Cellist Lee Jeong-ran: "Paris that Raised Me, Expressed Through Cello"

First Solo Album Release Commemorative Nationwide Tour... Filled with French Music Including Saint-Sa?ns

[Asia Economy Reporter Byunghee Park] Cellist Lee Jeong-ran (photo) will embark on a nationwide tour recital across Seoul, Gwangju, and Daegu to commemorate the release of her first solo album, "Rendezvous in Paris."

Lee Jeong-ran's debut album, released last February, features masterpieces by 19th-20th century French composers Camille Saint-Sa?ns, Gabriel Faur?, Claude Debussy, and Francis Poulenc in chronological order. The nationwide tour originally planned for March was postponed to August due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Lee Jeong-ran graduated from Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School. While attending Seoul National University, she was unanimously accepted into the Paris Conservatory of Music, where she completed both the bachelor's and the highest performance courses.

Lee Jeong-ran is also active in the ensemble "Trio Jade," which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary. Trio Jade was formed in 2006 by Lee Jeong-ran and pianist Lee Hyo-joo and violinist Park Ji-yoon, both alumni of Yewon School whom she met at the Paris Conservatory.

In her recital, Lee Jeong-ran will perform Saint-Sa?ns' Cello Sonata and "Mon cœur s'ouvre ? ta voix" from the opera "Samson and Delilah," Faur?'s brilliant piece "Papillon," Debussy's only cello sonata, and Poulenc's cello sonata. The program is filled with colorful French music born during the culturally and economically flourishing Belle ?poque era before the outbreak of the World War and the modernist era after the war.

Regarding her debut album, she said, "It was a promise to myself to someday capture the city of Paris, which nurtured me as a musician, in a recording." She added, "I want to express and show the moment of rendezvous with my younger self, who was full of pure passion, through this album and nationwide tour."

Lee Jeong-ran's recital will be held on the 16th of next month at Daegu Concert House, the 19th at Seoul Arts Center IBK Chamber Hall, and the 27th at Gwangju U-Square Culture Center Kumho Art Hall. Pianist Ilya Rashkovsky, a longtime colleague and fellow student from France, will accompany her.