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Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Sohn Min-soo, Lim Yunchan join four hands
Celebrated master-pupil duo to perform together in July Hyundai Card Culture Project The celebrated teacher-pupil pianists Sohn Min-soo and Lim Yunchan will share the stage this July in a rare four-hands concert. The 'Hyundai Card Culture Project 30: Sohn Min-soo & Lim Yunchan' concert, part of Hyundai Card's Culture Project series, takes place July 14 at Lotte Concert Hall and July 15 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall. The program features a rare duo recital by two of Korea's most renowned pianists. Sohn, a laureate of the Honens International Piano Competition and a respected educator currently teaching at the New England Conservatory, is widely recognized for his commanding artistry and depth. Lim, who shot to international fame after winning the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18, has since earned widespread acclaim for his laser-sharp focus and explosive interpretations. Most notably, his debut album, "Chopin: Etudes," garnered top honors at the 2024 BBC Music Magazine Awards and the Gramophone Classical Music Awards. The duo will perform three major works: Brahms' Sonata for Two Pianos in F minor, Op. 34b, Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, and a special two-piano arrangement of Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier Suite, adapted by Lee Hanurij. This program will also be presented at the 2025 Verbier Festival in Switzerland, which runs from July 16 to August 3, offering Korean audiences a unique opportunity to preview an internationally touring program. Their performance on July 25 at the festival is already sold out. This performance in Seoul marks the first-ever classical concert in the Hyundai Card Culture Project series, which has explored new creative territory across music, theater, visual art, architecture and film. Tickets range from ₩60,000 to ₩150,000 ($43 to $107), and are available through NOL Ticket, with discounts offered to Hyundai Card members.
Korea Herald
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Choi Ha-young and Song-ha: sisters with undisputed musical talent
Professional cellist and violinist siblings set to make April duo debut in Seoul What are the odds of three siblings all becoming professional musicians? The Choi sisters — Ha-im, Ha-young and Song-ha, born two years apart — not only pursued careers as professional musicians but also achieved international recognition. Among the three sisters, the two younger ones — Ha-young, 27, and Song-ha, 25 — will perform as a duo in South Korea for the first time in April. Ha-young, this year's Lotte Concert Hall in-house musician, won first prize at the 2022 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, while the younger sister, Song-ha, gained recognition by securing second place in the violin category at the 2023 Montreal International Music Competition. Song-ha also reached the finals of last year's Queen Elisabeth Competition. The two already debuted as a duo in Italy in October 2024, and they are set to tour together in Belgium in March. On April 30, they will perform together at Seoul's Lotte Concert Hall as part of Ha-young's residency concert, presenting Mozart's Duo in G Major, KV 423, and Kodaly's Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7. This will mark their South Korean duo debut — a milestone signaling more collaborative performances in the future. 'The cello and violin are positioned at the top and bottom in a quartet, respectively, yet even as just two instruments, we hope to show the rich diversity of string music,' Song-ha said. Their joint performances arise not from family ties alone but from deep compatibility in their musical identities, the two told The Korea Herald during a video interview last month. Both share a love for folk-inspired music, evident in their decision to include Kodaly's works in their concerts. They've also embraced Mozart's composition originally intended for violin and viola; Song-ha proposed it, and Ha-young enthusiastically accepted the challenge. 'We match each other effortlessly and naturally on stage. Even when one of us spontaneously improvises or tries out new ideas on stage, the other reacts immediately. I wonder if this connection comes from genetics or from spending so much time together,' the cellist said, adding "Now that both of us have many ideas to share, there are many opportunities for us to explore and experiment with various things together, which is very exciting.' Pursuing their musical paths has sometimes led them apart, but it has also brought them back together. Ha-young moved to the UK at age 13 to study under Alexander Boyarsky at the Purcell School of Music, then continued her musical education in Germany at age 16, attending Kronberg Academy and the Berlin University of the Arts. Song-ha, meanwhile, attended a different school in the UK. Eventually, their paths converged in Berlin, where they lived together for four harmonious years, without a single quarrel. They are sisters, but their personalities and characters are quite different ― evident in their choices of instrument. Ha-young saw her mom playing the cello as a hobby and it intrigued her; she never once attempted to play the violin. Song-ha was intrigued by her sister taking cello lessons initially, but after a couple of lessons, she switched to the violin. "Song-ha has always been very curious. Watching me and our older sister practice our instruments daily, she learned remarkably quickly," Ha-young said of Song-ha. 'When we were younger, it felt more natural to imitate my sisters than to find my own style. Growing up listening to their playing, their interpretations became both my initial inspiration and the standard I measure myself against,' Song-ha explained. Their personalities also show through their hobbies: Ha-young enjoys calm activities like yoga and ballet, while the younger sister prefers more dynamic ones such as boxing and flamenco dance. Still, some things clearly unite them ― their shared passion for music, love of performing on stage and their continuous desire to challenge themselves. When asked about their dreams for the future in elementary school, both sisters struggled to settle on a single occupation. Now, however, they are determined to dedicate themselves fully to music and strive to become truly exceptional musicians. 'It's important not to become overly comfortable the more we perform. Instead, once things start feeling easy, I should resist getting too familiar and continuously look for ways to improve - to keep performing at my best,' Song-ha said. "There are many alternatives to live concerts, but I want to share the spontaneity performing live brings, by choosing music that deeply connects with the audience and approaching each performance with sincerity and dedication. Even if a piece doesn't naturally suit me, I try to perform it as though no other music exists, maintaining that level of commitment and respect," Ha-young said.
Korea Herald
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Unfamiliar with classical music? Violinist Danny Koo is determined to reach out to you
With matinee concert series at Lotte Concert Hall, versatile Korean American musician hopes to make classical music more approachble Korean American violinist Danny Koo has become a familiar face on South Korean television, particularly through his appearances on 'I Live Alone.' For younger audiences, he serves as a classical music guide, hosting the 'Pinkfong Classical Music' series, where he and Pinkfong introduce children to the world of classical music. He participates in these activities to bridge the gap between classical music and today's audiences. 'I feel that the classical music world is becoming a bit smaller. I think one of the reasons is that, as artists, we often find ourselves waiting -- waiting for people to come to us, thinking that if we put something out there, the audience will eventually come,' Koo told reporters during a press conference on Monday at Lotte Concert Hall. Hoping to make classical music less intimidating and more relevant to diverse audiences, Koo is presenting Lotte Concert Hall's matinee concert series, L Concert, this spring, spanning three months starting March. Danny's Playlist For the first installment of 'Danny's Lite,' Koo, 33, has curated a selection of iconic melodies from beloved movies. The program on March 20 includes 'Over the Rainbow' from 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Everything Happens to Me' from 'A Rainy Day in New York,' and 'Por Una Cabeza' from 'Scent of a Woman,' along with the theme song from action film 'Mission: Impossible.' Bandoneonist Koh Sang-ji joined in the arrangement of these pieces and singer Son Tae-jin will join the concert as a guest. On April 17, Koo and Ditto Chamber Orchestra will present a concert under the theme of spring, featuring Bach's Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BWV 1068 and Concerto for 2 Violins, BWV 1043 and "Spring" from Piazzola's 'The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires.' On May 15, the lunchtime concert will be a jazz and classical crossover featuring jazz pianist Cho Yoon-seung, blending classical pieces with jazz improvisation. Koo believes his matinee concerts, taking place at 11:30 a.m. on Thursdays, create a more relaxed atmosphere, allowing audiences to engage with music in a different way. Born in Chicago and raised in Philadelphia, Koo received his bachelor's and master's degrees from New England Conservatory. He moved to South Korea in 2022. 'I feel completing all the violin concerts of Bethooven is not necceeary for me. I'm constantly thinking about diverse, fresh and uniquely my own pieces and selections,' he said. The L Concert series previously featured pianist Kim Jeong-won, pianist Baek Hye-seon, and conductor Choi Soo-yeol. Ticket prices for the L Concert series range from 10,000 won ($6.90) to 45,000 won.
