By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
The local classical music, after a slow summer season of youth-themed programs, is regaining momentum with a couple of star-studded chamber concerts.
Seven of the country's most prominent soloists will take the stage tonight at Seoul Arts Center after a seven-year hiatus. Under the artistic direction of maestro conductor-pianist Chung Myung-wun, the 2009 season brings together esteemed cellist and professor Yang Sung-won, Korea's pioneer violist Choi Eun-sik and popular cellist Song Young-hoon (Young Song). They will be joined by three rising young prodigies ― pianist Kim Sun-wook, who recently made his Carnegie Hall debut, and U.S.-based violinist Yura Lee and Germany's hottest violin talent Suyoen Kim.
The chamber series began in 1997 under the title "Seven Men" featuring Chung, Choi and Yang as well as pianist Han Dong-il, violinists Kang Dong-suk and Kim Young-uck and cellist Cho Young-chang, and has since given sold out performances. Past editions featured guest artists of the highest caliber including the piano diva Paik Hye-sun and Japanese violinist Daishin Kashimoto, and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup special invited cello great Mischa Maisky, violin virtuoso Shlomo Mintz and viola master Yuri Bashmet.
The program features Schubert's String Quartet No. 12 in C minor, D. 703, Shostakovich's Piano Trip No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67 and Schumann's Piano Quintet in Eb Major, Op. 44
Tickets cost 40,000-100,000 won. Call (02) 518-7343.
On Sept. 3, the fourth of the Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation's Classical Frontier series brings together two Korean classical musicians to watch out for, violinist Kwun Hyuk-joo and classical guitarist-teacher Chang Sung-ho.
The 24-year-old Kwun won when he was only 18 the 2002 Yamplolsky competition and was praised by Maestro Tikhon Khrennikov as an artist who would carry on the tradition of Russian violinism. He impressed local fans in his debut with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
The 46-year-old Chang gained international prominence when he performed at the World Lichtenstein Ligita Guitar Festival alongside David Russell, who is considered among the three masters of the classical guitar. The Spain-trained artist became in 2003 the first ever Korean to receive the great culture medal of Isabel La Catolica from the Spanish King Juan Carlos II.
The "improbable" duo will jam together for pieces including Giuliani's Duo Concertante for Violin and Guitar in E minor, Op. 25 and Paganini's Sonata for Violin and Guitar in A major, MS 112/4, as well as solo pieces.
Tickets cost 20,000-30,000 won and 8,000 won for students. Call (02) 6303-7700.