"S.Korea's love for classic music provides freshness to European classic music enthusiast" Thierry Loreau

연합뉴스 / 2022-08-29 10:13:07

▲This photo provided by AT9 Film shows, director Thierry Loreau. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

▲This photo provided by AT9 Film shows, a poster of the documentary movie 'K-classics Generation.' (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Seoul, August 29 (Yonhap) -- “Would practicing at least 9 hours a day allow you to fully express the music the way you want? That is very questionable. However judging by South Korean musicians, I can safely say, it does.”

Director Thierry Loreau, who worked on the documentary “K-classics Generation” stated his thoughts about the young Korean classical musicians. The documentary movie shines light on those who excel throughout global competitions and how they manage to do so starting with the winner of the Queen Elizabeth Competition, soprano, Hwang Soo-mi and violinist Lim Ji-young.

“In Europe, it is very hard for a child to solely practice music,” announced director Thierry Loreau throughout the interview conducted on August 26 at ARTNINE in dongjak district in Seoul.

“Kids in Europe are more likely to proceed, lean and practice with their own personal unique identities.” he chuckled and added “They don’t really listen to their parents. However, Korean parents are more engaged in telling the kids what would be great for them and proceed with learning experience. They also provide an environment where kids can solely focus on practicing music and not get distracted by others. With the intense isolation, kids might grow up to be less sociable or less emotional, however, Korean musicians are not only great in performance but they are excellent in expressing their emotion throughout their performances. For example, pianist Lim Yun-chan, he is only 18 years old but yet his considered as one of the greatest pianist throughout the world. The way he performs is fabulous and never fails to amuse me,” stated the director Thierry Loreau throughout his interview.

“I wanted this movie to show the process of both Soprano Hwang Soo-mi and violinist Lim Ji-young winning the Queen Elizabeth Competition and what kind of music they pursuit in life. That was my first intention of creating this movie,” announced director Thierry Loreau, fully aware of those with apposing idea towards the process.

Moreover, the director put on emphasis that “South Korean musicians are bringing in the uniqueness European classical music needed.” Throughout the movie it points out how most of the classic music listeners in Europe are elderly senior citizens, however, it is not in South Korea.

“The average age of Koreans who enjoy classical music are very young. Some consider the classical musician to be like a rock star. These enthusiasm provides European people with the idea that “Classical Music isn’t old,” it provides a new perspective to the pre-existing thing.” stated Thierry Loreau throughout his interview.

RTBF, public broadcasting service provider of Belgium’s music producer Thierry Loreau broadcasted one of three greatest music competition “Queen Elizabeth Competition” yearly, since 1996. In 2011, over 30 percent of the competitors on the main rounds were South Korean, this motivated Thierry Loreau create a documentary called “The Korean Musical Mystery” in 2012.

“Throughout the movie, I wanted to show that South Korean classical musicians are not only great in techniques.” adding “I wanted to show who they really are and what kind of music they pursuit,” announced director Thierry Loreau, throughout his interview.

Continuing on “I hope my upcoming documentary could serve as an opportunity for not only Belgian but also the general population of Europe of getting to know Korea.” adding “I wanted to show not only what classical music is but also show the culture and the norms of South Korea. By not only creating a documentary about the country I like and taking one step further and actually filming it here in South Korea, I hope those who watch the documentary would like the country as well.” director Thierry Loreau delivered his hopes and thoughts about the documentary.

Director Thierry Loreau who has visited South Korea for the 17th time stated “when I first visited South Korea to participate at the Jecheon International Music & Film Festival I was mesmerized and fell in love with Korea,” showing his compassion towards South Korea.

“We are preparing to shoot another documentary in Korea. It will be about 5 of the people who travel back and forward between South Korea and Belgium. Protagonists will be three of the Belgian people who has been living in South Korea for a very long time and two of Koreans who are living in Belgium. The documentary will withhold complexity of the culture and dual identity those people faces in a very interesting ways.” director stated that he is working on his next documentary in South Korea as well.

(This article is translated from Korean to English by Joonha Yoo)

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