From 70-something masters to stars in their 20s and 30s: This spring’s classical scene is awash with piano

Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.
Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.
Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.
Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.
Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.
At a press conference held on the 30th at Shinyoung Chamber Hall in Yeouido, Seoul, he reflected, "Looking back on my life as a performer, it has been a time of constant stress and the need to prove myself," and added, "Now I think what remains is simply to enjoy music. I have reached a stage where I let the music speak for itself. " Explaining why he chose Franz Schubert for this album, he said, "He is a composer whose works are very close to us and always present, yet at the same time very special." He continued, "The line quoted in the program note from Russian composer Igor Stravinsky—'Even if we fall asleep while listening, we will wake up in heaven'—really resonated with me," and added, "At times, Schubert’s music makes you wonder whether it was written by a human being or sent from heaven. " The album includes Schubert’s Piano Sonatas No. 13 and 14, as well as Nos.18 and 20, which represent the essence of his late style. Paik said, "No. 664) is a work I have loved since childhood, and No.
959) is a piece I left aside for a long time because I could not find an answer to it. Letting the music sing on its own, and enduring the silence—that attitude is what has shaped the Schubert I play today. " Even on the verge of turning eighty, retirement is not on his mind.
His belief is that as long as one loves and wants to express music, performing never truly ends. He said, "The pieces we know are only a tiny part of the musical universe," and added, "Because the work of loving and expressing music continues throughout a lifetime, life feels far too short. " On the nationwide tour, he plans to present Sonatas No.
13 and 20, as well as Johannes Brahms’s "Four Ballades," among other works. The sister piano duo Katia (76) and Marielle Labèque (74), who have written more than half a century of piano-duo history, will perform at LG Art Center Seoul in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on April 26. This leading French duo will be visiting Korea for a recital for the first time in 18 years.
Even in their seventies, they continue to explore new repertoire, and in this concert they will present Philip Glass’s Jean Cocteau trilogy—"Orphée," "La Belle et la Bête," and "Les Enfants Terribles"—in versions for two pianos. Glass dedicated these works to the Labèque sisters. Irish pianist John O'Conor, also in his seventies, will appear on June 24 in the "Piano Special" program, part of the World Star Series at Seoul Arts Center.
Known as a "poet of the piano," he is scheduled to perform works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Frédéric François Chopin, Edvard Hagerup Grieg, and Alexander Scriabin. ■ Classical idol Yunchan Lim returns for a nationwide tour after two years Yunchan Lim (22) will embark on his first nationwide recital tour in two years this May. He will perform in six concerts across five cities, including Lotte Concert Hall on May 6 and Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on May 12.
For this tour, Lim personally planned everything from the program to the venues and schedule. Since winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, he has presented programs such as "Chopin: Etudes" and "Bach: Goldberg Variations. " He said, "I wanted to play music that would endure over time and remain for a long while," and explained, "I chose Franz Schubert and Alexander Scriabin, whom I have loved for many years." In these concerts, he will perform Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 17 "Gasteiner" and Scriabin’s Sonatas Nos. 2, 3, and 4.This will be the first time he features Schubert in a domestic recital tour, while Scriabin represents a repertoire he has prepared over a long period. In particular, he will revisit Scriabin’s Sonata No. 2, which he played at the 2022 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, offering a deeper, more mature interpretation.
Prizewinners from the International Chopin Piano Competition are also scheduled to visit Korea. Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita (31), who took second prize at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2021, will give his first recital in Korea at IBK Chamber Hall, Seoul Arts Center, on June 26.
He plans to contrast the lyrical works of Johannes Brahms with the dramatic pieces of Frédéric François Chopin, showcasing the many facets of Romantic music. Eva Gevorgyan (22), who in the same year became the youngest finalist at age 17 in that competition, will also appear on the "Piano Special" stage at Seoul Arts Center on May 27.
She drew attention in 2020 when Russian pianist Evgeny Kissin personally selected her as a scholarship recipient at Germany’s Klavier-Festival Ruhr, and she is regarded as a performer who carries on the authentic tradition of Russian pianism. Her program, ranging from Sergei Rachmaninoff’s "Etudes-tableaux, Op.
33" to Franz Liszt’s "Années de pèlerinage, Second Year: Italy," will showcase the technical command and interpretive depth of a pianist in her twenties.
Courtesy of Mok Production. Sister pianists Katia and Marielle Labèque. Courtesy of LG Art Center Seoul.
jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter