The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Mon, August 15, 2022 | 06:20
Music
Pianist Kissin mesmerizes Korean audience again with four encores
Posted : 2021-11-24 21:23
Updated : 2021-11-24 21:23
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during a solo recital held at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts
Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during a solo recital held at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts

By Park Ji-won

"His music reminded me of an encounter with my loved one," Choi Eun-kyu, a violinist and classical music critic, said after the recital by Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Kissin is one of the most popular concert pianists in Korea.

Indeed, the 50-year-old pianist, who has visited Korea five times since 2006, made the 1,600 audience members feel that they and his music were inseparable. As the audience's applause continued, he had to move between the stage and backstage nine times after the planned program ended, in order to play four more pieces.

Whenever he smiled, the audience applauded louder. He asked the staff to place a big mirror backstage for him to check his appearance, but he had no time to take a look at it, as he was too busy going back and forth for the encores. The tickets for the concert were sold-out within 25 minutes, its organizer said.

Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during a solo recital held at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts
Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during his solo recital held at Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts

The virtuoso was born in Moscow in October 1971 and began to play by ear and improvise on the piano at the age of two. As a prodigy, he made his concerto debut playing Mozart's Piano Concerto K. 466 at the age of 10, and gave his first solo recital in Moscow the next year. By the age of 12, he had performed both Chopin concertos in Russia, which made him an international star, and by age 19, he had made appearances with overseas orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic and the New York Philharmonic.

While being known as a prodigy, not everyone with his talent has such a successful career. He may have sustained such success because of his endless efforts and dedication to practicing. Even for the one-day Seoul concert, due to his tight recital schedule in other countries, he started practicing on a Steinway in Korea every day for seven hours, Nov. 20 and 21, as well as for one hour Nov. 22, right after he came back from his tour of Japan.

The program was actually not filled with popular works that Korean audiences would easily recognize. But he chose to play a wide ranging classical repertoire ― from Bach and Mozart, to Beethoven and Chopin ― which requires not only technique but also mature interpretation.

Starting with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, arranged by Tausig, he continued with Mozart's Adagio in B minor and Beethoven's Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major. After adjusting the piano during the intermission, he played Chopin's "Mazurkas" and "Andante Spianato and Grande Polonaise Billante Op. 22."

"It seemed that he chose to play serious pieces in the first half of the program, and put more colorful music in the second part after the intermission to entertain people. Playing the pieces Beethoven wrote in his later days is tough without maturity, but he made it through well." Choi said.

Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during a solo recital held at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts
Pianist Evgeny Kissin performs during a solo recital held at the Lotte Concert Hall, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Lotte Foundation for Arts

His playing was impeccable and he seemed to express more of himself in it, leading to a more profound interpretation.

"Russian piano techniques are famous for being powerful in hitting the keys. So it is normally difficult to maintain balance while playing. But he was perfect in terms of preciseness and keeping control in order to make the music sound balanced. He expressed himself more in the music, and had more conversations with the audience than before," Choi added.

"His music has become more liberated than before, and he put his best energy into every sound as if this were the last concert he were to have."

The four encores were Bach's Chorale Prelude ― "Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland" BWV 659, arranged by Busoni; Mozart's Rondo In D Major K. 485; and Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor Op. 31, and Waltz No. 12 In F Minor, Op. 70, No. 2.

He will tour Europe with a similar program next year, and is also planning to hold recitals in North America.



Emailjwpark@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Korean blockchain operators urged to enhance vigilance against accidents
  • City goes into festival mode during Seoul Festa
  • Yoon set to unveil 'audacious plan' for North Korea's denuclearization
  • Traveling on the Han River in the 19th Century: Part 2
  • Fears of lengthy COVID-19 resurgence loom large
  • More tourists opt to visit Jeju Island by ferry
  • Ex-USFK commander rejects China's claims over THAAD
  • Will Samsung heir be promoted to chairman?
  • Seoul E-Prix thrills racing fans in Korea
  • KOICA seeks support for Busan's bid to host World Expo
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions
    • Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions Reality shows go abroad again amid eased COVID-19 travel restrictions
    • Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man Late Samsung chairman's collection highlights painter Lee Jung-seop as family man
    • From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month
    • [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles [INTERVIEW] Actor Ko Kyoung-pyo explains why he doesn't obsess over lead roles
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group