Collaboration with the Belgian National Orchestra
Kicking Off Tomorrow at Seoul Arts Center
Performances Scheduled in Andong, Gyeonggi Arts Center, and More
"Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, 'Emperor,' always feels new, and every time I perform it, it feels like a fresh challenge," she said.
According to the classical music website Bachtrack, the "Emperor" was the most frequently performed concerto in classical music venues worldwide last year. Even when considering all classical music, including symphonies, it was the second most performed piece after Dvorak's Symphony No. 9, "From the New World." Although pianist Hye Sun Paek has listened to and performed this piece countless times, the fact that it always feels new to her illustrates the greatness of this work.
On September 24, at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, Hye Sun Paek will perform the "Emperor" with the Belgian National Orchestra. During a press conference, Paek described the concerto's appeal, saying, "The 'Emperor' is a grand piece, but the second movement is incredibly beautiful, and the third movement is so lively that it feels as if it takes us all to a ball." She added, "Among Beethoven's works, this is the one where the orchestra and piano solo have the most balanced roles."
Beethoven composed five piano concertos. He premiered the first four himself, but was unable to do so for the fifth due to his worsening hearing loss. At the time he composed the "Emperor," Vienna, where Beethoven lived, was under invasion by Napoleon's army. Paek explained, "There are records that Beethoven, fearing he might lose his hearing completely due to the sounds of guns and cannons, went underground to compose the 'Emperor.'"
She said, "The 'Emperor' is a piece loved by both music aficionados and those new to classical music. I hope the hope and comfort this piece offers can be truly felt by the audience."
Following the Seoul performance, Hye Sun Paek is scheduled to perform at Andong Arts Center on September 25, Gyeonggi Arts Center on September 26, Gongju Culture and Arts Center on September 27, Daegu Concert House on September 28, and Goyang Aram Nuri on September 30. In addition to the "Emperor," the Belgian National Orchestra will perform the overture to Mozart's "La clemenza di Tito" and Brahms' Symphony No. 1.
This concert is drawing attention due to the special connection between Hye Sun Paek and the Belgian National Orchestra. In 1991, Paek placed fourth at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, one of the world's most prestigious competitions, and the performing ensemble at that time was the Belgian National Orchestra. Because the Queen Elisabeth Competition is a major national event in Belgium, various ensembles now have the opportunity to perform, but at the time Paek won her prize, the Belgian National Orchestra held exclusive performing rights. This will be Paek's first collaboration with the orchestra in 34 years since the competition. She said, "It brings back so many memories of the competition, and I am very much looking forward to this collaboration."
Hye Sun Paek is currently the Chair of the Piano Department at the New England Conservatory (NEC), one of the world's leading music schools in the United States, where she is nurturing the next generation of musicians. In March of this year, her student Kim Sehyun won the Long-Thibaud Competition in France, bringing both teacher and student into the spotlight. Other notable students include Kim Dohyun, who placed second at the 2021 Busoni Competition, and Kim Songhyun, who placed second at the 2023 Isang Yun International Music Competition.
Paek remarked, "I don't do much for them, but young musicians these days grow up so well on their own." She continued, "In my generation, teachers were the role models, but now, young musicians seem to be their own role models. They have access to so much information and have their own ideas. When I teach them something, they change dramatically. They think differently from me, but because they have their own perspectives, they create something unique."
Paek also said, "There are quite a few students who make me wonder why they play better than I do," predicting that more star pianists like Lim Yunchan and Kim Sehyun will emerge in the future.
Given their exceptional talent, Paek hopes that her students will look beyond music and experience the wider world, believing that this will lead to better performances.
She advised her students, "I want to make it clear that music alone is not enough in today's world." Paek said, "In the past, it was enough to focus solely on music, but that's no longer the case. The more you know, the more you can express as a performer." She added, "When I see students struggling, I sometimes advise them to take a break from playing the piano altogether, and I make sure they know that not making music for a while is never a failure."
Paek said, "Life never goes exactly as expected, so I always try to be fully prepared and do my best. After that, sometimes you just have to leave things to fate. When I worry and do my best, that's when unexpected results seem to come." She added, "We often think we've seen it all in life, but that's not true. There are always surprises."
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