Opera has long celebrated the expressive power of the human voice. In his recital Operatic Horn, hornist Jung Ki Kim explores how that same lyricism can be achieved on the French horn, presenting a program that moves from Classical chamber music to bel canto opera and nineteenth-century virtuoso fantasy. Joined by pianist Sori Choi and guest string players, the recital places the horn's singing qualities at the center of the evening.
The program opens with Melodie from Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, arranged by Jan Valta for horn and piano. The intimate arrangement strips away the orchestral setting, allowing the horn's warm tone and flowing legato to echo the expressive qualities of an operatic aria.
At the heart of the first half is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Horn Quintet in E-flat Major, K.407, one of the composer's defining chamber works for the instrument. Scored for horn, violin, two violas and cello, the quintet replaces virtuosic display with musical conversation, allowing each performer to contribute equally to the work's graceful Classical architecture. Violinist Kyungju Sung, violists Erwan Richard and Jungmin Park, and cellist Hoonsun Chae join Jung Ki Kim in the performance.
Following intermission, the recital turns to Vincenzo Bellini's Horn Concerto, a work shaped by the composer's unmistakable bel canto style. Long melodic lines, elegant phrasing and sustained breath control transform the horn into a vocal soloist, reflecting the expressive beauty that defines Bellini's operatic writing.
The evening concludes with Jacques-François Gallay's Fantaisie sur "L'elisir d'amore," Op.46, based on themes from Gaetano Donizetti's beloved opera. As familiar melodies evolve into increasingly brilliant variations, the work showcases the horn's agility, tonal flexibility and technical brilliance while never losing sight of its lyrical origins.
Rather than presenting the horn solely as an orchestral instrument, Operatic Horn reveals its remarkable affinity with the human voice. Across opera, chamber music and Romantic virtuoso repertoire, the recital traces a musical tradition in which the horn sings with warmth, elegance and expressive freedom.
Jung Ki Kim graduated from Seoul National University before continuing his studies at the Curtis Institute of Music and completing the Artist Diploma program with distinction at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He served as principal horn of the Wonju Philharmonic Orchestra for 16 years and has appeared as guest principal with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, Eurasian Orchestra, Seoul Tutti Ensemble and the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra. Since 2022, he has been an associate professor at Ewha Womans University while remaining active as a chamber musician, educator and mentor at the PyeongChang Special Music & Art Festival.
Pianist Sori Choi is an active collaborative pianist, joining Jung Ki Kim for a program that places equal emphasis on chamber music partnership and the vocal character of the horn.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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