Piano Through the Ages

Hyojin Shin, piano

  • Domenico Scarlatti (1685–1757) - Keyboard Sonata in D major, K. 119 (~1749) (3’) Keyboard Sonata in D minor, K. 213 (~1742) (5’)
  • Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849) - Barcarolle in F-sharp major, Op. 60 (1846) (8’30)
  • Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) - Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, M. 61 (1911) (14’)
  • Modéré - très franc
  • Assez lent - avec une expression intense
  • Modéré
  • Assez animé
  • Presque lent - dans un sentiment intime
  • Vif
  • Moins vif
  • Épilogue : lent
  • Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915) - Fantasie in B minor, Op. 28 (1901) (9’)
  • Program Notes:
  • Domenico Scarlatti was a prolific Baroque composer. He was born in Italy but worked mainly in Spain and Portugal. Among his many compositions, his 555 keyboard sonatas have contributed greatly to his reputation. The sonatas are considered among the earliest examples of keyboard virtuosity that demonstrate the performers’ brilliant technical abilities and capture a wide range of characters and emotions. Sonata in D minor, K. 213, as a slow sonata, shows the beauty of cantabile melody lines and chromaticism. The sonata is written in a simple way that allows performers to display their artistry through ornamentations, improvisations, and dynamic contrasts. Sonata in D major, K. 119 introduces a variety of performers’ virtuoso techniques. It begins with wide leaps and soon shows percussive effects, rapid running notes, and hand-crossing. This sonata particularly shows a Spanish spirit through strong dissonances and syncopated rhythms.
  • Chopin’s Barcarolle Op. 60 in F-sharp major is one of his late compositions that depicts his sophisticated compositional skills and emotional maturity. It was written in 1845-46, three years before his death. No evidence has been found that he ever visited Venice. Thus, it is assumed that his idea for this music came either from a boat trip from Marseilles to Genoa, where he could have encountered Italian landscapes and atmosphere, or from his inspiration from other 19th-century composers, such as Felix Mendelssohn or Rossini, who introduced the concept of the barcarolle in their music. After a beautiful opening, the piece depicts a distinct image of water waves through a bass ostinato and two melody lines, as if two singers are singing on a gondola. One extraordinary moment comes at the point where Chopin stops the bass ostinato and defines it with the words dolce sfogato (sweet, airy). The moment feels like a bel-canto singer’s singing, which was always a huge inspiration to Chopin. After this magical moment, it returns to the initial theme with fullness of strength and passionate expression, leading to a blooming end.
  • Ravel’s Valse nobles et sentimentales was written in 1911, after he composed Gaspard de la nuit, which is considered one of the most virtuosic pieces in piano literature. Ravel set Franz Schubert as his model for this set of waltzes, as Schubert composed a huge amount of dance pieces for piano. From the title of the set, Ravel clearly indicates Schubert’s influence, considering that Schubert composed a set of 34 dances titled Valses sentimentales and a set of 12 titled Valse nobles. In the set, Ravel chose simplicity and clarity in writing instead of the virtuosity that was primary in Gaspard de la nuit. On the other hand, he sharpened the harmony through the use of dissonances and strengthened rhythmic subtlety, which shows his highly developed compositional abilities. The set consists of seven waltzes and an epilogue.
  • Scriabin’s Fantasie in B minor, Op. 28 was written in 1900-01, between the Third and Fourth sonatas. As one of his early compositions, the Fantasie reflects both the high Romanticism of Frédéric Chopin and the massiveness of Sergei Rachmaninoff. The Fantasie begins with a mysterious, unresolved harmonic progression, building harmonic tension and passionate emotion. After the opening first theme, a beautiful melody and widespread left-hand accompaniment are introduced in the second theme, reminding us of Chopin’s music. As the title suggests, the music proceeds freely with diverse emotions and characters.

Hyojin Shin has performed worldwide on four continents. Since her orchestral debut at the age of 11 with the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, Shin has appeared as a soloist with the Bazzini Consort Orchestra(Italy), the Morocco Philharmonic Orchestra(Morocco), the Yale Philharmonia(USA), and the Miami Chamber Orchestra(USA), Korean Chamber Orchestra(South Korea), among others.

Her international accomplishments include the 1st prize and the Audience Prize at the 2024 Lyon International Piano Competition, the Sascha Gorodnitzki Discretionary Prize at the 2024 Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition, the 1st prize and the Best Performance prize for an Ibero-American composition at the 2023 Teresa Carreño Master International Piano Competition, and the 3rd prize at the 2023 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Competition. She recently released her debut album “Fantasie” under the KNS Classical.

Shin is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Peabody Institute under the tutelage of Boris Slutsky. She holds degrees at Seoul National University (Bachelor’s), Yale School of Music (Master’s), and San Francisco Conservatory of Music (Artist Diploma).

About the Dame Myra Hess Concerts

The concerts are generously sponsored by the Paul Angell Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council and by individual donors.

Upcoming Performances

Stay connected with us on social
Join our mailing list and stay up to date.
<

Subscribe

* indicates required