Pianist Shin Chang-yong Returns with Prokofiev’s 'War Sonatas' — Power and Fragility in One Work
Creatrip Team
4 months ago
Pianist Shin Chang-yong, known for his affinity with Sergei Prokofiev, is presenting a recital of the composer’s famed “War Sonatas” (Piano Sonatas Nos. 6–8). Celebrated for exploiting the piano’s percussive side, Prokofiev’s sonatas mix explosive, violent passages with moments of fragile, flower-like calm; Shin says this duality reveals both the world’s and the human psyche’s contradictions. The pieces, written amid World War II, are landmark 20th-century works but are rarely performed in Korea due to extreme technical and interpretive difficulty—complex rhythms (including 7/8 time) and irregular repeated notes demand exceptional stamina and technique. Shin will tour recitals in Seongnam (20th), Busan (23rd) and Seoul (30th), aiming to convey Prokofiev’s satire, inner turmoil and persuasive emotional narrative rather than mere virtuosity. Now in his 30s and a Juilliard and New England Conservatory alumnus, he says this stage of his career focuses on defining his artistic voice and deepening musical expression over perfectionism.
