Russian violist and conductor Yuri Bashmet is celebrating his 60th birthday in a big way: a world concert tour with the Moscow Soloists, the chamber orchestra he founded in 1986.

The concert, “Yuri Bashmet and Moscow Soloists” on Wednesday at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, will feature Korean pianist Son Yeo-leum, second-place winner of the 2011 International Tchaikovsky competition, in a program that includes J.S. Bach’s Keyboard Concerto BWV 1052, Schubert’s Arpeggione Sonata in A Minor, D. 821, Paganini’s Concertino in A Minor for viola and orchestra, and Tchaikovsky’s Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48.

“The selected pieces are my favorites. I thought the audience would truly enjoy the concert when I perform the music that I adore,” said Bashmet at a press conference held at The Plaza Hotel in Seoul on Monday.

Although he is now a world-renowned violist, Bashmet does not rest on his laurels but continues to strive for better conditions for those musicians who come after him. By performing as a viola soloist, Bashmet proved wrong the popular belief that viola was not suitable for solo performance.

“Violin is ‘violon’ and cello is ‘violoncello’ in Italian, derived from viola. Viola is not an additional instrument that supports violin and cello ― it is the core of string instruments,” he said.

“The former Soviet Union even had an administrative rule that viola should not be performed as a solo instrument,” Bashmet explained to The Korea Herald after the press conference.

As the first violist to perform a solo recital in such prestigious venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Barbican in London, he has inspired a number of composers to write viola solo pieces.

“As a violist, I want to expand the repertoire of viola even further,” Bashmet added.

With continuing interest in music education, he spends much time teaching. “It’s nice to hang out with youngsters. I love passing on my knowledge and experience,” he said, adding, “I want to tell them to read many books, and listen to many performances and vocalists. You need to find your own identity first in order to give an honest performance.”

With this passion, Bashmet held a special three-hour session for students on Tuesday at the Korea National University of Art.

The tickets for the concert are priced from 40,000 won to 140,000 won. Tickets are available at www.sacticket.or.kr, www.yes24.com and www.interpark.com. For more information, call (02) 599-5743.

By Suh Hye-rim (sheren6735@heraldcorp.com)