Hailed by critics as a “true poet of the piano”, Korean pianist William Youn transported the audience to a sonic landscape filled with a mix of tranquility and longing with his program “Echoes of Silence” at the Singapore Conference Hall on June, 11th. It consisted of a specially curated selection of Franz Schubert’s masterpieces alongside a sprinkling from Maurice Ravel’s “Miroirs” piano suite.
The music of Franz Schubert holds a special place in William Youn’s heart. His evident devotion to Schubert’s music was palpable in his performance on a C. Bechstein Concert Grand Piano D 282 as he brought to life the stories hidden within the melodies.
In addition to his concert, William Youn also gave a highly interesting mastertalk with a group of piano teachers. Among the topics of this intimate sit-down chat were William’s musical career motivation, tips for performing and interpreting Schubert’s (or any composer’s) works and selecting the repertoire for “Echoes of Silence”.
Another highlight was the concert by 10-year-old Child Prodigy Mikkel Myer Lee. On June, 6th, he performed both Chopin Piano Concertos with the Asian Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Robert Casteels. Mikkel's piano journey started 4 years ago after his non-musical background parents discovered his innate gift. Currently, Mikkel is learning under Belgian-American pianist Tedd Joselson who is a protege of Vladimir Horowitz and Clifford Curzon.
