Classical and Jazz: Preview - Unsuk Chin @ the Barbican on Saturday April 9
Published: 31 March, 2011
by SEBASTIAN TAYLOR
KOREAN-born composer Unsuk Chin is the focus of a “total immersion” day at the Barbican on Saturday April 9, with events and concerts starting at 11am.
Born in 1961, she’s become an established figure on the international music circuit, her works being performed by top orchestras under such conductors as Simon Rattle, Kent Nagano and George Benjamin.
Although she doesn’t regard her music as belonging to any specific culture, she admits to being influenced by working with electronic music and Balinese Gamelan and by composers including Bartok, Stravinsky, Debussy and Legiti. Her fascination with virtuosity is reflected in the difficulty of her works.
Barbican performances will include her award-winning violin concerto; double concerto for piano, percussion and ensemble; and her sensational showpiece Acrostic Wordplay.
There will be two UK premieres of her work: Gougalon, inspired by memories of her Korean childhood; and a concerto for Chinese sheng and orchestra.
Playing her music in different concerts will be students from the Guildhall School of Music, London Sinfonietta and BBC Symphony Orchestra.
• 0845 120 7500, www.barbican.org.uk