Violinist Chung Kyung-wha to hold  recitals of J.S. Bach’s sonatas and partitas


Violinist Chung Kyung-wha, one of the most beloved Korean musicians, returns to her loyal fans in a series of solo recitals of Bach’s sonatas and partitas in May and in June.

Calling herself “Bach’s messenger,” the 65-year-old violinist said the upcoming recital has been her dream for a long time.

“I feel like I’m dreaming because I dreamed of this moment for a long time. I feel really honored to perform Bach’s sonatas and partitas, the most divine creations by a human being,” she told reporters in Seoul on Monday.

Chung made her stage comeback late last year after recovering from a finger injury that had kept her from performing for five years. But Chung said the upcoming recital will be different and that she will show her own and new interpretation of Bach’s music.

“My interpretation of Bach this time won’t be romantic, rich or filled with vibratos. But the recital is my tribute to the great composer who was a spiritually pure person and also passionate in music,” she said.

“When I was young, it was difficult to interpret his music, but now I think I can deliberately hear every sound that he created and also deliver his message to the audience,” she said. She plans to record Bach sonatas and partitas for solo violin next year with Universal Music, her agent said.

Chung who has been leading the Great Mountains Music Festival and School with her sister, cellist Chung Myung-hwa, continues to meet her fans throughout the year.

In collaboration with U.S.-based pianist Kevin Kenner, Chung plans to hold duo concerts in Seoul, Busan and Goyang in the second half of the year.

She will perform Bach’s works on solo violin on May 15, 22, 31 and June 4 at the Myeongdong Cathedral in central Seoul.

For the first two recitals, she will play Bach Sonata for Solo Violin No.1 in G Minor, which she calls the Bible of violinists, Partita for Solo Violin No.1 in B Minor and Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A Minor. Tickets are 70,000 won and 100,000 won. Only 400 seats are available for each recital.

For more information, call (02) 518-7343 or visit www.cmikorea.co.kr.

By Cho Chung-un (christory@heraldcorp.com)