimed debuts in Europe.
Saturday, local classical music history, in tune with passing seasons, takes its course at Gyeonggi Arts Center in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, with all five Beethoven piano concertos coming to life. The Korea Times sat down with the two Kims (who are not related) for an interview, Wednesday, in Suwon after one of their rigorous rehearsals.
``Not many pianists have the opportunity to play (the complete piano concertos) and I get to revisit them as a conductor. I feel thankful as a musician,’’ said the conductor, brimming with enthusiasm despite an enervating run-through in the heat.
``Of course there is no such thing as racing for historic records. But it is true that this is a special project in the classical music history of Korea. I wondered who’d be next and I feel happy that it’s an old student of mine,’’ he said, smiling.
His former student at Korea National University of Arts said, ``It’s not so much about breaking a record; I will be playing the concertos for the rest of my life anyway, and playing them all at once is a great adventure and opportunity.’’ The 21-year-old went on to say he felt ``grateful’’ for sharing the experience with his senior. ``I can feel at ease and just concentrate on the piece.’’
But his former professor challenged the latter comment. ``That is the problem. We know each other too well. I’m worried there may be something both of us are missing,’’ he said. ``You need to clash and conflict with other musicians. That’s how new ideas emerge and enable you to grow.’’ Sun-wook nodded quietly.
The conductor went on to note the young pianist’s growth after his sojourn in London. The first Asian winner of the Leeds Piano Competition, Sun-wook is regarded as a representative case of the purely ``domestically bred’’ musicians to emerge in recent years.
``Sun-wook’s definitely changed. But studying abroad is no longer about learning something you can’t learn here in Korea. It’s more about enriching life experience, which gives way to art. Loneliness enables you to think and reflect more. It’s integral to music and I think it was helpful to him,’’ he said.
The concert will be a chance to celebrate the German master’s life and career. ``Not all piano concertos by the same composer are meant to be played together, such as those by Saint-Saens or Prokofiev. But Beethoven’s pieces have meaning when presented in a group since they reflect the transformation of his artistry, from Mozart’s influence to finally his unique, symphonic style,’’ said Kim Dae-jin. ``I’m looking forward to how I will feel after having played all five of them together,’’ said Sun-wook.
Tickets are sold out for both Saturday concerts at 3 p.m. (Concertos Nos. 1, 2 and 4) and 7:30 p.m. (Concertos Nos. 3 and 5), but check for cancellations. Call (031) 228-2813~6.
The two Kims’ joint adventure does not end with the piano concertos. On May 28, the two reunite for Suwon Philharmonic’s ``Carnegie Preview’’ concert ― ahead of its June 5 performance in the prestigious New York hall.
In 1986, Kim Dae-jin made his New York debut and was praised by The New York Times for demonstrating ``all the accouterments necessary for a successful solo career.’’ Now, Kim Sun-wook is taking his first step.
``It’s such an honor, something every young pianist dreams about. I wonder about what kind of piano they’d have and being back stage, where all those great musicians have passed through,’’ said the young pianist. ``Should I disillusion you? The back stage area is really cramped and uncomfortable,’’ joked the elder pianist.
In all seriousness, however, the conductor also seeks inspiration in the Suwon Philharmonic’s first international tour under his direction. ``It’s meaningful, of course, to show our interpretation of Tchaikovsky to the international audience. But in this global age, it would be trite to say our aim is to show how good we are as a Korean ensemble. A major hall (like Carnegie Hall) doesn’t simply have good acoustics; it possesses the spirit of the great musicians. My wish is to be inspired by that and create breathing music,’’ he said.
The concert fetes the 30th anniversary of the Korean Cultural Service NY and the 25th anniversary of Korea Music Foundation. The program includes Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6.
Tickets for the concert in Seongnam Arts Center, Gyeonggi Province cost from 33,000 won to 55,000 won (call 02-2658-3546), while those for New York are from $20 to $75 (call 212-247-7800).