Seongjin Cho to Begin Nationwide Tour on June 12, Performing Complete Ravel Solo Piano Works

"Ravel's works are built with very intricate structures"
"Debussy is emotional... Ravel's music is much more concrete"
Two performances in Seoul on June 14 and 17

Pianist Seongjin Cho will embark on a nationwide tour in Korea, starting in Incheon on June 12 and continuing through July.

Earlier this year, Cho released a complete album of piano works by French composer Maurice Ravel (1875?1937) to mark the 150th anniversary of Ravel's birth. To celebrate the album's release, he will hold a nationwide tour. Following Incheon, the tour will visit Seoul on June 14, Seongnam on June 15, return to Seoul on June 17, Daegu on June 20, Gimhae on June 21, Daejeon on July 2, and Cheonan on July 6.

The complete Ravel piano works album by Cho was released in two parts. The first album, "Ravel: The Complete Solo Piano Works," featuring all of Ravel's solo piano pieces, was released on January 17. The second album, featuring Ravel's piano concertos recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andris Nelsons, was released on February 21.

Since the beginning of this year, Cho has been on a world tour performing Ravel's works at major venues around the globe. He performed at the Vienna Konzerthaus on January 25, Carnegie Hall in New York on February 5, and Disney Hall in Los Angeles on February 11. Upcoming performances are scheduled for April 29 at the Berlin Philharmonie, May 2 at the Barbican Centre, and May 13 at the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg. After touring major cities in Europe and North America, he will begin his tour in Korea in June.

Cho developed a deep connection with French piano music while studying at the Conservatoire National Sup?rieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Speaking about Ravel's works, he explained, "They have a very intricate structure, and pieces like 'Miroirs' require extremely delicate yet dramatic expression." Regarding the album recording, he said, "Ravel knew exactly what he wanted, so I tried to follow the score's instructions as closely as possible when performing. However, it was almost impossible to express every detail perfectly."

Nevertheless, Cho emphasized the significance of recording the complete piano works of Ravel. "This is the first time I've recorded the complete works of a single composer. The recording took six days, and after recording all the pieces, I gained a much deeper understanding of Ravel's music. Now, I feel I can finally view his music as a whole."

In 2017, Cho also released an album of works by another French Impressionist composer, Debussy. Comparing the music of Debussy and Ravel, he said, "Ravel's music is more orchestral and structurally meticulous. At first listen, Ravel's music may seem impressionistic, but it has a much clearer structure than Debussy's. Debussy's music is emotional and imaginative, whereas Ravel's is much more concrete."

Cho will perform different programs at his two concerts at the Seoul Arts Center. On June 14, he will perform the complete solo piano works of Ravel. Including two intermissions, he plans to perform all 12 pieces over a three-hour concert.

On June 17, the program will feature Liszt's "Les jeux d'eaux ? la Villa d'Este," Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 15 "Pastoral," Bartok's "Out of Doors," and Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 3. The theme of the June 17 concert is "nature." The first piece evokes the image of flowing water, while Beethoven's sonata expresses the tranquility and pastoral atmosphere of nature. Bartok's "Out of Doors" captures various sounds of nature with his unique folk-inspired style. The second movement of Brahms' Piano Sonata No. 3 is described as evoking the mood of night, as Brahms inscribed the phrase "Der Abend dammert, das Mondlicht scheint" ("Twilight falls, the moonlight shines") in the score.