Violinist Kim Bomsoli: "Recording with Bamberg Like My Mentor 53 Years Ago... A Dream Come True"

Violinist Kim Bomsoli (36) said that she has long been a fan of the Bamberg Symphony. This is due to the connection between her mentor, Kim Youngwook, a distinguished professor at Seoul National University (77), and the Bamberg Symphony. Professor Kim Youngwook is a violinist who performed on the world stage, collaborating with maestros such as Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein. During her studies at Seoul National University’s College of Music, Kim Bomsoli was a student of violinist Kim Youngwook. In 1972, Professor Kim released a concerto album with the Bamberg Symphony conducted by Okko Kamu. The album featured Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 and Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto.

Kim Bomsoli said she “listened to this album so many times it wore out” since childhood, adding, “Through that album, I discovered the Bamberg Symphony and became a fan from that moment on.”

Marcus Axt, representative of the Bamberg Symphony, violinist Kim Bomsoli, and Jakub Hrusa, principal conductor of the Bamberg Symphony (from left), are taking a commemorative photo before the press conference held on the 30th of last month at Cosmos Art Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Vincero

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Fifty-three years after her mentor’s recording, Kim Bomsoli released a new album titled ‘Bruch & Korngold’ on May 9, featuring Bruch’s Violin Concerto recorded with the Bamberg Symphony. This is her second full-length album released under the Deutsche Grammophon label, following the 2021 ‘Violin on Stage’ album, and her first concerto album in this format. It is also her first regular album featuring a concerto.

At a press conference on May 30, Kim Bomsoli said she was determined to record her first concerto album with the Bamberg Symphony.

“I received many offers from other orchestras, but I waited two to three years because I wanted to record my first concerto album with the Bamberg Symphony. It was a dream come true from my childhood. I am truly happy and grateful to release a recording with the Bamberg Symphony and to go on an Asia tour together.”

Kim Bomsoli and the Bamberg Symphony are currently on an Asia tour, performing in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. They held three concerts in Japan, performed at Seongnam Arts Center on May 31, and after a concert at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on June 1, they are scheduled to give two concerts in Taiwan.

The album contains six tracks in total: Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto, and four short pieces by Korngold. Of the six tracks, four were performed with the Bamberg Symphony, while the remaining two Korngold pieces were recorded with pianist Thomas Hoppe. Jakub Hrusa, who has served as principal conductor of the Bamberg Symphony since September 2016, conducted the recordings.

The reason Kim Bomsoli chose Korngold’s concerto instead of the Mendelssohn concerto recorded by her mentor is that Korngold was born in Brno, the second largest city in the Czech Republic.

Although the Bamberg Symphony is now based in the small German city of Bamberg, it was originally founded by Czech musicians who came to Germany. Many current members are also Czech. Principal conductor Hrusa is also from Brno.

Conductor Hrusa explained, “Due to the complex historical circumstances of World War II, Czech musicians left their country and came to Germany to establish the orchestra.” He added, “It is a fusion of two cultures?Czech and German. While it was not always peaceful, I believe it was a successful union. Korngold is a composer who well represents the story of both myself and the Bamberg Symphony.”

Kim Bomsoli also said that the Bamberg Symphony, with its complex history, delivers unique and captivating music. She said, “Listening to the Bamberg Symphony’s many recordings, I became deeply immersed in the very special music and the unique sound created by the meeting of Czech and German traditions.” She continued, “While Bruch’s and Korngold’s violin concertos are stylistically very different, I believe they are connected by the theme of love in a certain sense. Both works, I think, are concertos that represent the pinnacle of Romanticism.”

Jakub Hrusa, principal conductor of the Bamberg Symphony (center), is answering questions at a press conference held on the 30th of last month at Cosmos Art Hall in Seocho-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Vincero

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The Czech Republic is geographically divided into Bohemia in the west and Moravia in the east, with Prague and Brno as their respective central cities. Historically, Brno belonged to the same kingdom as Prague but often enjoyed autonomy, cultivating its own distinct traditions and culture.

Conductor Hrusa explained, “Bohemia is centered around Prague and is close to Germany, so it is best represented by beer, while Moravia is near Vienna, Hungary, and Slovakia, so wine is its symbol. Also, Prague is associated with the Protestant Reformation, while Moravia, being close to Italy, is influenced by Catholicism.”

He continued, “Smetana is the composer representing Bohemia, Janacek represents Moravia, and Dvorak represents both regions. Following them is Mahler, a Jewish composer who spoke German and was born in the area between Bohemia and Moravia. That’s why I believe Mahler was musically influenced by both regions.”

Just as Kim Bomsoli has a deep affection for the Bamberg Symphony, conductor Hrusa also expressed great admiration for Kim Bomsoli as a performer.

“I believe she is a performer with brilliant sensibility and true soul for music. She plays every single note with meticulous care and love. She approaches music with great humility and performs with utmost sincerity.”

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