1. 음반정보
- 레이블: DANTE
- 음반번호: PSG 9115
- 수록시간: 78:43
2. 연주자
- 피아노: 백건우 (KUN WOO PAIK)
Korean born, American trained, French by adoption and sentiment yet citizen of the world by profession, Kun Woo Paik embodies something of the "eternal traveller". The separate strains of Oriental and Western music in which he was steeped, have blended together and now sound out in universal harmony. "Ideal union (...) Kun Woo Paik's keyboard approach invests Listz's especial romanticism with a new serenity and wisdom, combining the western-style ardour of the High Romantic with a sense of controlled strength and Zen-like spiritual power", commented a critic after a 1980 recital.
A Paris series of six thematically arranged recitals devoted to facets of Liszt (The Absolute, the Past; the Journeys, Religion, Hungarian Gipsy Inspiration, Remembrance and Death) in 1982, gave most of us the opportunity of discovering a great pianist. One of that breed of true artists who, while scrupulously respecting the score, illuminates it with a joy arising from the light of their own refinement of mind and innermost feelings.
His programme took the form of an "invitation au voyage" reflecting Kun Woo Paik' clearly held conviction of sharing an "artistic adventure" with his audience. Jacques Drillon who was present at the recitals, wrote enthusiastically in the "Nouvel Observateur" of the pianist's "dazzling virtuosity" linked to a remarkable "sense of phraising despite the delicacy of his keyboard touch". The result offers us an authentic re-interpretation of the great Hungarian pianist-composer's works.
A former child prodigy and winner of many international prizes, Kun Woo Paik was wildly acclaimed for his first concerts and might well have settled into the career of soloist which he began in New York in the 1970's.
Being a perfectionist, he chose however to withdraw from the concert platform for several years to the French countryside in order to acquire his current vast repertoire which ranges from Mozart to Messiaen, Schubert to Busoni. Neither did he neglect the complete works of those he considers his "masters": Rvel, Rachmaninov, Liszt, Scriabin, and Mussorgsky.
Though he has often played the complete piano works for solo piano by Ravel in a single recital, Kun Woo Paik's approach is a far cry from the flashy showmanship of marathon pianists. His playing his never merely for effect and is "light years away from the barnstorming performances still favored by too many of today's panists".
Paik's pianistic fireworks form a sound picture which serves to bring out the real emotion contained in the music. To put it simply, his playing has soul, remarked the critic Pierre Rousseau after one of Paik's programmes devotedt to the complete works of Ravel. In addition to possessing an impeccable keyboard technique in the tradition of the great pianists of the nineteeth and early twentieth centuries, what strikes one above all in the playing, is the spaciousness of the dramatic contrast. With keen sensitivity and a love of beauty, Paik employes both subtle shading and firey brilliance. There is a compelling mastery of extremes; playing of magical delicacy as well as formidable power evoking the dark terror of the music.
Inherent in this exploration of the enter confines of the emotions, there lies the age-old investigation into the contradictions between Yin and Yang; between the sun and darkness, forcefulness and tenderness, music and silence. "I very much believe in this notion of the music of silence as the culminating point of everything" acknowledges Paik. "Just as bold strokes of black highlight the white background in a painting, so sound helps to convey more acutely, the beauty contained in silence". This is a typically Oriental vision of things which is nevertheless complementary to, rather than opposed to the Western approach".
The approach of Western painters has likewise been borrowed by this artist of pianistic delicacy and fire. Paik reveals himself to be expert in the art of colouring details using the full range of his keyboard palette to "sactter" his notes on the musical canvas in much the same way the Impressionists employed delicate brush strokes to build up a complete image.
Tireless in his search for new truths, Kun Woo Paik is a sensitive, highly cultivated man of refleshing humility, who surprises hose who meet him by his outstanding strength od character. Both forthright and unyieldingly devoted to his art, Paik remains faithful to that "inward need" much prized by Rainer Maria Rilke in his "Letters to Young Poet". He brings to his music those same qualities which so influence his everyday life: conspicuous simplicity, generosity and high mindedness. Let him guide us as he sets out on his winding journey; as he mingles compelling passion thoughtfully conveyed, with stunning control. Let us never tire of admiring the dreamer who showers new light on the virtuoso nor the authority concealed behind the poet.
- Christphe Labarde (Journalist at "Le Figaro")
- Translation: John McManus
[내지에서...]
3. 녹음
1) 녹음일자: 1991/01
2) 녹음장소: Dante Studio
4. 프로그램
Sonate Fantaisie No.2 Op.19
01. Andante (9:29)
02. Presto (3:58)
Vingt-Quatre Preludes Op.11
03. Vivace (0:51)
04. Allegretto (2:25)
05. Vivo (0:48)
06. Lento (1:58)
07. Andante cantabile (1:25)
08. Allegro (0:40)
09. Allegro assai (1:10)
10. Allegro agitato (2:22)
11. Andante (1:36)
12. Andantino (1:20)
13. Allegro assai (2:04)
14. Andante (1:30)
15. Lento (1:35)
16. Presto (0:57)
17. Lento (2:56)
18. Misterioso (2:36)
19. Allegretto (0:47)
20. Allegro agitato (0:51)
21. Affetuoso (1:41)
22. Appassionato (1:13)
23. Andante (1:38)
24. Lento (1:12)
25. Vivo (0:30)
26. Presto (0:47)
27. Poeme Satanique Op.35 (8:08)
Trois Etudes Op.65
28. Allegro fantastico (3:29)
29. Allegretto (2:39)
30. Molto vivace (1:44)
31. Sonate No.10 Op.70 (13:56)
피아니스트 백건우가 Dante 레이블에 남긴 두 장의 스크리아빈 피아노곡집 중 하나이다. 발매 당시 큰 호평을 받았던 것으로 기억하며, Dante 레이블 사장이 친구라서 녹음하게 되었다는 발언도 기억난다.
스크리아빈의 작품은 "법열의 시" 외에는 그다지 친숙하지 않으며, 하물며 피아노곡들은 몇번을 들어보아도 귓가에만 맴돌뿐 반향이 남지 않아 연주 및 녹음에 대한 코멘트는 생략한다.
다만 음반 자체에 대해 말하자면, 내지도 화려하고, CD 재질도 골드CD를 사용하여 제법 고급스럽게 제작되어 심미적 만족감이 꽤 높다.
오랜만에 꺼내보니 표면의 코팅면이 조금씩 부식되는 현상이 있어 아마 수년 후면 음반 재생에 문제가 생길 것 같아 안타깝다.