Pianist Min-Jung Kym (interview)

04th April 2008

Korean-born pianist, Min-Jung Kym, is one of a number of young artists trying to establish herself in what is a difficult marketplace.

She made her first visit to Plymouth when she played with the Molto Musica Ensemble at the Sherwell Centre in the last concert of the present series.

Fortunately I had arranged to ask her a few questions during the interval. Things were nearly thrown into disarray when she and her fellow performers were delayed by a major accident coming from London, and arrived about an hour before curtain-up!

Firstly I wanted to know what she felt about the piano in the venue, as this had been specially chosen by top UK pianist, John Lill, when the building was originally converted for the University of Plymouth.

Min-Jung was full of praise for the instrument, as most performers have been - certainly confirming that this has been money well spent.

She is actually a Steinway artist, so is fully aware of this make of piano, and its total supremacy in concert halls right round the world. 

I asked Min-Jung whether she preferred to play solo, chamber music, or as concerto soloist, which she said was a difficult question to answer, as she very much enjoyed all three!

Min-Jung was delighted to be able to say that she has just been signed-up by the top Philharmonia Orchestra for a number of concerto engagements, one of which will be back in Devon - this time in Barnstaple on November 8, where she will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 4.

When asked whether this was her own choice, and which composers she especially liked to play, she replied that the orchestra chooses the work, especially to suit the resources when out of London, but she was really happy with that. In fact, she will be including Beethoven in a recital later in the month in Darlington.

Min-Jung needed a breather before the second half, where she took part in a wonderfully engaging performance of Schubert’s Trout Quintet.

I was, however, able to catch up with her very briefly again afterwards, where it was great to see just how much camaraderie there was between all the members of Molto Musica Ensemble.

It was certainly evident in the performance, as well as when they crammed themselves and instruments into a couple of cars for the long drive back to London.

And, in case you think that these top professionals get it easy, while Dominic Worsley packed his massive double bass into his Mini, still leaving room for horn-player, Elspeth Dutch, he told me he’d be back in London by two or three in the morning, with a 10am rehearsal later for the Philharmonia’s afternoon gig at the Royal Festival Hall!

And then, of course, there was the snow…

PHILIP R BUTTALL

Click here to read Philip R Buttall's review of the Molto Musica Ensemble and Min-Jung Kym in Plymouth.

Click here to read Philip R Buttall's latest classical roundup.

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