By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Bach, Beethoven and Brahms each define an era in musical history. While some argue that their compositions are overplayed it would be difficult to object to a carefully planned retrospective of their oeuvre.
The Seoul Arts Center has launched ``The Great 3B,'' a three-year program fathoming the timeless works of the three maestros, beginning with Beethoven this year.
Kim Dae-jin will lead the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra in performing the full cycle of the famously deaf composer's nine symphonies, five piano concertos and three violin pieces, over eight concerts through December.
The series will feature some of the most talented young soloists and invites fans to become intoxicated with romantic classicism.
Kim has a special relationship with Beethoven. The pianist-turned-conductor has a Daniel Barenboim-esque understanding of the scores, having played his concertos as both soloist and conductor. In 2000, he sat before the piano to give a historic, one-day marathon performance of the complete piano concertos. Last year, he took the baton while his former student, noted young pianist Kim Sun-wook, accomplished the monumental feat of playing all five pieces in a single sitting with the Suwon Philharmonic.
The two will relive part of that magical moment on March 11, with the younger Kim playing Piano Concerto No. 1. The concert will also feature Symphony Nos. 1 and 8.
The concerts will feature other sought-after soloists. On Feb. 11 pianist Lim Dong-min will take the stage for Piano Concerto No. 4. The artist may be best known as a winner of the Chopin piano competition (along with his brother Dong-hyek) but he chose Beethoven sonatas for his first recording project under the Sony label in 2009.
The pianists that plan to tackle the other concertos are Son Yeol-eum (No. 5 ``Emperor'' on May 13), Ben Kim (No. 2 on Sept. 18) and Kim Kyu-yeon (No. 3 on Oct. 14).
Conductor Kim will rest his baton to perform the Triple Concerto for Piano, Violin and Cello in C major, Op. 56, with violinist Kim Min-jae and cellist Kim Min-ji (Nov. 17). In the last of the serial concerts on Dec. 9, the conductor will play the piano for Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80. Beethoven's climactic Symphony No. 9 ``Choral'' will wrap up the evening.
Violinist Kim So-ock will appear as soloist for the Violin Concerto on June 10. The concerts will also feature Beethoven's beloved overtures including those for ``Egmont'' (Sept. 18) and ``Fidelio'' (Nov. 17).
The ``3B'' series will continue next year with Brahms. The Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the meticulous Lim Hun-joung, will present the complete symphonies and concertos. In 2012 the Korean Chamber Orchestra, the country's leading Baroque ensemble, will cover all of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg concertos as well as his piano and violin concertos, cantatas and Christmas oratorios.
Tickets for each Beethoven concert cost 20,000-40,000 won. A 10 percent discount is offered for seasonal packages (February March, May and June concerts or September, October, November and December concerts). Those who purchase tickets for the entire series are entitled to a 20 percent discount.
Call (02) 580-1300.