The official poster for the Kim Sang-jin and Kim Kyu-yeon duo recital, to be held June 20 at 8 p.m. at IBK Chamber Hall in Seoul Arts Center. Courtesy of Opus
Violist Kim Sang-jin and pianist Kim Kyu-yeon will come together for a duo recital on June 20 at 8 p.m. at the IBK Chamber Hall of Seoul Arts Center, offering audiences an evening of intimate musical dialogue on the cusp of summer.
The program spans three centuries of repertoire, featuring Robert Schumann's "Märchenbilder, Op.113," Joseph Haydn's "Divertimento" and Johannes Brahms' "Sonata Op. 120, No. 1." The centerpiece of the evening will be the world premiere of composer Ryu Jea-joon's revised Sonata for Viola and Piano — a work that bridges classical tradition and contemporary lyricism.
Kim is one of Korea's most decorated violists. The first viola player ever to win the Dong-A Music Competition, he went on to study at the Hochschule für Musik Köln and The Juilliard School before performing at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the Wiener Musikverein, among hundreds of stages across more than 50 countries.
He currently serves as music director of the Seoul Chamber Orchestra and is a professor at Yonsei University College of Music.
Kim Kyu-yeon has built an equally distinguished international profile, winning top prizes at the Bartók-Kabalevsky-Prokofiev International Competition and the Gina Bachauer Young Artists International Competition, with additional recognition from the Geneva International Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Following her Carnegie Hall debut recital in 2017, critics praised her for her natural musical flow and refined interpretive sensibility. She is currently a professor at Seoul National University College of Music.
The two performers share a long-standing musical relationship through Ensemble Opus, the chamber group they formed alongside composer Ryu. That accumulated trust and understanding is expected to bring a particular depth to their onstage dialogue.
A promotional recording of Ryu's sonata, made in March ahead of a planned album release, has been available for limited distribution since May 19.
Tickets are available through the Seoul Arts Center website and NOL Interpark Ticket.
Source: Korea Times News
