Cellist to perform final concert as artist-in-residence

By Yun Suh-young

The extraordinary young cellist Mun Tae-guk will perform his final concert as artist-in-residence of Kumho Art Hall on Nov. 16, with Bach's Suite for Solo Cello collection.

The recital will be his fifth and final concert at the hall this year, following a series of performances throughout January, April, August and October collaborating with artists such as violinists Jang Yoo-jin and Cho Jin-joo and pianist Sunwoo Yekwon.

The 23-year-old will be completing his term as artist-in-residence with the November performance as the one-year position comes to an end this December. He will be performing Bach's Suite for Solo Cello No.1 in G Major, BWV1007, Suite for Solo Cello No.5 in C Minor, BWV1011 and Suite for Solo Cello No. 6 in D Major, BWV1012 after the intermission.

Ahead of the Seoul performance, Mun will perform the same repertoire at the U-Square Kumho Art Hall in Gwangju on Nov. 14.

Mun was selected by the art hall to serve as the resident artist at the start of this year for his distinct artistic characteristics and achievements despite his young age. He won the Janos Starker Foundation Award last December, a prestigious award given to cellists under 30 who have begun a significant career in music. He is also the recipient of first prizes at the 2014 Pablo Casals International Cello Competition and the 3rd Andre Navarra International Cello Competition. The art hall also aims to support cellists among the plenty of pianists and violinists.

Bach's Suite for Solo Cello collection which Mun will be performing next week is a series of masterpieces bringing out the best of the cello as an instrument, both in technical and emotional expression. Because the pieces are written for solo cello performance, it is up to the artist entirely to express the abundance of sounds. Because of this challenge, the repertoire is not easily picked up.

Mun started the cello at age four and attended the Juilliard School Pre-College Division as a full scholarship student of Minhye Clara Kim. He debuted at the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2004 and is now attending the New England Conservatory as a full scholarship student of Laurence Lesser.

Mun uses the 1697 Giovanni Grancino from Milan sponsored by the Samsung Foundation of Culture.

For more information, call 02) 6303-1977 or 1544-1555.