Award-winning quartet hopes to broaden strings' reach as Kumho Art Hall‘s first ensemble-in-residence
The Arete Quartet, four stars rising together in Korea's chamber music scene, has been named Kumho Art Hall Yonsei’s first-ever ensemble-in-residence. The first ensemble to receive this honor, the quartet expressed hope to broaden the reach of chamber music through the residency.
Since its formation in September 2019, the quartet has won multiple prizes at prestigious competitions, including top prizes at the 2024 Lyon International Chamber Music Competition, the 2023 International Mozart Competition and the 2021 Prague Spring International Music Competition. Additionally, the quartet received the Special Prize ProQuartet at the 2022 ARD International Music Competition Munich in Germany.
“We decided to form the team after a performance in Suntory Hall (in Japan). Since then, we have realized there are many opportunities for quartets. That led us to participate in competitions,” Jeon Chae-ann, the first violin, told reporters during a press conference on Monday at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei in northwestern Seoul.
This pursuit of opportunities ultimately led to the quartet's selection as artists-in-residence at Kumho Art Hall Yonsei.
The quartet, composed of violinists Jeon Chae-ann and Park Eun-joong, violist Jang Yoon-sun and cellist Park Seong-hyeon, takes its name from the Greek word “Arete,” which signifies “excellence,” “fulfillment” and “virtue.”
“Whenever we start a piece, we study the composers first because we want to highlight the excellence of those composers (to the audience)," Jeon said.
As artists-in-residence, the Arete Quartet will present four performances throughout the year under the theme of “resonance,” featuring works by nine composers spanning from the 18th century’s Franz Joseph Haydn to today’s Jorg Widmann.
The quartet will kick off the series with Haydn’s music on Thursday. Haydn is a foundational composer in this arena, having composed 68 works for string quartets. On Thursday, Arete Quartet will perform “Die Sieben Letzten Worte Unseres Erlosers Am Kreuze” or “The Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the Cross.”
For the second concert on May 29, titled “Senses,” Arete Quartet will perform works by Haydn, Mozart, Brahms and Widmann. The theme explores the interaction between "Hunt" pieces and the B-flat Major, with Haydn’s String Quartet No. 1 in B-flat Major, “La Chasse,” Op. 1/1, H.3/1, Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17 in B-flat Major, “Hunt,” K.458, Widmann’s String Quartet No. 3, "Hunting Quartet,” and Brahms’ String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat Major, Op. 67.
The third concert, “Fate,” on Sept. 4 will introduce three 20th-century composers: Dmirty Shostakovich, Maurice Ravel and Bela Bartok. The three each showed distinctive qualities and languages. This year also commemorates the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s death, the 150th anniversary of Ravel’s birth and the 80th anniversary of Bartok’s death.
The final concert, on Nov. 13, titled “Last Words,” will bring the last string quartets by two great composers ― Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135 and Schubert’s String Quartet No. 15 in G Major, D.887.
“It is as if those two composers put everything into these two last string quartets. It’s their last piece and we wanted to prepare a production that signals a brand new start," said Park, the cellist.
Beyond the four concerts, Arete Quartet aims to make a lasting impact on Korea's chamber music scene throughout their yearlong residency.
“When we debuted as Kumho Young Chamber Artists, we asked fearlessly if a quartet could become artists-in-residence. I believe what is most needed for an ensemble is an artist-in-residence program. In the small classical musical scene in South Korea, much attention is focused on soloists. If we make progress as an ensemble, it could be meaningful for the Korean classical music scene,” Park added.
Introduced in 2013, Kumho Asiana Cultural Foundation selects classical musicians under the age of 30 in the early stages of their career for its artist-in-residence, providing a regular performance stage.
From 2013 to 2024, 12 up-and-coming artists, including Van Cliburn Piano Competition-winning Sunwoo Yekwon in 2016 and Paganini Competition and Sibelius Competition winner violinist Yang In-mo, participated in the residency program.
gypark@heraldcorp.com
