Cellist Hannah Chang ``Music Is an Everlasting Competition Against Myself``

-I was told that you are going to Harvard from September. Are you ready for that?

-``Well..,. I’d better give it a try. One thing I should mention is that I may start from next year, not this year. Right now, I’m discussing the matter with Harvard administration officer.``

-Is there any special reason?

-``Since I earned good score in SAT, Harvard offered me admission at first. Then, I decided to be there without outlining the details. However, since the recital schedules are so tight, there will be many difficulties at this point. For example, once I become a freshman of Harvard, I need to live in a dormitory….Thus, I’m considering one-year grace period for now.``

-Once you join Harvard, what will be your major?

-``It may be related to humanities, such as philosophy and literatures. Conductor Lorin Mazaal and other senior musicians advised me to study humanities in order to learn internal maturity as artist.``

-I know you like reading books. What books are you reading recently?

-``The books I’m reading now are Tolstoy’s `Principles of Art ` and Virginia Woolf`s `Jacob`s room`. Tolstoy’s book seems to talk about a sort of morality.``

-What do you do during your leisurely hours?

-``I like roller-blading. There is a lake near my home with a good view. Once I roller-blade around the area facing the breeze, it refreshes me a lot.``

-Recently, conductor Guizeppe Sinopoly passed away from heart-attack. I know you have been working with him quite often…

-``As Rostropovich and Meisky have been, Sinopoly was like my father to me. When I performed a concerto with him, he said, `` Play an encore for me``. Furthermore, he has paid attention to my encores without retiring behind the curtain.``

-Would you be more specific about what he taught you?

-``For example, when I performed a Schmann’s concerto, he let me know the alley Schuman had walked in Dresden, saying that I might have an inspiration about good interpretation of his music. He gave me picture books of German Romantic Artists. He emphasized me to have good understandings about the music background.``

-Soprano Sumi Jo said she regarded Natalie Dessay as her rival recently in that her voice character and repertoires are very similar to hers and both of them are active in recordings. Is there any rival for you?

-``People say that Descartes once said, `If two things are similar, they are instinctively ready to compete with each other.` However, if I start to make a comparison, I may not focus on what I might really have. I believe a musician’s competition is only against herself. Unnecessary competition does not give any help to me all, though Sumi Jo may not be in the same category.``

-A lot of fans are looking forward your next recording.

-``I’m going to record Prokofiev’s Cello Sonata and `Synphonia Concertante`. `Sinfornia` is scheduled to be recorded next March with London Symphony Orchestra, which Antonio Papano conducts.``

-Chang, who now expresses her opinions maturely, is going to do her nation-wide recital series tour: at Taeku Citizen Performance Hall on August 13, Ulsan Hyundai Art Hall on 14, Chungjoo Hall of Art on 15, Choonjun Baekryoung Literal art hall on 17, Seoul Hall of Art (Concert Hall) on 18, Pusan Culture art hall on 20, and Suwon Kyunggi Literal Art Hall on 21 respectively.The opening is at 7:30 PM. Richard Strauss Sonata No. 6, Schmann Fantasies No. 73 and 7 pieces, including Rachmaninov’s Vocalize. Accompanied by Pianist Daria Hobora. For Seoul preformance, 02-580-1300, 20,000 - 70,000 Won. For other local performances, 02-720-6633.

Yoo Yoon-Jong gustav@donga.com