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Like Meeting an Old Friend

Posted July. 04, 2007 03:43,   

한국어

“The word ‘classical’ conjures up thoughts of uncomfortable suits and stuffy formalities for many people. I’m ready to present the carefree nature and beauty of the music itself.”

Julius Jeong-won Kim (31, photo) is referred to as the “good-looking pianist” by a large following of avid fans. He is preparing a performance that can be a source of enjoyment for everyone.

On July 7 at 5:00 p.m., the Chungmu Art Hall in northern Seoul will be holding “Jeong-won Kim and Friends, 2007.” The “Friends” include seven other musicians who “play different instruments in different genres, but are connected with me through music,” Kim said. Some of those musicians are singer-songwriter Hareem, saxophonist Sohn Seong-je, and violinist Baek Ju-yeong.

“It’s not really a concert. It will feel more like getting together with a group of friends and being able to take a break from a hectic schedule of recitals and recordings,” Kim stated. With that in mind, he included recognizable pieces such as Carlos Gardel’s famous “Tango” from the soundtrack of the movie, “Scent of a Woman.”

“If the musician is comfortable, then the audience will also be more relaxed as they listen to the music,” the pianist surmised.

Julius Jeong-won Kim received international accolades after winning first prize at the 1997 Bösendorfer Concours (piano competition) in Austria, but his name only became more well-known in Korea after his special appearance in last year’s film, “For Horowitz.”

“I’ve been playing the piano for almost 30 years. It’s a kind of bittersweet feeling that I’m recognized as ‘pianist Julius Jeong-won Kim’ only because I was in a movie for about 10 minutes,” he admitted. “But I hope that will support my cause in classical music becoming part of mainstream culture.”

Tickets are 20,000 to 40,000 won. 02-2230-6624.



surreal@donga.com