[On Stage] Pianist Abzeyeva "All Chopin Concert After 13 Years"

2010 Chopin Competition Winner... First Woman in 45 Years
After Ukraine War Outbreak, Called It "Shocking and Tragic" on SNS
Still Actively Performing Despite Russian Origin

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 last year, many musicians of Russian origin have been banned from performing on stage. Pianist Yuliana Avdeeva (38), who is Russian and won the 16th Chopin Competition in 2010, is an exception. She has been actively performing even after the outbreak of the war. She will also hold a solo recital at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on the 12th. We met Avdeeva through a written interview.

The reason Avdeeva can continue to perform on stage seems to be because of her anti-war message. On March 8 last year, she wrote on her Facebook that she was truly shocked by the war. "The invasion of Ukraine is a deep sorrow and pain. It has become a tragedy for too many people. I hope the war ends soon. I am more convinced than ever that music will help us come together for peace."

Emphasizing the power of music, Avdeeva has frequently performed Sergei Prokofiev's (1891?1953) Piano Concerto No. 2 since last fall. In a written interview, she explained, "I think this piece very well expresses the era we are living in now."

Prokofiev composed Piano Concerto No. 2 in 1913. In May of that year, Maximilian Schmidthof, a close friend from his time at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, committed suicide. Prokofiev, immersed in grief, composed and dedicated the Piano Concerto No. 2 to Schmidthof.

By performing Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2, Avdeeva is comforting those who have lost loved ones due to war. She described Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 as "a very tragic and dark piece, but on the other hand, it is filled with very lyrical melodies and characters, so it always heals my heart."

Yuliana Abzeyeva [Photo provided by Mastmedia, ?Sammy Hart]

The stage at the Seoul Arts Center on the 12th will be Avdeeva's first solo recital in Korea in eight years. She previously held solo recitals in Korea in 2014 and 2015.

She has filled the program for this recital entirely with works by Fr?d?ric Chopin (1810?1849). In the first half, she will perform two Polonaises, a Barcarolle, a Prelude, and a Scherzo. In the second half, she will present four Mazurkas expressing free-spirited emotions and Chopin's deeply romantic Piano Sonata No. 3.

Although recognized as one of the best Chopin performers, she said this is the first time in 13 years that she has organized a recital solely with Chopin's works. In fact, since around the time she won the Chopin Competition, she had not held a recital exclusively featuring Chopin's pieces. She said, "I think I needed a lot of time for personal growth before deciding on an all-Chopin program recital."

Although it took a long time to prepare a stage filled only with Chopin's works, she still said that winning the Chopin Competition 13 years ago remains a precious memory.

"Winning the Chopin Competition was a key that allowed me to experience a bigger world. Performing in various concert halls around the world, working with fantastic orchestras and wonderful conductors, and facing different audiences worldwide is a very good experience. The 2010 Chopin Competition was one of the first competitions to be broadcast through internet streaming like YouTube, so I remember people around the world watching the competition with great interest. Because of that, even now, people often say to me, 'I still remember the pieces you played at the Chopin Competition,' and I am always moved when I hear that. Also, I am very happy and always touched by the fact that I won the Chopin Competition like Martha Argerich (82). It feels even more special because Argerich was one of the judges when I participated in the competition."

Avdeeva was the first female winner of the Chopin Competition in 45 years since Argerich.

Yuliana Abzeyeva [Photo provided by Mastmedia, ?Christine Schneider]

Due to COVID-19, Korea has become a precious place for Avdeeva. It was her first overseas performance venue after the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a collaboration with the KBS Symphony Orchestra performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in January last year. That concert was also the debut stage of Pietari Inkinen as the music director of the KBS Symphony Orchestra.

"It was the first overseas performance after the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, moving across continents. At that time, being able to come out into the world again felt very special. It was a moment when I realized how much I had longed for such moments, and I think it will remain a performance I will remember for a lifetime. It is even more special because it was Inkinen's inaugural concert as music director."

Avdeeva expressed gratitude for being able to share music with Korean audiences at that time and emphasized that she wants to share with Korean audiences how she currently feels about Chopin's music during this upcoming performance.