Two noted Asian pianists presenting Beethoven piano sonatas here within two weeks of each other are the talk of the town among classical music lovers. China’s Yundi Li and Korea’s Kim Sun-wook will be portraying different aspects of the genius composer.

And of course they will be adding their special touch to each piece.

Beethoven’s piano sonatas are known for demanding extraordinary devotion and skills from the players.

“It’s not just about the virtuoso. Beethoven didn’t flaunt melody line or phrasing. But instead his pieces have a certain quality of deep down madness and an overwhelming passion,” said music critic Park Jae-sung. “However, the madness and passion are not too explicit, which means that the performers need much more maturity than virtuosity or well-known techniques,” he added.

Park noted that Beethoven is more of a challenge for Asian pianists.

“The flow of the song is quite European and I have seen many pianists struggle to understand that inexplicable sentiment,” he added. 

Yundi Li: Calm and sophisticated

Thirty-year-old Yundi Li will be performing on Wednesday at Seoul Art Center presenting some of his favorite Beethoven pieces, including “Moonlight,” “Pathetique” and “Appassionata.”

Li emerged as a classical darling when he won the first prize at the International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition on Warsaw in 2000 at the age of 18. This was the first time in 15 years the competition had a first prize winner as the judges refused to name an “unsuitable person for the honor of Chopin,” for more than a decade.

Since then, the “prince of Chopin” has been exploring the world of Romanticism.

To many people’s surprise, however, Li released an album of Beethoven sonatas under the Deutsche Grammophon label last month, several of which will be performed on Wednesday.

“I have turned 30 and my understanding and experience of music has become deeper and wider. My Beethoven will show a new side of the Romantic music,” said Li.

“Li’s interpretation of Beethoven is quite European. He is calm and subtle. He plays cool but with warmth. He isn’t flamboyant and strikes the keys with delicacy and perfection. He gives the impression of a Western European pianist and perhaps might be closer to what Beethoven had intended,” Park commented. 

Kim Sun-wook: Academic

Kim Sun-wook will play four piano sonatas by Beethoven on Nov. 8 at the LG Art Center in southern Seoul. The program will feature “Quasi una fantasia,” “Moonlight Sonata,” “Pastoral,” and Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31, No. 1. Coincidentally, both Li and Kim will be playing “Moonlight Sonata” which is one of the most famous Beethoven piano pieces.

Kim, who surprised classical music fans by winning the Leeds International Piano Competition in 2006 at 18, has been on a multi-year journey of performing all 32 Beethoven sonatas starting earlier this year.

Park, who has been to all his Beethoven concerts and listened to all of his albums, said Kim has been delving into Beethoven.

“He has broken down the structures of the pieces and made them his own. He might not be the best player of Beethoven at the moment but surely has the quality of becoming a Beethoven specialist,” he said, calling Kim’s practice, “diligent and academic.”

“Perhaps he is one of the most unique interpreters of Beethoven,” he said.

Kim himself expressed the greatest admiration for the composer.

“I have played many pieces on stage but the greatest joy and satisfaction came when I played Beethoven,” he said at a press conference before the launch of the recital series in March.

“To me this is not a recital. It is more of an event where a young student tries to understand and pay respect to the biggest star of all times,” he said.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)