Pianist Kim Sae-hyun, 19, said he chose Chopin and Fauré for his debut album in Seoul on Monday because he wanted to follow his heart. Warner Classics will release the album, Chopin · Fauré, worldwide on Sept. 4, with physical copies already available in Korea. The record centers on Chopin’s 12 Études, Op. 25, and also includes Fauré pieces and April in Paris. Kim will mark the release with a recital at Lotte Concert Hall on Sept. 6.
Pianist Kim Sae-hyun performs a piece from his debut album at Credia Classic Club in Jongno District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of Credia
What does choosing the repertoire for an album mean to a musician? Should an artist consider listeners’ diverse tastes? Should they introduce an unfamiliar world and spark curiosity? Or should they guide listeners on an odyssey across a vast musical landscape, united by a coherent artistic vision?
These were questions pianist Kim Sae-hyun, 19, posed to himself while planning his debut album. At a press conference held Monday at Credia Classic Club in Jongno District, Seoul, Kim described them as “questions I will have to live with for the rest of my life,” adding that his ultimate goal as a musician is “to contemplate all three and eventually transcend them.” For now, however, the clearest answer for him is simply to follow his heart.
