International—and Internet—Pianist Young-Hyun Cho

Internationally renowned pianist Young-Hyun Cho honors keyboard masters with a solo recital in the refurbished Fulkerson Recital Hall at HSU on Friday, September 28.

Known for her versatility as well as musicianship, Young-Hyun Cho has won prizes in international and national piano competitions in the U.S. and South Korea. Her performances with orchestras and chamber music ensembles are as well regarded as her solo recitals. Her performances available on Internet videos attest to her range: from Bach and Chopin to Scarlatti and Stravinsky.

In her Fulkerson Hall recital, she will play a late Beethoven Sonata (No. 30 in E Major), the three-movement Estampes by Claude Debussy, Franz Listz’s Ballade No. 2, and Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus by 20th century French composer Olivier Messiaen.

Dr. Cho has lectured extensively on the Olivier Messiaen piece she will play at HSU. She describes it as in the tradition of church music, a devoutly Christian work by a composer “who established a unique musical language of his own.” Messiaen (who died in 1992) was greatly influenced by Debussy.  Dr. Cho will perform six of this work’s 20 movements, or “gazes.” The title can be translated as “Twenty Gazes (or Contemplations) on the Infant Jesus.”

  Now teaching at the University of Texas at Arlington, Doctor Cho will also conduct a Master Class at noon on the day of her recital.

This Guest Artist concert is one of three sponored by the HSU piano area, headed by professor Daniela Mineva. Dr. Winston Choi will perform in February and Natalya Antonova returns in May.

    Young-Hyun Cho performs on Friday September 28 at 8 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. A Guest Artist concert produced by the HSU Music Department. Tickets: $8/$3 students from HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door.

Media: Arcata Eye, North Coast Journal, Tri-City Weekly