[On Stage] Jae-Min Han and Alexander Malofeev, First Duo Concert of Two "Prodigy" Musicians

A Shared Pursuit of Naturalness
Taking the Stage Together at Seoul Arts Center on May 29
Aspiring to Be Someone Who Makes Good Music

Two musicians who were called "prodigies" after sweeping international competitions in their early teens will present their first duo performance. Cellist Jae-Min Han (19) and Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev (24) will perform on May 29 at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Jae-Min Han became the youngest-ever winner of the George Enescu Competition at the age of 15, and the following year, he also won the Isang Yun Competition. Malofeev rose to prominence by winning the Tchaikovsky Young Artists Competition at the age of 13.

In a written interview with Asia Economy, Jae-Min Han stated that both he and Malofeev strive for naturalness in their music.

"Last year in Frankfurt, I heard Malofeev perform Rachmaninoff's 'Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini' with the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra. The first impression that came to mind was naturalness. I expect that by sharing our thoughts as two musicians who both pursue naturalness, we can create a synergy."

Cellist Jae-Min Han
[Photo by Bonsook Koo, provided by Vincero]

The two first met in the summer of 2023 in Verbier, Switzerland, a city famous for its classical music festival. Jae-Min Han recalled feeling a strong connection as they read through a few pieces together at the time, and said they have remained friends since then. One of the pieces they played together back then, Prokofiev's Cello Sonata, will be performed as the final piece of this concert. Han recalled, "I found Malofeev's musical interpretation and performance at the time to be very intriguing."

Jae-Min Han said that after deciding to perform Prokofiev's Sonata, he selected three other pieces to create a balanced program. The concert will open with Debussy's Cello Sonata, followed by Franck's Violin Sonata (arranged for cello), and Glazunov's 'Chant du Menestrel.' Han explained, "These are works that are full of the spirit of French and Russian music from the late 19th to early 20th centuries."

In addition to the concert repertoire, Han mentioned Schumann's Cello Concerto and Schoenberg's 'Verklarte Nacht' as pieces he has recently found fascinating. In particular, he said that his perception of Schumann's Cello Concerto completely changed when he performed it again after three years.

"When I first performed it in Korea three years ago, I was confident and thought I understood the piece well. At the time, I didn't find it particularly interesting. But when I performed it again on stage last month, I realized there were many aspects I hadn't understood before. The more I learn, the more difficult it becomes, and that makes it even more fascinating. I was reminded once again of what a truly great piece it is. It is now one of my favorite cello concertos."

Since 2023, Jae-Min Han has been living in Kronberg, Germany. He said that living in Germany, a center of classical music, has greatly contributed to his musical growth. "In Germany, I learn a lot by playing chamber music with friends. Recently, I performed Schoenberg's 'Verklarte Nacht,' and it was such a valuable and unforgettable experience."

Pianist Alexander Malofeev
[Photo by Vincero, (c) Liudmila Malofeeva]

Looking ahead, Han named Beethoven's Cello Sonatas as pieces he would like to perform. He said he hopes to play all five sonatas in 2027, which marks the 200th anniversary of Beethoven's death. However, he added, "These works require a lot of study, so I'm not yet sure if I will actually be able to perform them all."

Beethoven's Cello Sonatas are often called the "New Testament" of the cello, and, along with Bach's six cello sonatas?which are referred to as the "Old Testament"?hold a significant place in the instrument's repertoire.

"Since Bach's cello sonatas were discovered not so long ago, I think that if Beethoven had not written his five sonatas, the cello as we know it today might not exist. Each of Beethoven's five cello sonatas is a true gem. I believe everyone can relate to the sense that Beethoven's music transcends the human realm and goes beyond everything."

Jae-Min Han said that his attitude toward music has changed since entering his twenties. "Rather than just being a cellist, I want to be a musician, and even more, an artist. That's why I'm trying to develop an interest in other fields of art besides music these days. I don't have any particular title in mind that I want to be called; I just want to be known as someone who makes good music, and that's enough for me."