Han Jae-min, who won first prizes at the Isangyun Competition in 2022 and George Enescu International Competition in 2021, will present one of his most anticipated programs this year as the artist-in-residence at Lotte Concert Hall.
The 18-year-old cellist, the youngest musician to be named Lotte's artist-in-residence, will take the stage at least twice this year, in the Solo Cello Recital on March 27 and Trio Recital on Oct. 30.
Labeling the March 27 concert as one of the most anticipated concerts of the year, Han is poised to showcase the charm of the string instrument.
“Even though there are many great solo cello music pieces and cello is very charming as a solo instrument, there are not that many cello-only programs,” Han said.
“So I’ve been dreaming of this kind of program, it's one of the most eagerly anticipated performances for me this year,” Han told reporters Friday during a press conference at Lotte Concert Hall in southern Seoul.
Han introduced "the main dish" for the March 27 concert as Hungarian composer Zoltan Kodaly’s Sonata for Cello Solo in B Minor, which he has been hoping to perform.
In addition to the Kodaly piece, Han will perform John Williams’s 3 Pieces for Cello Solo, Gaspar Cassado’s Suite for Cello Solo and Gyorgy Sandor Ligeti’s Sonata for Cello Solo in March.
For his second concert as artist-in-residence, Han will join forces with Hungarian violinist Kristof Barati and Korean pianist Park Jae-hong on Oct. 30. The three will perform Rachmaninov’s Piano Trio Elegiaque No. 1 G Minor, Op. 9, Dvorak’s Piano Trio No. 4 E Minor, Op. 90, "Dumky Trio" (1891) and Tchaikovsky’s Piano Trio A Minor, Op. 50, “A la Memoire d'un Grand Artiste.”
With the artist-in-residence program through which he is able to creatively express himself, Han said he hopes to grow further and continue his identity as a musician.
"The past year after the competition I felt like I was breaking out of an egg. I have been thinking a lot about finding my identity, and I feel like I've gone through a lot in this process. When dealing with music, I've made an effort to look at it with a more fundamental approach and return to the basics, trying to find the original intent," he said.
"In the continuation of these ongoing reflections, I will continue my exploration of my identity, and as part of that journey I am grateful for the opportunity to work as an artist-in-residence, and I believe it will be a significant opportunity for further growth," Han noted. "Reflecting on what could have been done better, I anticipate more chances for growth in the future."
