[On Stage] Lee Haesu: "I Will Perform Viola Masterpieces by Miyo and Bowen"

Solo Recital at IBK Chamber Hall, Seoul Arts Center on the 31st
'Hikkeunneungk! Music Festival' Young Virtuoso

Violist Lee Haesu's answer to the question of naming a favorite composer and music was somewhat unexpected. She chose Shostakovich's Cello Sonata, not a viola piece.

"I think the emotions uniquely suppressed yet honestly expressed in Shostakovich's music are truly moving. His music might not resonate at first listen. You have to delve deeper to understand the hidden emotions, which makes it even more captivating."

The reason Lee Haesu mentioned a cello piece is partly because there are fewer viola compositions compared to violin or cello. The viola is the least conspicuous among string instruments. It produces a sound between the high tones of the violin and the mid-low tones of the cello. To put it negatively, its ambiguous sound has not attracted much attention from composers.

The sound of the viola is often drowned out by the violin and cello. However, Lee Haesu said, "When I was seriously interested in music as a child, the mid-low tones of the viola sounded incredibly beautiful in an ensemble performance." Having also played piano and violin as a child, Lee Haesu chose the viola as her instrument. "At that time, it was an instrument not many of my friends played, so I felt it was more special."

Violist Lee Hae-su [Photo provided by Sejong Soloists]

Lee Haesu will hold a solo recital on the 31st at the IBK Chamber Hall in the Seoul Arts Center. She won first place in the viola category at last year's prestigious ARD International Competition in Germany. The chamber music group Sejong Soloists, which hosts the 'Hicketnung! Music Festival,' selected Lee Haesu as the protagonist of the 'Young Virtuoso Series,' providing her with a solo stage. Lee Haesu plans to properly showcase the charm of the viola.

She will perform two pieces: Darius Milhaud's 'Quatre Visages' and York Bowen's 'Fantasy for Viola and Piano.' Lee Haesu said she especially fell for Milhaud's piece the moment she heard it. "It is a piece that expresses the personalities and characteristics of women from different cities through music. Since it is played on the viola, which sounds most like the human voice, it feels as if you become four women. It's a very interesting piece."

She will also perform Alberto Posadas's 'Doriforos,' the commissioned piece for last year's ARD Competition. "Among the many pieces I prepared for the competition, this was particularly difficult. After the competition, I was able to learn more about the piece through direct conversations with the composer Posadas. He was inspired by the ancient Greek statue 'Doriforos.' Like the statue's golden ratio, this piece is divided into seven parts. Posadas also divided the instrument's fingerboard into seven sections, composing the harmonies to layer progressively from the lower part upwards."

She plans to perform three pieces in the first half and conclude the concert with C?sar Franck's 'Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major' in the second half.

Lee Haesu said she has recently felt the charm of the viola even more strongly. "The viola is an instrument with a deeply appealing voice, much like the human voice. I also realized how important the viola's role is when playing chamber music. Whether solo or chamber performance, I plan to work hard. I want to let many people know that the charm of the viola is endless."

Lee Haesu said her personality also suits the viola. "I'm somewhat introverted, so I enjoy playing a supportive role rather than being in the spotlight, and sometimes I'm spontaneous, which allows me to respond quickly to other performers' playing, so I think I match well with the viola."

Before the ARD Competition, Lee Haesu won the Primrose Competition in 2018. The Primrose Competition was the world's first competition held exclusively for violists and is the largest viola competition in the United States. She explained the secret to her wins in both competitions: "Rather than having a competitive mindset, I focused solely on sharing my music and showing sincerity, which I think led to good results."

As an ensemble she would like to collaborate with, she named the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. "I still can't forget the impression I had when I first heard a live performance by the Berlin Philharmonic. It would be truly ecstatic to perform with such an orchestra."

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