Claude Debussy was born on 22 August 1962, and to celebrate his 150th anniversary Busan-born pianist Minjung Baek will be giving three lunchtime recitals in the City this month: 3 July at St Andrew Holborn, 10 July at St Anne & Agnes, Gresham Street (both as part of the City of London Festival) and 11 July at St Botolph without Aldgate. The two solo recitals also include music by Korean composer Unsuk Chin.
3 July, St Andrew Holborn, 1pm
Holborn Viaduct, London, EC4A 3AB (nearest tube Chancery Lane)
Debussy: Suite Bergamasque; L’isle Joyeuse
Chopin: Polonaise Op 44
Unsuk Chin: Piano Etude No 4 Scalen
Scriabin: Sonata No 2 Op 19The celebration of Debussy’s 150th anniversary, which runs through the series of lunchtime concerts and, in particular, the piano recitals, in this case sets him alongside his earlier compatriot, Chopin, who was also no stranger to these shores during his own lifetime. It is no coincidence that Korea’s Unsuk Chin uses French titles for some of her works because, among the many influences upon her music from around the world, those of the mediaeval Parisian composer Machaut and his modern counterpart Pierre Boulez are acknowledged. Scriabin sounds French and indeed Russian culture was dominated by French influences throughout the 19th century; but this was two-way traffic and the Russian Conservatory Alexander Scriabin was founded in Paris in 1997. This recital promises to be a virtuosic display of pianistic fireworks by this gifted young international student of the Guildhall School.
Admission Free
10 July, St Anne & St Agnes, 1pm
Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7BX (nearest tube St Pauls)
Programme: Debussy Piano Trio, Cello Sonata and Violin Sonata.
11 July, St Botolph without Aldgate, 1pm
Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1AB (nearest tube Aldgate)
Programme to include works by Debussy, UnSuk Chin and Scriabin
Links:
That depressing moment when you realise you’re older than Claude Debussy ㅋㅋㅋ