The Hope and Love Concert in New York City
Ji-Hae Park, violin
Ji-Eun Baek, accompanist
Sae-Nal Lea Kim, guest accompanist
Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
October 10, 2011

In a concert entitled “The Hope and Love Concert in New York City,” which was produced by Double J Ent., violinist Ji-Hae Park dazzled and thoroughly entertained her audience in a most versatile program. Her stage persona is extremely charismatic and emotional, and she was able to bring out all the stylistic and dynamic contrasts of her varied composers. Her program ranged from Saint-Saens to Mozart and Rachmaninoff to Korean composer Je Myung Hyun and “Chim Chim Cheree” from the musical “Mary Poppins.”

In this song from “Poppins,” Park brought out the music’s mystery and sweeping lyricism. The mood lighting also helped with just the right ambience. In Richard Strauss’s early Violin Sonata in E-flat, Op. 18, she combined a virtuoso technique with a luxurious Romanticism, and confirmed that this youthful yet masterful work is worthy of regular performances. Physically, as well as musically, she keeps the audience entranced with her body language—either swaying horizontally or sometimes swooping as low as possible to the stage. Her range is stunning; she sounds brilliant at the top of her register, and remarkably rich and dark on the low G-String.

Another highlight of the program was the fiendishly difficult, free-wheeling work: Saint-Saens’ “Danse Macabre.” Here, she offered a virtuoso technique plus great intensity to the melody’s chromaticism and swirling dance patterns. “Souvenir de Korea,” arranged with finesse by Park herself, is a beautiful work. Je Myung Hyun’s “To the Land of Hope: Hui Mang Ui Na Ra Ro” is an appropriate choice for this program, which is designed to bring people together; her goal, as stated in her program notes, is to use the violin as an instrument to spread the gospel and love of God to as many people as possible. She also makes every effort to unite audiences by incorporating classical, pop music, traditional Korean folk tunes and gospel music, among other styles, on concerts as well as on her recordings. Some of the many accolades she has received include becoming the ambassador of The Korean Christian Art and Music Council, The Handong Global University, and The Africa Future Foundation.

Park was born in Germany in 1985. She plays on the Petrus Guarnerius 1735 Venedig, on loan to her from the German Foundation since 2003. She was the first prize winner of the National Music Competition of Germany Jugend Musiziert in 2001 (solo) and 2002 (chamber music), among many other prizes. She studied with Professor Ulf Hoelscher at the Karlsruhe Musikhochschule in Germany and Professor Jamie Laredo at Indiana University, where she received a full scholarship. Her accompanists Ji-Eun Baek and Sae-Nal Lea Kim gave her excellent support, and the audience on hand was enthusiastic throughout the concert.

-Anthony Aibel for New York Concert Review; New York, NY