Picture taken by Philipp Lausberg
The Korean Cultural Center to Belgium & the EU together with KOFICE, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted again Wald Ensemble and the amazing pianist, Chloe Jiyeong Mun in Flagey, after their european debut in 2021 in the same concert hall, Brussels, as a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Korea and EU-Diplomatic Relations. Around six hundred people gathered in Studio 4 (Flagey) last January 10th to enjoy the classical music concert. The event started at 20:00, but the doors were already open at 19:00 so people could go take their tickets, put their belongings in the cloakroom, and go find their reserved seats.
A few minutes before eight, both bassists came in turns to tune the instrument, and after some minutes the whole ensemble came to the stage to start their performance. The most impressive thing about the whole concert was that there wasn’t any orchestra conductor, the first violinist was directing the ensemble. When Jehye Lee, the first violinist who is at the same time musical director, gave the signal, all the musicians started playing the Concerto for String Orchestra composed by G. Bacewicz, and they played three movements: allegro, andante and vivo.
A big round of applause. All the spectators were amazed by the flawless performance the Ensemble did, not expecting of course that the most incredible part was about to come. Chloe Jiyeong Mun came to the stage dazzling like a star with her amazing and shining dress. She smiled at the public and greeted all the orchestra.
Piano Concerto No.2 in F minor, Op.21 by Chopin was the second music piece in the repertoire, divided in three movements: maestoso, larghetto and allegro vivace. If everyone was surprised after the first performance, when the soloist and the orchestra ended the second, claps invaded the auditorium. She showed up to the stage to take a bow and she had to repeat that a few more times, due to the great welcome she had from the public. At the third time she came back to stage, she decided to do an encore, playing Bethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
None of the people in the audience expected her to play one of the most famous piano compositions. And when she started playing it, a feeling of surprise, enjoyment, and calm entered the room. Smiles and nostalgia were also two components of that mix of feelings. “I had gone to lots of classical music concerts with my family when I was younger, and hearing the pianist play transported me to that era. It was such a nice and lovely way to remember old times.”
Picture taken by Philipp Lausberg
When the pianist finished, everyone in the room applauded with emotion. She looked happy and proud of their work, and all the musicians looked at her with admiration. Chloe Jiyeong Mun bowed to the public a few times more, and she took the orchestra conductor inside as well as the whole orchestra, after showing her gratitude and love.
After the pause, the orchestra came back to the stage to perform the last piece of the night, Serenade for Strings Op.48, by Tchaikovsky. Four movements of more music: pezzo in forma di sonatina. Andante non troppo- Allegro moderato, Valse. Moderato. Tempo di valse, Elegia. Larghetto elegiaco e Finale (tema russo) andante. Allegro con spirito. The audience asked for an encore.
That was in fact a great choice to finish their performance of their second real debut in Europe, and being very optimistic Brussels might be again the selected city for their very awaited third debut in Europe. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait long to see the Wald Ensemble perform again.
Written by Sofia, intern of the KCC Brussels