Sahun Hong: Duo Recital (Finalist)

Starting his program with Prokofiev's Toccata in D Minor, Sahun Hong played with a very sharp, sudden style. He handled the frequent crossovers in the piece well, remaining impassive and impeccable in even the most difficult places. Next was Schumann's Drei Fantasiestücke with cellist Scott Tisdel, where Hong was able to showcase his more melodious side. He did a good job setting up a background for the cello to emerge, and then coming out on top himself when his theme reemerges. In the second fantasie, whose title translates to "Lively, light", he showed a little more spice in the call-and-answer between himself and Tisdel. Hong played the third, "Fast and with fire" fantasie more restrained than some of his fellow semifinalists; yes, it was with fire, but more of a campfire than a San Diego-style wildfire. Except for right at the beginning, Hong and Tisdel eschewed going crazy with the theme for taking their time and care with Schumann, and it paid off.

Before his Beethoven Concerto No. 3 in C minor, which closed out the program, Hong gave a lengthy and entertaining talk about the nuances of the piece. He talked about how the piece uses similar themes to a popular Mozart concerto of the time, but treated them completely differently. Apparently the piece is all about the pushing and pulling between the piano and the orchestra, with the piano constantly trying to outdo, defy or otherwise show up the orchestra. Hong was really good at--and funny with--his explanations of Beethoven's nuances and messing with conventions, leaping between keys and so forth. "Here's a C minor scale!", he'd yell, playing it. "Here's another one!" Played that too. Hong was a lot of fun to listen to when he was talking, but even more so when he was playing. He knew how to play off the orchestra and capture the nuances of the piece. He was majestic and grand when it was called for, and sort of light and cheerful when it wasn't. And at times, he was just mesmerizing.

Sahun Hong is a PianoArts finalist, and will perform the entirety of the Beethoven concerto on Wednesday, June 13th with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. This will take place at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield.