Recitals’ pros. I think there are many. They are small and intimate like watching a play in a small theatre, sharing eye contact with an actor. They are inexpensive. In Seoul concerts can be absurdly expensive. Is this due to the travel costs of international musicians or is there a less savoury reason? Price is important. Moving on. There is often less pomp than when going to a symphony concert or opera. I can focus better. Perhaps recitals are the best way to try out music you haven’t heard, or even heard of. There doesn’t seem to be much risk.
With that in mind, I have selected three upcoming recitals with programs less familiar than most.
First off, Hyun Cheong Park (박현정) Flute Recital. Titled Park Hyeon-Cheong’s 7th Musical Outing: Sounds of Russia, the program is of Russian and Soviet (one Georgian) works spanning from 1879 to 1993. Two short pieces for flute and piano by Sofia Gubaidulina should be treats. Gubaidulina composes gorgeous and highly spiritual music that is often intensely chromatic and rich in use of timbre. Also, little known member of Russia’s The (Mighty) Five (Mily Balakirev, César Cui, Modest Mussorgsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Alexander Borodin), César Cui’s sunny and joyous 5 Petites Duos offer a chance to enjoy some rarely played chamber music.
Program:
César Cui – 5 Petites Duos, for flute, violin and piano, Op.56 (1897)
Sergey Prokofiev – Flute Sonata in D, Op.94 (1943)
Edison Denisov – Sonata for flute and piano (1960)
Sofia Gubaidulina – Allegro rustico for flute and piano (1963 )
Otar Taktakishvili – Sonata for flute and piano (1968)
Sofia Gubaidulina – Klänge des Waldes for flute and piano (1993)
– see the recital poster here (in Korean).
Second, a trumpet recital with Kim Jin-sung (김진성 ). He will be premiering four pieces in Korea. My kind of guy! Sweden’s popular composer Lars-Erik Larsson’s neoclassical trumpet concertino (1953) is on the bill, a good choice as his music is not particularly well known outside of Sweden. Similarly, Kim has chosen one of Karl Pilss’ works for solo trumpet, Sonate fur Trompete und Klavier (1935). It’s in the Germanic High Romantic style (one of my favourites!). In a dissertation I’ve just stumbled upon about the influence of Viennese composer Franz Schmidt on Pilss’ works for trumpet John Mainard Wacker says “Musicians and audience often overlook composer Karl Pilss outside his native Vienna. His ties to the Trompeterchor der Stadt Wien and the National Socialist Party during the years preceding the Second World War have limited widespread acceptance of this composer. Pilss’ output includes concertos for trumpet, horn, bass trombone, and piano, sonatas for trumpet, violin, and oboe, wind quintets and octets, piano pieces, choral works, and numerous large and small brass works. Pilss’ teacher Franz Schmidt is more widely known.” (link to dissertation)
Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach – Concerto in D Major (After Vivaldi), BWV 972 (1713, 1714)
Francis Thomé – Fantasy for Cornet and Piano (1902)
Andre Savard Morceau – de Concours pour Cornet a pistons et piano (1903)
Karl Pilss (Karl Pilß) – Sonate fur Trompete und Klavier (1935)
Lars-Erik Larsson – Concertino Op.45 Nr.6 for Trumpet and String Orchestra (1953)
– see the recital poster here (in Korean)
Last, a program of peculiar piano perfections. (: Well, a concert of music by the who’s-who of American twentieth century classical music innovation. Kim Sae-hee’s (김세희) piano recital, Sound Encounter, Contemporary Piano Music Series 1 will feature the music of George Crumb, Henry Cowell, and John Cage! Not to be missed.
Program:
Henry Cowell – Three Irish Legends (1922)
John Cage – 11 Sonatas from Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano (1946-1948)
George Crumb – 7 Pieces from Makrokosmos (1972, 1979)
– see the recital poster here (in Korean).
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Concert details
1. Hyun Cheong Park Flute Recital: Sounds of Russia
When: Thurs, March 6th, 8pm
Where: Seoul Arts Center, Recital Hall, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Who can attend: above elementary/primary school age
Ticket price: 20,000won
Concert length: 90min
Contact: 02-515-5123
Online reservation
2. Kim Jin-sung Trumpet Recital
When: Friday, Feb. 28th, 8pm
Where: Seoul Arts Center, IBK Chamber Hall, Seocho-gu, Seoul
Who can attend: above elementary/primary school age
Ticket price: 20,000won
Concert length: 90min
Contact: 02-581-5404
Online reservation
3. Sae Hee Kim Piano Recital “Sound Encounter ”
When: Friday, March 7th, 7:30pm,
Where: Ilshin Hall, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Who can attend: Anyone (:
Ticket price: 20,000won. Students: 10,000won
Concert length: 90min
Contact: 02-515-5123
Seoul Arts Center
Ilshin Hall (일신홀)
Timbre.Tales 