■ Violinist Clara Jumi Kang
Anticipation for her first duo stage in five years
“The secret to staying at the top: rest well and keep a long view”
Anticipation for her first duo stage in five years
“The secret to staying at the top: rest well and keep a long view”
Violinist Clara Jumi Kang (38, pictured) has returned with a duo recital tour, teaming with pianist-conductor Sunwook Kim (38) for performances in 11 cities across Korea. It is their first time sharing a stage in Korea since their 2021 cycle of Beethoven’s complete violin sonatas — roughly five years ago. Speaking at a press conference on the 7th at Credia Classic Club in Jongno, Seoul, Kang said, “Touring lifts my energy,” and added, “Performing across 11 cities is a challenge, and I’m curious to see where I’ll be by the final concert.” Over the 12-day run, venues are closed only on one Monday, so she will, in effect, perform almost every day.
Kang attributes her longevity to “resting well” and “keeping a long view.” Two days before the press conference she attended a Munich Philharmonic concert at the Seoul Arts Center to hear pianist Seong-Jin Cho. She said she often tells younger musicians, “Your repertoire is an asset, and the ability not to burn out is an asset,” and added, “I want to still be performing at 70.”
The tour opens with Beethoven’s Sonata No. 1 and moves through works by Ottorino Respighi, Mieczysław Weinberg and Richard Strauss. The program traces a line from the classical to the romantic and into the 20th century on a single program. Kang expressed particular affection for Weinberg, the Polish-born Jewish composer who, while fleeing World War II, lost his entire family in the Holocaust. Still, she said the program is not overwhelmingly dark: “I believe an ending should always be about love and hope,” she explained, noting that she arranged the program to arrive at Strauss after Respighi and Weinberg.
Kang said she and Kim have long been comfortable duetting at home and abroad, and their musical rapport shows. Reflecting on Kim’s growing role as a conductor over the past five years, she said, “His harmonic expression through conducting gives me goosebumps — it feels like listening to an orchestra.” She added that the Respighi and Strauss pieces were chosen with Kim specifically in mind.
In August, Kang will appear at Germany’s Rheingau Festival with conductor Daniel Barenboim to perform a Beethoven concerto — a stage she missed after an injury at age 12 and is now realizing about 27 years later. “I can already imagine how much I’ll long for these years when I’m in my 60s. That’s why I’m so happy right now,” she said.
Clara Jumi Kang and Sunwook Kim will appear at the Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on the 23rd.
