Musicians to celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday

<By Lee Yong-sung, The Korea Herad>

Today is the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart(1756-1791), one of music's most compelling geniuses. Throughout the year, musicians will be competing to honor the great composer through his music.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Unfortunately, however, the very day of his birth seems to have been largely outshined by the Lunar New Year's holiday.

"I'm glad to see Mozart is getting this much media coverage in Korea. But at the same time, I'm sorry that his 250th birthday doesn't get the spotlight it deserves," said Shin Soo-jung, veteran female pianist and dean of Seoul National University's School of Music.

Making her major stage debut with the composer's piano concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466, 50 years ago, Shin says that Mozart's music is her life-long soul food. That explains why she is giving a special gala concert tonight to commemorate the special anniversary at Mozart Hall, a small concert/recital venue owned and operated by her, along with some of the country's leading classical musicians.

"The musicians are superb. I do appreciate them for sparing valuable time right before the golden holidays, " Shin continued. "There is no better media to bridge the gap between generations than music." Born in 1942, Shin received her musical training at Seoul National University, the Vienna Academy of Music and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. She has won prizes in many prestigious music competitions, including the Dong-A National Competition in Korea and the Elena Rombro Stepanow Competition in Vienna.

The pianist also serves on the juries of major piano competitions, which include the Munchen, Dong-A, Tokyo and Dublin international music competitions. From 2000, Shin has been teaching at Seoul National University as a piano professor in the College of Music.

With the venue being decorated with 250 colored balloons, Shin and other musicians - clarinetist Kim Hyun-gon, violist Kim Sang-jin, violinist Paik Joo-young, cellist Yang Sung-won and pianist Kim Kyu-yeon - will perform the violin and piano sonata in B flat major KV378, piano sonata in B flat major KV281, Trio For Piano, Violin And Cello No.6 In G Major, KV564 and more. Before the concert, there will be a pre-concert performance featuring the country's musical prodigies, which starts at 6:30 p.m.

Opened in May, 2004, the venue on the second floor of the Mozart building is equipped with 183 seats along with a 231-meter wide lobby and a luxurious reception bar, along with four soundproof practice rooms and parking for approximately 80 cars.

"We plan to give tribute concerts for Mozart on the 27th day of every month until June and then on fifth from July to December to commemorate the day Mozart passed away, which is Dec. 5," Shin said. Tickets for the concerts are 30,000 won. For more information, call (02) 3472-8222.

Besides the concert, the year is full of various performances to celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday.

Seoul Arts Center will present Mozart's opera "Don Giovanni" at its Opera House from April 20 to 23. The opera, based on the story of legendary Spanish lascivious man Don Juan, is best known with its witty lines and songs. This time, world-renowned British Royal Opera House's version will be performed.

Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra led by Chung Myung-whun will present a special "Magic Flute Gala Concert" at Little Angels Performing Arts Center, eastern Seoul, from Dec. 21 to 23, in which highlights from the composer's last opera will be performed.

Solo musicians and smaller ensembles will also come to pay tribute to the great composer throughout the year, including pianist Stanislav Bunin who, together with Biern Chamber Orchestra, will present Mozart's music on May 17.

Alban Berg String Quartet's special Mozart night will be at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall on May 20, while Anne-Sophie Mutter, one of today's most celebrated violinists, who recorded her first Mozart concerto album