Jung Kyung-Hwa, “It’s Been 3 Years“

Next weekend, wouldn’t spring rain come to wipe away yellow sand?

A great violinist Jung Kyung-Hwa (picture) is to hold a solo in Korea after 3 years. Including so-called `Rain Sonata` Sonata No.1 of Brahms, Bach’s Sonata in G minor, Grieg’s Sonata No.3, and Szymanowski’s `Nocturne and Tarantella` will be on the program. 20th, 7:30 p.m. at Seoul Arts Center’s Concert Hall.

Although `Rain Sonata` is less famous than the last number of all 3 violin-sonatas of Brahms, its calm but passionate expression attracted many fans. `Rain Song` delivers quiet resonance and emotion of spring rain, as the first movement starts with left-hand sounds that resemble the sound of water drops.

Jung once published a recording that included all 3 sonatas of Brahms with a piano accompaniment, from EMI in 1997. Her performance gained warm inner passion, instead of blade-like sharpness in the 1970s, as she matured. She is also making an appeal to her fans by connecting recent recording and concerts, which include a recording Vivaldi’s `Four Seasons` and concert, and Brahms’ sonata recording and recital.

The first performance will take place at Suwon’s Kyounggi Cultural Center on the 18th, prior to the Seoul performance. Concerts will run through Daegu on the 23rd, Chunchon on the 25th, Pusan on the 27th, Jeju Isle on the 29th, Chunan on May 1, and Chungju on 2nd. 30,000 – 100,000 won. 02-580-1300

Yoon-Jong Yoo gustav@donga.com