This is the 11th in a series of interviews with the next generation of classical musicians
Ian Yung-wook Yoo (Courtesy of Seoul Arts Management)
Some time ago, a 10-year-old boy surprised Korea with an original piano sonata, and the big media spotlight trailed this ``Mozart of Korea.’’ Now, after 20 years of studying abroad, championing several competitions and world tours, the 30-year-old is back.
Pianist Ian Yung-wook Yoo paved a special place for himself in the world of classical music. In 1998 the Juilliard graduate won First Prize by unanimous vote at the Paloma O’Shea Santander International Competition. After releasing his first Franz Liszt album under the Naxos label, he went to tour the world. Recently, he made headlines for winning the Second International Beethoven Piano Competition in Bonn, Germany as well as the second prize in the 16th Vianna de Motta (where now first prize was awarded).
Appearing onstage with renowned artists like Mischa Maisky and the world’s premier orchestras, he seems to be living the happy success story. But the transition from child prodigy to a mature musician, Yoo told The Korea Times, was far from easy. The growing pains hit hard.
``It was damaging to the psyche’’ he said about the special treatment he received as a boy. All the media attention and pressure stalled his musicality, and he stopped composing. ``Before (composing) was pure pleasure, but after my first showcase (at age 10), I felt so much pressure,’’ he said. But now, he said it’s all about going back to the beginning.
``I had to make a conscious decision to change from being a `child prodigy,’ ’’ he said. The past five years has been a time of great ``self-transformation.’’ ``I used to be shy, sensitive, easily hurt little boy with a fragile ego. I was that stereotypical image of a child prodigy stuck in his own little world and full of himself. Now people are shocked to see how open and easy-going I am,’’ he laughed.
A lonely world tour after winning the Paloma O’Shea Santander enabled him to reflect. What hinders the prematurely talented is that they have difficulty relating to the growth normal kids go through. They also have a lesser sense of awe and reverence for music than those who diligently devote themselves to music. ``It’s disillusioning. But now I realized it matters how much time I practice and how much sincerity I put in,’’ he said.
``Now I love performing onstage more than ever. It’s like dating. The audience is like a date _ if there’s no chemistry it won’t work. Music reveals the range of human emotion and experience one can encompass, and life is not black and white. It has dynamics and you reveal your soul in different ways,’’ he said.
``Music is not me. It’s hard to realize for many musicians, and thinking that you are your music distracts you from devoting yourself to music. It’s hard to take criticisms, too. You need to separate yourself from music. While (your playing) does reveal many aspects of your personality and background, it’s only a reflection of yourself,’’ emphasized Yoo.
Going further back in time, Yoo’s first steps with music wasn’t smooth _ not all child prodigies pick things up in a split second like Freddie Highmore in ``August Rush.’’ ``I was five years old when I first tried learning the piano. It was a disaster,’’ he said. He quit.
Unlike the typical idea of a pitch-perfect child prodigy playing a sonata after the first hearing, Yoo was different. In a sense, he mastered music theory _ a dreaded subject for many musicians _ first. He said his fondness with sheet music helps enormously, enabling him to learn music quickly.
``I was fascinated by the music’s musical score and not primarily because of the sound. I love symbols and really enjoy looking at mathematical equations and things even if I don’t understand all of it. I wanted to write down everything,’’ he said.
A year after the initial failure, Yoo was inspired by ``For Elise’’ and waltzed with the piano. ``Now I have so much fun with the piano, people tell me that as long as I have the piano I’d be OK if I’m stranded on an island,’’ said the pianist, who was constantly drumming his fingers on an invisible keyboard, to the background piano tunes in the rather noisy café.
``I try hard to achieve a sense of complete abandonment _ not let remorse or hesitation get in the way with music,’’ he said. The difference between a master and a student, he said, is that the latter just goes by the book while that the former has a sense of conviction that translates to the audience.
Teaching helped complete his spiritual facelift. While working on his doctorate degree during the past few years, he also gave lessons to young pianists.
``While teaching I learned many things, like the power of living in the moment,’’ he said. Finding the right direction for each student, like one who doesn’t wholeheartedly appreciate music. ``Sometimes many buttons aren’t on the keyboard,’’ he said.
But one thing Yoo stresses to all his students is body language. ``You posture dictates your attitude toward music. Music is a very physical activity,’’ he said, explaining how one cannot play flowing Chopin pieces with the force and rigor of weighty Beethoven.
``Sound is equivalent to the gesture I need to make, with all different energies, because every color in music has a corresponding sound,’’ he said.
``My flame was dying but it was rekindled by teaching and performing in Europe. Before I was more interested in teaching because I was disillusioned in my playing and thought I was (better) fit to help others. Now, I’m in transition _ playing has a bigger role in my life. Another adventure lies ahead _ I can’t see where the limit will be, but we’ll see. I’m very excited,’’ he smiled.
Yoo has achieved something of a miracle. The long gone glory of childhood celebrity is like a black hole, but he has escaped it. It was more than overcoming growing pains but remapping the human soul. Teaching and playing _ it doesn’t seem too hard to ask for both. As for composing, he said he hopes to get his back on it.
In his upcoming recital, Yoo will showcase his standard repertoire that brought him much luck in the competitions: Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 21 ``Waldstein’’ and Six Variations on a Theme, as well as Chabrier’s ``Bourree Fantasque’’ and Liszt’s Piano Sonata.
The Monday concert is at the Seoul Arts Center, located near exit 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal station on subway line 3. Tickets cost 30,000-70,000 won. Yoo will also appear as accompanist in soprano Im Sun-hae’s recital June 30. Call (02) 548-4480 for both concerts. He will be recording Beethoven’s piano variations in July under the Naxos label.
Located in Sangam-dong, northern Seoul, it's the city's first museum devoted to movies. Walking around the circular room, you'll zip through 100 years of film history. It's small but compact and full of small treasures. Cineastes donated precious personal items for the museum. You'll find legendary screen beauty Choi Eun-hee's (1926~) jewelry and make-up brushes as well as celebrated director Im Kwon-taek's signature on-site outfits and the Honorary Golden Berlin Bear trophy he won at the 55th Berlin International Film Festival.
