[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] "Traveling and performing abroad, I ended up comparing many countries. When I thought about what distinguishes Korea the most, mountains came to mind. It seems rare for mountains and people to be so close as they are in Korea. Also, the fact that the Korean word for mountain, 'san,' sounds like 'alive,' the opposite of 'dead,' felt uniquely meaningful."
Son Yeol-eum (35), pianist and artistic director of the PyeongChang Daegwallyeong Music Festival, said this on the 15th at a press conference held at the Press Center in Jung-gu while explaining the theme of the 18th PyeongChang Daegwallyeong Music Festival. Son emphasized, "The allegory of life told by crossing a mountain forms the foundation of the entire festival and the storytelling of each performance."
Son Yeol-eum has been serving as the artistic director of the PyeongChang Daegwallyeong Music Festival since March 2018. This year’s performances will be held over 11 days from July 28 to August 7 at the Alpensia Concert Hall and Music Tent in Daegwallyeong-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, and other locations throughout Gangwon Province. The festival features 13 main concerts, 2 special concerts, and 7 outreach concerts. Additionally, a masterclass program with artists participating as instructors has been organized.
Son said, "I was worried whether we could hold the performances this year due to COVID-19, but so far, things are going smoothly," adding, "The scale of the event is smaller than usual, but we plan to proceed with a fitting atmosphere."
In composing this year’s program, Son focused on pieces rarely heard in Korea. Representative works include Isang Yun’s "Tapis," John Adams’ "Shaker Loops," Schubert’s Octet, Schoenberg’s "Pierrot Lunaire," Bach’s unaccompanied violin partita Chaconne, Dvo??k’s Cello Concerto, Liszt’s symphonic poem No. 3 "Les Pr?ludes," and Humperdinck’s "Hansel and Gretel" Overture.
Pianist Baek Gun-woo will make his debut at this festival. On August 6, he will perform piano trios by Debussy and Tchaikovsky under the theme "Rock." Violinist Clara Jumi Kang and cellist Kim Doo-min will join him as collaborators.
Son Yeol-eum will also perform a duo stage themed "Star" with pianist Baek Hye-sun, whom she admired in her childhood. The two plan to play works by Liszt, Copland, Ravel, and Bart?k. Percussionists Naoki Yasuda and Kim Mi-yeon will collaborate. Son said, "I am not personally close with pianist Baek Hye-sun, but I watched many of her performances when I was young. It is an honor to share the stage with her."
The opening concert will be conducted by Jeong Chi-yong, and the closing concert by Leo Kuokman, both leading the PyeongChang Festival Orchestra (PFO). Including these two concerts, the PFO will perform four times.
The "Special Concert," which introduces next-generation musicians, will feature recitals by cellists Lee Sang-eun and Lee Jeong-hyun, co-winners of the 2018 Isang Yun International Music Competition. Seven outreach concerts will also be held across seven cities and counties in Gangwon Province.
Son Yeol-eum said, "I prepared this festival focusing on the timeless value of classical music that can be loved across time and space," adding, "Since we couldn’t invite many overseas artists last year and this year, we plan to proudly welcome many of them next year."
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