Published : Oct. 5, 2016 - 15:57
Doyenne of classical music Chung Kyung-wha has made a return to the recording studio, releasing her first album in 15 years.
Released Wednesday, the world-acclaimed violinist’s new album, “Sonatas & Partitas Bach,” features unaccompanied renditions of Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas repertoires for violin in a two-hour-plus, two-disc album compilation.
“I consider this a project that I have been working toward since 1961, the year when I first starting learning the works of Bach,” said the 68-year-old musician during a press conference Wednesday morning held at the Ode sound studio in Gangnam, Seoul.
“A while back I was forced to retire because of a serious finger injury. But in 2012, I decide to dedicate myself to taking on six Bach sonatas for the first time,” she said, adding, “For four years, I placed all of my concentration on the works of Bach so that I could finally make my dreams come true and produce this album.”
Having recovered from what was previously considered a career-killing finger injury in 2005, one that left her out of commission for roughly five years, Chung eventually went on to make her musical comeback in 2011 with a concert tour.
“During my very painful five years of recovery, I wasn’t sure what my future had in store for me. All I thought about was how I couldn‘t stop my life of music,” said the violinist. “For a while I thought I was going to have to spend the rest of my life as a professor at Julliard, unable to play anymore.”
Violinist Chung Kyung-wha speaks at a press conference held at the Ode sound studio in Gangnam, Seoul, Wednesday morning. (Credia)
“If I could describe how I am feeling right now in just one word, that word would be ‘happy,’” Chung continued. “After all these years attempting to record Bach, it still feels like a dream. I can’t believe that all this has finally come true.”
Although the musician has returned to the spotlight and will soon embark on a number of concert commitments, Chung admitted that all the practicing in order to record her new album has caused some of her finger muscles to stretch so she is still not 100 percent out of the woods with her past injury.
“Lately have been overusing my hand so I am taking a little rest from playing but I am currently receiving treatment for it and I am feeling okay,” she assured the reporters.
Chung is slated to perform the works from her new album in an upcoming recital at the Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. Ticket prices range from 40,000 won ($36) to 150,000 won and can be purchased online at interpark.com. For more information, call 1577-5266.
By Julie Jackson (
juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)