Pick What You Want to Listen To

“Request the music you want to listen to through the internet.”

Classic concerts that are selected and played on the basis of internet voting are attracting the attention of music lovers.

Among concerts held in October, a dual recital concert featuring violinist Maxim Vengerov and pianist Lilia Zylberstein, scheduled at 8:00 p.m. on October 21 in the Concert Hall of Seoul Arts Center, offers such “audience selections.” The pieces to be played in the first half of the concert are set: Brahms’ “Scherxo” and Beethoven’s Violin Sonata Number Seven. However, in the second half, the most popular five among the 16 pieces suggested by the players, such as Paganini’s “La Campanella, ”Kreisler’s “Joy of Love,” and John Williams’ “Theme of Schindler’s List,” will be selected by internet voting.

This is the third time since 2003 that a renowned foreign player has selected his performance pieces through internet voting. American soprano Jessye Norman suggested songs from five categories - lied, opera aria, jazz, black American soul music - she could sing at his two-day concert held in December 2003 in Korea, and asked fans on the internet what she should sing. Such songs as Wolf’s “Aria” and Gershwin’s “I’ve Got Rhythm” were voted as the most popular, and she sang these songs. Crossover musician Bobby McFerrin’s concert held last February also polled fans: “Who are the best traditional Korean musicians to play with McFerrin.” Monk dancer Chae Sang-mook and traditional fiddler Kang Eun-il were selected, and McFerrin played with these two Korean musicians.

Concert planners conduct this type of “play piece selection” to draw more participation from the audience. Ko Heui-gyeong, concert planning manager for the Seoul Arts Center, who planned the concerts for Norman and McFerrin, explained, “Ticket sales are affected by internet user interest. Besides, performers can find out the audience’s tastes in advance so that they can easily establish common ground between the audience and the performer.”

Violinist Vengerov, who will hold his concert on October 21, is known for performances featuring both technique and lyricism. His co-performer, pianist Zylberstein, is known for her touch that won her the 1987 Vurgeourni Concours award and her mistake-free play.

The internet poll for this dual recital concert is now being held on the Credia homepage (www.clubbalcony.com) and a classical music portal site, GoClassic (www.goclassic.co.kr). Only members of these sites are qualified to vote. Ticket Price: 30,000-100,000 won. Information: 02-751-9606 10

Yoon-Jong Yoo gustav@donga.com