Within Beethoven's Op.31 lies a pivotal moment when the familiar structures of Classical form begin to fracture and evolve. Pianist JAEWON CHUNG presents and performs all three sonatas in a recital that combines live performance with commentary. Beethoven Piano Sonata Complete Series V: OPUS 31 marks the fifth installment in an ongoing project tracing Beethoven's life and piano sonatas. The program focuses on Piano Sonatas Nos. 16, 17 and 18, offering audiences a deeper understanding through both explanation and performance.
The evening opens with Piano Sonata No. 16 in G Major, Op. 31 No. 1, a work distinguished by its wit, bright character and unexpected turns. It captures Beethoven at a stage when he was still working within traditional sonata conventions while subtly reshaping them. The recital then moves to Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Op. 31 No. 2 "Tempest", one of Beethoven's most celebrated piano works. Known for its unstable harmonies, dramatic contrasts and concentrated tension, the sonata remains a powerful expression of the composer's evolving musical language. CHUNG's commentary is expected to highlight the narrative dimensions and pianistic innovations embedded within the score.
The final work is Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat Major, Op. 31 No. 3. Following the humor of Sonata No. 16 and the turbulence of the "Tempest," this sonata reveals a different side of Beethoven through elegance, vitality and dance-like energy. Together, the three Op.31 sonatas demonstrate the remarkable diversity that exists within a single group of works.
JAEWON CHUNG studied at Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School before being selected by renowned pianist Hans Leygraf while attending Seoul National University. He subsequently moved to Austria, where he graduated with highest honors from the Mozarteum University Salzburg, supported by scholarships from the Mozarteum, Bösendorfer and the Incheon Music & Culture Foundation. He later completed diploma studies at the Imola Piano Academy and earned the prestigious Konzertexamen degree at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media. Throughout his development, he participated in masterclasses and festivals led by internationally acclaimed musicians including Lev Naumov, Dmitri Bashkirov, Zoltán Kocsis, András Schiff and Mitsuko Uchida, refining a musical voice shaped by both European piano traditions and his own artistic perspective.
In Korea, CHUNG first gained recognition after winning the Seoul National University Competition and earning prizes at the JoongAng Competition and Dong-A Music Competition. While attending Seoul Arts High School, he won the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition in California. His international achievements include Second Prize at the Salzburg Mozart International Music Competition in Austria and First Prize at the Grieg International Competition in Norway. He also advanced to the final and semifinal rounds of the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition, respectively.
At the 2011 Busoni Competition, CHUNG received the Busoni Prize for Best Musical Interpretation, earning praise from jury president Martha Argerich. Argerich described him as "a deeply moving and devoted musician of exceptional artistry."
Beginning with an invitation recital at Vienna's Bösendorfer Hall, CHUNG has appeared at major international venues and festivals including the Busoni Festival in Italy, the Grieg Festival in Norway, the Suolahti Festival in Finland, the Scriabin Museum in Moscow, Carnegie Weill Hall in New York and the Grosser Saal of the Mozarteum in Salzburg. He has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Incheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Wonju Philharmonic Orchestra, Bucheon Philharmonic Orchestra, Pohang Symphony Orchestra, Prime Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Baroque Ensemble, Bad Reichenhall Orchestra of Germany, Royal Chamber Orchestra of Wallonia in Belgium and the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg. He currently serves as a professor at the College of Music at Sungshin Women's University while maintaining an active performing career.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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