Among the myriad of piano concerts that take place in Seoul, there are two that particularly stand out:
Two Plus Two
Renowned pianist Moon Yong-hi, 60, and her husband Lee Dai-uk, 61, will host a piano concert, Thursday, at Myeongdong Cathedral in downtown Seoul. This is the couple’s first duo in seven years since their 2002 concert at Seoul Arts Center.
Moon is known as the first Korean professor at the prestigious Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University while her husband Lee splits his time teaching at Hanyang University and conducting the Ulsan Philharmonic Orchestra. The two often took to the stage together as soloist and conductor, so this will be a rare chance to hear their four hands together on the keyboard.
``As husband and wife and fellow musicians we have walked a long path together, and so we seem to know each other’s thoughts with a single glance or a single music note,’’ Lee was quoted as saying in an interview with Yonhap News. ``We hope to offer something more mature than seven years ago. My heart flutters to think I’ll be taking the stage with my life partner,’’ he said.
The two musical and life partners, however, differ drastically in terms of artistic temperament. Moon is considered a more detailed and passionate player, while Lee offers more serene, organic sounds. ``It is a great pleasure to visit each other in Korea and the United States, and to practice together on the piano and fine tune each other’s musical colors,’’ said Lee. ``We are at times at odds with each other for musical interpretations, but we overcome it to make beautiful, harmonious music.’’
The couple will play Schumann’s Six Etudes in Canon Form for Pedal Piano, Op. 56 and Messiaen’s ``Vision de l’Amen’’ for piano duo. It is expected to be a unique concert experience to hear the religious pieces in the cathedral, where the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan recently lay in state.
Tickets cost 30,000 won. Call (02) 706-1481. The couple will travel to the United States to perform at the Peabody Institute in April.
Classical All Night
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) Classic FM, the nation’s foremost classical music radio channel. It is also the 300th year since Italian cembalo inventor Bartolomeo Cristofori introduced the pianoforte in 1709. The 24-hour radio channel will celebrate its anniversary April 2 with a special marathon concert of Beethoven’s complete piano concertos.
From 7 a.m., April 2 to 3 a.m. the following morning, KBS will broadcast a special 18-hour show, including a live concert from KBS Hall in Yeouido (93.1 MHz on FM radio). From 7 to about 10:30 p.m., all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos will resound deep into the night.
Top Korean pianists will play the concertos: Han Dong-il (Concerto No. 5), Shin Su-jung (No. 4), Lee Kyung-sook (No. 3), Huh Seung-yeun (No. 2) and Julius Jeong-won Kim (No. 1). Suh Hyun-suk will conduct the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra.
KBS is accepting about 1,500 requests for admission to the concert hall through its Web site (http://www.kbs.co.kr/). Call (02) 781-3255.
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