Health issues force pianist Son Yeol-eum to withdraw from Seoul Philharmonic performances

Music & Performance

Published: 09 May. 2024, 13:10 Updated: 10 May. 2024, 17:12

Health issues force pianist Son Yeol-eum to withdraw from Seoul Philharmonic performances

Pianist Son Yeol-eum [MARCO BORGGREVE]

Pianist Son Yeol-eum will not be performing with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Jaap van Zweden for the scheduled concerts at the Lotte Concert Hall on Thursday, and at the Seoul Arts Center on Friday, due to health issues.

Violinist Hilary Hahn will be replacing Son for both concerts.

The program has been modified in line with the change in the accompanying artist. Nina Shekhar’s “Lumina,” which is set to have its Asian premiere on Thursday, and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 will proceed as planned. Hahn will play Brahms’ violin concerto in lieu of Son’s Mozart’s piano concerto No. 24.

Information on concerts from conductor Jaap van Zweden and violinist Hilary Hahn with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra [SEOUL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA]

Son had rehearsed with Zweden and the orchestra director on Wednesday but had to pull out at the last minute due to a sore throat and high fever, according to the orchestra.

The pianist recently won the grand prize at the 13th Daewon Music Awards, as announced by its organizer, the Daewon Cultural Foundation, on Wednesday. The award is presented by the Daewon Cultural Foundation to acknowledge the musician or orchestra who have made outstanding achievements in the musical arts both at home and abroad within the past year.

Son was awarded the grand prize in recognition of her “bringing fresh air into the Korean music scene,” according to the foundation.

Violinist Kim Bomosori was selected for the Daewon Music Award for performance, while pianist Yunchan Lim took home the award for a new artist.

The ceremony for the Daewon Music Awards will take place at the Westin Josun Hotel in Jung District, central Seoul, on May 20. The grand prize recipient receives a plaque and a cash prize of 100 million won ($73,000), while the winners for the performance and new artist award each receive a plaque and 30 million won.

BY KIM JU-YEON [kim.juyeon2@joongang.co.kr]