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Musicians performing "Two Pieces for String Octet, Op. 11 "by Shostakovich at the 3rd Jeonju International Chamber Music Festival, South Korea. Souvannavong Kèoprasith / RFI

The city of Jeonju, often cited as the cultural capital of South Korea, hosts the third edition of the International Chamber Music Festival, an important genre of classical music that brings artists and the public closer together. On the program: Mozart, Ravel, Halvorsen, Shostakovich, Dvorak, Sarasate and Hoffmeister, to name but a few. This annual gathering brings together the best national and foreign performers, most of whom have won awards at various competitions around the world. Reportage.

From our special envoy to Jeonju,

In this July 31, 2019, it is the effervescence in the Jeonju cathedral, in the south of the country of calm morning. Built between 1908 and 1914 by a French priest, the Romanesque-Byzantine religious building is one of the festival's venues. This historic site, usually barely a third of its capacity, has a record number of visitors. As its 300 seats are not enough to receive a loyal audience of all ages, we do not hesitate to tighten, to stand or sit on the ground to attend the opening of the " Jeonju Vivace ", the official name of this event Free.

Jeonju Cathedral, South Korea. At the entrance, a banner of the Jeonju Vivace Chamber Music Festival. Souvannavong Kèoprasith / RFI

An eclectic program

The program of the day is rather eclectic, like the one of the other days: Passacaille in G minor for violin and viola , composed in 1897 by the Norwegian conductor and violinist Johan Halvorsen (1864-1935) according to a theme of Georg Friedrich Haendel (British naturalized German composer, 1685-1759); Quartet for flutes and strings in A major by Austrian Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791); Introduction and Allegro for Flute, Clarinet, Harp and String Quartet by Frenchman Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) and Two Pieces for String Octet , Op . 11 of the Russian Dmitry Dmitrievich Shostakovich (1906-1975).

" I wanted a varied repertoire so I would not limit myself to a specific theme, with known pieces, easy to listen to, but moving so as not to annoy the audience," says Ensik Choi, festival music director and violist.

A program beautifully performed by virtuosos. Enthusiastic, the whole audience applauds and asks for more.

Greater intimacy

" What's great about chamber music is that there is not really a physical distance between the artists and the audience. This intimacy allows the audience to feel the music better. The communication through it is more intimate, more powerful, "says Ensik Choi.

This connection is explained by a more limited training than an orchestra, by the absence of a conductor and, of course, by the pleasure of the chamber musicians to play together and to transmit this pleasure.

Ensik Choi, violist and music director of the Jeonju International Chamber Music Festival. Souvannavong Kèoprasith / RFI

Music " always relevant "

" Chamber music also has a more personal aspect for composers ," says Ensik Choi. They write great symphonies, but for chamber music, they explore their inner world, their state of mind, their conflicts, their joy, their sadness. Chamber music does not date from today, but it is still relevant today. I like this genre and I want to share this love with the audience here in Jeonju. I would like him to take ownership of the festival. "

The public, always more numerous, will be able to continue to be lulled and to discover new talents until August 4th.

Jeonju International Chamber Music Festival: Jeonju Vivace , July 31 to August 4, 2019

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