Daegu Concert House's Chamber Hall continues its \"The Masters\" series with a recital by cellist Minji Kim on Thursday, May 21, at 7:30 p.m. The program promises to showcase the cello's deep resonance and expressive range, offering distinct colors and rhythms in each work.
The evening features music by Robert Schumann, Francis Poulenc, Claude Debussy, Manuel de Falla, Gaspar Cassadó, Béla Bartók and Astor Piazzolla. Spanning different eras and styles, the program highlights the cello's lyricism, momentum and its ability to move across genres in a single concert.
In the chamber hall’s intimate setting, audiences will be able to hear the performer’s breath and the strings’ resonance up close. The first half centers on the cello’s delicate phrasing and lyrical continuity; the second half brings folk rhythms and driving energy together to create striking contrasts. Exotic colors and dynamic motion will further illuminate the instrument’s rich tone and technical clarity.
Minji Kim launched her international career after winning the 2003 Astral Artists National Auditions in the United States. She has earned top prizes at the Hudson Valley String Competition, the HAMS International Cello Competition and the Irving Klein International String Competition. Since then she has appeared in recitals and collaborations across major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago, and on prominent stages at home such as the Seoul Arts Center Symphony Festival.
She was the first Asian associate principal cello of Spain’s Reina Sofía Orchestra under Lorin Maazel. She currently serves as music director of the Deoksugung Stone Hall concert series, artistic director of the Yeosu Eco International Music Festival, and as a principal member of the Cellista Cello Ensemble. She also teaches at Seoul National University’s College of Music.
Pianist Jaeyeon Won joins her for the program. Won gained attention with prizes at major international competitions, including the Busoni International Piano Competition, and has performed at leading venues such as the Berlin Philharmonie, Salle Gaveau in Paris and the Herkulessaal in Munich. A Steinway Artist, he will partner with Kim to deliver finely tuned phrasing. Tickets are KRW 20,000 (about US$15).
