Still Loving the Piano, Always Hoping It Stays by My Side

Conductor Chung Myung-whun Releases Second Piano Album
"I Have a Desire to Express Various Facets of Life"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

"It's not because I can play the piano well. It's because I still love it deeply."

This is the reason conductor Chung Myung-whun released his second piano album. On the 22nd, he released 'Late Piano Works by Haydn, Beethoven, and Brahms' through the classical record label Deutsche Grammophon (DG). He realized another dream he held while gaining worldwide fame as a conductor.

At a press conference held at Cosmos Art Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Chung said, "It has been over 30 years since I last performed as a pianist, but I still love the piano. Even if I don't perform, I always wanted it to be by my side." He added, "When I was young, I loved the piano and chocolate. Now, it's my family and the piano."

He began learning music on the piano at the age of five. He also gained fame through his piano performances. In 1974, at the age of 21, he won second place at the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Russia. However, as he was recognized for his outstanding conducting, he moved away from the path of a traditional pianist.

Chung reconnected with the piano at the encouragement of his son, Chung Sun. In December 2013, he released the piano album 'Chung Myung-whun, Piano,' and in October of the following year, he held his first recital. He performed pieces such as Debussy's "Clair de Lune," Chopin's Nocturne in D-flat major, Schumann's "Arabesque," Schubert's Impromptu, and Mozart's "Variations on 'Ah vous dirai-je, Maman'."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The album released after about seven years is filled with piano pieces completed by great composers in their later years. It includes Haydn's "Piano Sonata No. 60," Beethoven's "Piano Sonata No. 30," and Brahms' "Four Piano Pieces." He will perform recitals sequentially in Daegu (23rd), Gunpo (24th), Suwon (27th), and Seoul (28th and 30th).

He said, "Composers experience the beautiful journey of life and the freedom of the soul through the piano works they completed in their later years," adding, "I had a personal desire to express various facets of life through music." He continued, "I feel that different stages come with age. There are things that are understood naturally as time passes. That's why I like getting older. I've never thought for even a second that I want to go back to the past."

Perhaps because of this, when asked if he plans to return as a permanent conductor in the future, Chung firmly replied, "I will not take such a position." He explained, "If you take on responsibility, you have to develop the orchestra by any means, which is very difficult. If you are not confident or willing to develop it, you should not take the position."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.