By Do Je-hae
Korea’s first classical music festival organized solely for piano opens Aug. 13 at the Gyeonggi Arts Center, featuring the finest masterpieces ever written for the instrument.
The “Peace & Piano Festival” is a rare occasion for audiences to hear three generations of Korea’s top pianists simultaneously.
“Despite the success of some Korean pianists, Korea has never had a piano festival,” pianist and conductor Kim Dae-jin said during a press conference, Thursday, at the Plaza Hotel in central Seoul. He is the artistic director of the festival. “My hope is that by the end of the festival, audiences will be moved by the excellence of Korean pianists,” he added.
The music director of the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra divides his time concertizing, teaching and conducting. An alumnus of the Juilliard School, he is the first prize winner of the Cleveland Competition and serves as member of the piano faculty at the Korean National University of Arts.
The 49-year-old artist has taught many budding pianists like Son Yeol-eum, 2nd prize winner at the 14th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow which concluded last month.
“It’s humbling to take the same stage with pianists I have admired since childhood,” Son said. She is referring to pioneering artists and fellow festival performers like Han Dong-il, Shin Su-jeong and Lee Gyeong-suk, who paved the way for a following generation of musicians by embarking on academic and performing careers abroad in the 1950s and 60s.
“There is more than 40 years of age difference between myself and pianists like Son. This is a happy occasion to connect with young pianists,” Han said.
Son, 25, is one of the 12 pianists participating in the festival, alongside the next generation of the nation’s star pianists like the 17-year-old Cho Sung-jin, third prize laureate at the said Russian competition; and Lim Dong-hyek, 27, winner of the Long-Jacques Thibaud Competition in Paris in 2001.
The concert also features pianist Kim Chul-woong, a North Korean defector who previously studied in top music academies in Pyongyang and Moscow.
The festival, which includes recitals and master classes, will run until Aug.20.
The opening concert on Aug. 13 will features Mozart’s Concerto for 3 pianos and orchestra in F Major; Listz’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major by Son Yeol-eum; and Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major by Han Dong-il.
The Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra and the Gyeonggi Provincial Philharmonic will take part. For more information, visit the Gyeonggi Arts Center website (https://www.ggac.or.kr) or call 031-230-3409.