‘A sound of utter resplendency, a brilliantly shining tone right across the instrument…simply, relentlessly magnificent.’ The Sunday Times
Few violinists attain a legendary status as Kyung Wha Chung does. Intensely passionate with a fine musicality, her recitals are sensational events, particularly so in her triumphant return to stage after a hiatus in performing as a result of hand injury.
Since her return to stage, Chung has graced concert halls with critical acclaims with events often sold out with anticipation. She has signed an exclusive international record contract with Warner Classics, which she has previously recorded with award-winning albums. She is also a respected educator, having taught in The Juilliard School and at her home country, Ewha Womans University in Seoul, South Korea as the chair professor of music.
Chung’s repertoire is known for its extensiveness and breadth, with a noted vibrancy and expressiveness. In her long-awaited Hong Kong recital, Chung will perform the young, passionate first sonata by Fauré, which is his claim to fame, a sonata by Debussy, and the final sonata written by the aged yet exuberant master Brahms.
Debussy
Sonata in G Minor, L. 140
Fauré
Sonata No. 1 in A, Op. 13
Brahms
Scherzo in C Minor, WoO 2 (from Sonata in A Minor, "F.A.E")
Sonata No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 108
Kyung Wha Chung (Violin)
Kyung Wha Chung is recognised throughout the world as one of the finest violinists of her generation. A prolific recording artist, her dazzling and probing artistry has made her a much acclaimed performer throughout her 40-year career. Lauded for her passion, her musicality, and the intense excitement that she brings to her performances, Chung’s uniquely expressive interpretations of the violin literature have established her as an artist of the very highest stature. Born in South Korea, Chung first heard the violin at the age of six. Instantly mesmerised by its tone, she was swiftly recognised as a child prodigy, making her concert debut aged nine with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, performing the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto. At 13, Chung enrolled at The Juilliard School, New York, and began studying with renowned pedagogue Ivan Galamian, and later with Joseph Szigeti.
Upon winning the prestigious Leventritt Competition in 1967, Chung was immediately engaged by major American orchestras – including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra – and also performed at the exclusive White House Gala. She made her sensational European début in 1970, performing the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto with Sir André Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra, at London’s Royal Festival Hall. This concert was met with great critical acclaim and public attention, and – as a result – Chung received offers of concerts throughout the United Kingdom. Subsequently obtaining an exclusive recording contract with Decca/London, Chung’s début album – of the Tchaikovsky and Sibelius concertos with Sir André Previn and the London Symphony Orchestra – brought her to international attention, and she continued to perform with the world’s greatest orchestras (including the Berlin Philharmoniker, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and Boston Symphony Orchestra, among others). Throughout her career, Kyung Wha Chung has enjoyed working alongside the world’s finest conductors, including Claudio Abbado, Daniel Barenboim, Charles Dutoit, Bernard Haitink, Riccardo Muti, Sir André Previn and Sir Simon Rattle.
Kyung Wha Chung has recorded numerous award-winning albums, and her extensive discography reflects the impressive breadth of her repertoire. Following her recording contract with Decca/London, in 1988 Chung subsequently signed for a period with EMI Classics, and also released recordings with RCA and Deutsche Grammophon. Winner of two Gramophone Awards (the first, for her Deutsche Grammophon album of Strauss and Respighi Sonatas with Krystian Zimerman; the second, for her EMI recording of Bartók's Second Violin Concerto with Sir Simon Rattle), Chung has also received many prizes and top honours – including the Medal of Civil Merit from the South Korean government, and the Ho Am Prize for the Arts in 2011.
Following an injury to her hand, Chung stopped performing in 2005. During this time away from the stage, she found a new calling as a teacher, joining the faculty of her alma mater, The Juilliard School. In addition to this, Kyung Wha Chung is Chair Professor for Music at Ewha Wowen’s University in Seoul, and Charity Ambassador for Better World (an active patron for their Child Rescue Project in Africa). She is also the Artistic Director of the Great Mountains Music Festival and School, based in South Korea.
Five years after her retirement, 2010 marked Chung’s triumphant return to the Asian stage. Greeted by enthusiastic audiences and the highest critical acclaim, in 2013 she embarked on an extensive Asian tour of 15 cities, including Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing. Kyung Wha Chung made her much anticipated return to the European concert platform in December 2014, with a national United Kingdom tour culminating in a sensational sell-out recital at the Royal Festival Hall, London. In July 2016 she opened the prestigious Verbier Festival, performing the Brahms Violin Concerto with the Verbier Festival Orchestra and Charles Dutoit. Kyung Wha Chung has signed an exclusive international record contract with Warner Classics, the first release of which – Solo Bach Sonatas & Partitas – was released in October 2016. In 2017, Chung performed works from the CD at the Suntory Hall, The Barbican and Carnegie Hall.
Kevin Kenner (Piano)
The year 1990 was a milestone for pianist Kevin Kenner whose artistry was recognised throughout the world by three prestigious awards: the top prize at the International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, the International Terrence Judd Award in London, and third prize at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow. Kenner’s achievements have won him critical acclaim throughout the world. Conductor Stanisław Skrowaczewski described his collaborations with Kevin Kenner to be the most sensitive and beautiful he remembered.
Born in southern California, Kenner showed his interest in piano from a very young age and studied there with Polish pianist Krzysztof Brzuza. He received the first place in the 1980 International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, where he was the youngest competitor and in which he also received a special award and best Mazurka performance award from the jury. Kenner later made his permanent home in Europe, firstly in the United Kingdom, where he taught for many years at the Royal College of Music in London, followed by a post in Poland, in Kraków. In 2015 Kenner also accepted a professorship in the United States, at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Apart from his work as a teacher, he has served on juries of some of the most celebrated international piano competitions.
Kenner has performed as soloist with world-class orchestras including the Hallé, BBC Symphony, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Warsaw Philharmonic and Czech Philharmonic. He has collaborated with conductors such as the late Sir Charles Groves, Andrew Davis, Hans Vonk, Jiří Bělohlávek, Jahja Ling, Jacek Kaspszyk, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Antoni Wit and Jerzy Maksymiuk. He worked as duo partner with cellist Matt Haimovitz, and since 2011 with Kyung Wha Chung.
Kenner’s recordings are distributed internationally. His recent CD Chopin Resonances was singled out by Gramophone Magazine as the “Editor’s Choice”.
Tickets available from 11 August at URBTIX outlets, on Internet, by Mobile Ticketing App and Credit Card Telephone Booking.
Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients.
(Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis.)
“Great Music” Package Discount
For each purchase of standard tickets for "Violin Recital by Kyung Wha Chung", "Piano Recital by Daniil Trifonov", "The Sixteen", "Piano Recital by Rafał Blechacz" and "Philharmonia Quartett Berlin", the following concession applies:
5% off for any 2 programmes, 10% off for any 3 programmes, 15% off for any 4 programmes, 20% off for all 5 programmes.
Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers.
The performance will run for about 1 hour and 30 minutes including a 15 minute intermission. Audience is strongly advised to arrive punctually. Latecomers will only be admitted at a suitable break. Presenter reserves the right to change the programme.
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