[News Figures] Jang Hanna's Mentor Mischa Maisky, Cellist

Born into a Jewish Family... Imprisoned in a Forced Labor Camp in Youth
Regarded as an Immortal Recording of Bach's Unaccompanied Cello Suites
Touring Seoul, Daejeon, and More in September... Performing Dvo??k's Cello Concerto

Conductor Jang Hanna will take the stage in Korea alongside her mentor, cellist Mischa Maisky. This marks their first performance together in 11 years since the 2012 Absolute Classic concert.

Maisky is one of the mentors whom Jang Hanna credits as having changed her life. During his 1992 visit to Korea, Maisky saw a video of the nine-year-old Jang Hanna performing and sent her a letter, marking the beginning of their connection. Jang Hanna says that meeting Maisky taught her what music truly is and how to approach it with the right attitude.

Having studied under Maisky, she made a dazzling debut in the music world by winning the Rostropovich Competition in 1994. While continuing her reputation as a cellist, Jang Hanna began conducting in 2007. She maintained a close relationship with Lorin Maazel, former conductor of the New York Philharmonic, from whom she received advice on conducting. She once said about her entry into conducting, "I want to share more music with more people."

Misha Maisky performance scene Photo by Yonhap News

Maisky also introduces Jang Hanna as his only disciple. Therefore, he was more disappointed than anyone else when she stopped playing the cello, but after watching her conducting videos, he grew to respect her even more.

Maisky was born in 1948 in Riga, the capital of Latvia. He graduated from the affiliated music school of the Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) Conservatory and the Moscow Conservatory. Having studied under both Rostropovich and Gregor Piatigorsky, he is recognized as the only cellist to have been taught by these two greatest masters of the era.

Rostropovich (1927?2007) was a Russian cellist regarded as one of the greatest cellists of the 20th century. He was a figure who resisted for Russian democracy and freedom of expression and faced much oppression. Gregor Piatigorsky (1903?1976), born in Russia, served as principal cellist of the Berlin Philharmonic.

Despite a promising future under the tutelage of these two masters, Maisky was imprisoned for two years simply because he was Jewish and was considered involved in dissident movements. Unable to perform his favorite pieces and deprived of freedom, Maisky was released when he was granted permission to emigrate to Israel at age 24 in 1972. However, the trauma led to a period of hospitalization in a psychiatric facility.

After regaining his freedom, Maisky began performing at the Marlboro Music Festival, which was suggested by Bohemian-born American pianist Rudolf Serkin (1903?1991), and was invited to perform with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic, among others, finally making his cello performances known to the world.

In particular, his album of Bach’s Cello Suites is regarded as "the most effective expression of Bach’s lyricism" and "the most beautiful performance among Bach’s unaccompanied cello suite recordings," earning it a place as an immortal masterpiece.

During the Ukraine crisis, Maisky participated several times in charity concerts supporting Ukrainian refugees. In interviews with domestic and international media, he said, "I cannot believe such a situation is happening in 21st-century Europe," and added, "Putin is trying to destroy Ukraine, but ultimately he is destroying his own country (Russia). This war causes suffering not only to Ukrainians but also to Russians."

Also, at a charity concert held in Toronto, Canada, at the end of March last year, he mourned all innocent victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, he was criticized by Ukrainian supporters for mourning victims including not only Ukrainians but also Russians. Maisky also expressed concern about Russian artists worldwide being banned from performing on stage.

Jang Hanna and Maisky, as mentor and disciple, will collaborate in this concert with Dvo??k’s Cello Concerto. This piece is known for its high difficulty and brilliance and is considered the pinnacle of cello music. The program besides the cello concerto varies by date. On September 17 in Jeonju, September 21 in Gyeongju, and September 24 in Seoul, they will perform Dvo??k’s Symphony No. 9, while on September 19 in Daejeon and September 23 in Seoul, they will perform Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5.

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