Intimate music-making

Chung Kyung-wha poses with her 18th-century Quarnerius del Gesu violin. / Courtesy of PRM

Once fiery soloist Chung Kyung-wha immerses herself in First Viennese School composers

By Baek Byung-yeul

Romantic-era concertos have been the cornerstone of Chung Kyung-wha’s career ever since the violinist made her 1970 London debut with the impassioned Tchaikovsky concerto in D major. Now in her mid-60s, the violinist is turning her focus toward chamber music, a genre that she visited sporadically during her peak in the 1970s and ’80s.

In the past few years, fans have embraced her transition from a charismatic soloist to an active chamber musician, which has given them chances to hear her in the First Viennese School. For the first time in her career, she is on the stage performing Mozart, Beethoven and the occasional Schubert on a regular basis. She now has an official chamber music partner, pianist Kevin Kenner, who travels with her within and outside Korea for performances. She underlined their strong connection as a key reason for her newfound passion for chamber music.

“Kevin is my musical partner. We have built a wide ranging repertoire together in the last three years we have performed side by side,” Chung said during a recent interview at her home in Gugi-dong, Seoul. “We had a three-nation Asia tour — China, Japan and Kore, last year and it went so well that Japan has invited us back. We are returning to Japan next April with a Beethoven program.”

Their special bond has not only contributed to her musical growth, but also invigorated her career that all but stopped a few years ago due to a finger injury. They are now looking at a packed recital schedule in the coming months that will take them, among other places, to Shanghai and London. The formerly London-based violinist has not given a solo recital in the British capital in 30 years. She will also have a Scottish tour.

“Going back to Britain is like a homecoming for me,” she said. “From 1961 through 1970, the U.S. was my home. And then I had that explosive debut in London. British fans have been loyal to me ever since.” She will give a recital at the Royal Festival Hall on Dec. 2.

A laureate of the prestigious Leventritt Award, the violinist rose to stardom following an acclaimed London debut in 1970, playing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with the London Symphony Orchestra. At a time when there were few female instrumentalists exclusively recording for major labels, Decca immediately signed her following the concert.

Decca’s fascination with her is evident from a tribute by Ray Minshull, former head of Decca’s Classical Music Department from 1967 to 1994, for the re-issue of her 1972 Bruch recording in 1998. “I had no doubt whatsoever that at last we had found the person to fill to perfection one of the most glaring vacancies in our artists’ list — that of an outstanding solo violinist,” Minshull said.

Chung previously played and recorded sonatas with renowned pianists like Itamar Golan and Krystian Zimerman, but none of their partnerships lasted beyond isolated projects. “With other pianists, there were collisions of opinions that were upsetting at times. With Kevin, our sole focus is music. We have become more mature musicians through this partnership,” Chung said.

Chung’s devotion to chamber music is nowhere more apparent than her association with the biggest chamber music venues in Korea — the Great Mountains International Festival & School (GMMFS) in Gangwon Province that has become one of the most prestigious such events in Asia.

Chung Kyung-wha performed Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante” for violin and viola at the Great Mountains International Festival & School (GMMFS) last year. / Courtesy of GMMFS Organizing Committee

Concert for Sewol victims

For now, her time is occupied with preparing for a series of recitals and charity concerts in Seoul. She will give a free concert at Myeongdong Cathedral today for Sewol ferry victims. “My heart broke at the news of the ferry disaster,” Chung said. “I will play a piece titled A Thousand Winds for those victims.” Sung by operatic pop singer Lim Hyung-joo, the song became a signature memorial song for the victims of the disaster that has taken almost 300 lives.

Chung is also scheduled to perform chamber music at the Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul on June 13 along with Kenner and cellist Yang Sung-won. The profits from the concert will be donated to an NGO that helps Rwanda’s underprivileged children, and Chung, who has donated to the needy in Africa for nearly 20 years, will give a concert there on Aug. 20

Chung has spent most of her career abroad ever since she left Korea for the Juilliard at age 13. She now spends more time in Korea than in New York, where she also has a home.

Chung said what brought her back to Korea is for fostering young gifted musicians.

“I have received so much love from the people of my homeland. Now is the time to repay their love,” she said. “I teach chamber music at Ewha Womans University and I realized that Korea lacks a support system to keep educating young talent. I’m trying to get started on a fundraising culture while I teach.”

“Last year, I raised 230 million won thorough unaccompanied Bach recitals and so forth. And then I suggested we go for 2 billion won. But they told me that in Korea, it’s premature to raise that kind of money through fundraising,” Chung said.

The violinist first picked up her instrument at the age of 7 and went to New York’s Julliard School in 1961 on a full scholarship as a pupil of the renowned teacher Ivan Galamian. She said it is urgent for Korea to have a fund raising system like the U.S. that provides due financial assistance to young musicians on a consistent basis.

“With that scholarship, I was able to overcome the preconception that women can’t make it as a star violinist.”