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Bach on a Wooden Flute… Classic Busan Presents Yubeen Kim & Richard Egarr Duo Recital

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Classic Busan, headed by Park Min-jung, will present the Yubeen Kim & Richard Egarr Duo Recital at Busan Concert Hall on August 20.

The concert will bring together world-renowned flutist Yubeen Kim and master harpsichordist Richard Egarr to perform Bach’s complete flute sonatas, offering Busan residents an opportunity to discover the appeal of these celebrated works.

• ●Harpsichord: A major keyboard instrument that preceded the piano. It produces sound by plucking strings through a mechanism connected to the keys.

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Bach’s flute sonatas are regarded as indispensable masterpieces in the development of flute music, revealing the many facets of Bach’s musical language. They also expanded the possibilities of the flute at a time when the instrument was emerging as a solo instrument. Through historically informed performance practices and the recreation of period sound, Yubeen Kim and Richard Egarr will convey the full value of these masterpieces to audiences.

** In the early 18th century, when the flute, or traverso, which had previously been used alongside the recorder, was rapidly emerging as a new solo instrument, Bach composed music exploring its possibilities. These works combine Italian, French and German traditions in a variety of ways.

Reuniting for the first time since a 2024 subscription concert with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Yubeen Kim and Richard Egarr are expected to deliver an exceptional performance grounded in their mutual respect.

Egarr and Kim first performed together at a 2024 subscription concert by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, appearing respectively as conductor and soloist in a Mozart flute concerto.

Yubeen Kim, in particular, is a world-class flutist who won the ARD International Music Competition and currently serves as Principal Flute of the San Francisco Symphony.

Kim, 29, gained international recognition after receiving top prizes at the Geneva International Music Competition and the Prague Spring International Music Competition. At age 19, he was appointed Principal Flute of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin. He further established his reputation by winning the ARD International Music Competition in Germany in 2022, and since 2024 has served as Principal Flute of the San Francisco Symphony, one of the leading orchestras on the U.S. West Coast.

For this recital, Kim will perform on a wooden flute rather than the gold flute he usually plays. This will help recreate a Baroque sound and blend with Richard Egarr’s harpsichord and Kang Ji-yeon’s Baroque cello.

• ●Although the flute is classified as a woodwind instrument because of its historical origins and the way it produces sound, modern flutes are generally made of materials such as gold, silver and metal alloys.

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Also taking the stage will be Richard Egarr, one of the United Kingdom’s leading conductors and harpsichordists specializing in early music.

Egarr is an acclaimed harpsichordist and specialist conductor in Baroque music who has released more than 60 recordings. A prominent figure in the early music world, he served for 15 years as Music Director of the Academy of Ancient Music, one of the United Kingdom’s leading Baroque ensembles. As a harpsichordist, he has recorded Bach’s major works and has also received high acclaim for his performances of works by Handel, Purcell and Mozart.

Tickets for the concert are available through the Classic Busan website at https://classicbusan.busan.go.kr. For further information, contact Busan Concert Hall at 051-640-8888 or 051-640-8822.

Classic Busan is helping invigorate Busan’s classical music scene by presenting a wide range of high-quality performances, including visits by international symphony orchestras, organ concerts, recitals by celebrated artists, Baroque music and chamber music.

Park Min-jung, head of Classic Busan, said, “We look forward to hearing the Bach that will emerge from the musical partnership between Yubeen Kim, a young Korean musician active on the world stage, and Richard Egarr, an artist who has reached the highest level of mastery. This concert will offer Busan residents a meaningful opportunity to experience the very essence of Baroque music.”