World-renowned Korean violinist Chung Kyung-wha is set to grace the Carnegie Hall stage once again on November 7, marking another milestone in her illustrious career. This upcoming performance follows years of recovery from injury and will feature her alongside longtime musical partner, American pianist Kevin Kenner. The duo will present a program of Romantic-era violin sonatas by composers Schumann, Grieg, and Franck.
Chung's connection to Carnegie Hall spans decades, beginning with her breakthrough moment in 1967. At just 19 years old, she stood on the prestigious stage for the final of the Leventritt Competition, sharing first prize with Israeli violinist Pinchas Zukerman—a victory that launched her international career. Fifty years later, she marked this significant milestone and her twentieth performance at Carnegie Hall in the same venue, performing Bach's complete Sonatas and Partitas.
The upcoming program holds special significance for both artists, featuring works that showcase the violin's lyrical capabilities. "These are works that beautifully express the singing quality of the violin," Chung explained during a press conference on Thursday. Among the selected pieces, the Franck Sonata holds particular importance as her trademark work, which she has performed with many renowned pianists including Radu Lupu, Krystian Zimerman, Cho Seong-jin, and Lim Dong-hyek. "I think I will perform the Franck Sonata until the day I die, because I have so much to say through this piece," she emphasized.
The musical partnership between Chung and Kenner began in 2011 at Music in PyeongChang, where they first performed together—coincidentally, their debut piece was the same Franck Sonata. Chung and her sister, cellist Chung Myung-wha, served as artistic directors of the music festival for eight years until 2018. Since that initial collaboration, Kenner has become a trusted and valued musical partner for the legendary violinist.
What makes their partnership unique is the contrast in their personalities and approaches to music. "I really enjoy the dialogue that unfolds when performing with Kevin. Our personalities are so different," Chung shared. "I'm very direct and intuitive by nature, whereas Kevin Kenner is the complete opposite. His mind is remarkably composed. He's a scholar. At first, when we started playing together, I found myself really drawn to his ideas." This difference was evident during their press conference, where Chung, sporting purple hair, had the audience erupting in laughter several times, while Kenner answered questions in his characteristically composed manner.
Despite initial challenges in adapting to their different styles, Chung found that their contrasting temperaments create exceptional musical balance. "In some ways, I even felt a bit stifled. But in the end, our balance is excellent. When we share interpretations, the music that emerges is truly fascinating," she explained. "Honestly, if my health allowed, I would have loved to do many more programs with Kevin: Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven, and so on. It's only because my body hasn't been in the best condition, but I still have so many things I want to do."
For Kenner, the 15-year collaboration with Chung has been transformative. "When you've had that much time to work through the repertoire together, and to learn from each other's impulses and approaches to art, there's a kind of long-term cultivation in the relationship. And I feel that's deeply valuable," the pianist reflected during the press conference. "For me, it's a great honor to present them in a place that so powerfully symbolizes the beginning of her career. And this program is a full circle, and I'm truly honored to be part of that story."
The Chung family's musical legacy continues to make headlines, with recent news of Chung's younger brother Chung Myung-whun being appointed music director of La Scala. "It's something I could never have imagined. I'm overjoyed and happy. I wonder what our mother would think, looking down from heaven," she noted, adding, "I'm humbled by Myung-whun." The three Chung siblings, born around the Korean War of 1950-1953, became world-renowned musicians with strong support from their devoted parents. Considered the first generation of Korean classical music pioneers, they have inspired countless young artists in Korea.
Reflecting on her artistic evolution, Chung shared how her approach to performance has matured over the decades. A younger, more fiery Chung once played with the aim of provoking instant standing ovations. Now, with a deeper understanding of music, she likens herself to an anchovy, a tiny fish struggling to swim in a vast ocean. "It only gets harder as time goes on. In the past, I used to think, 'If I just work hard, it will turn out well.' But that's nonsense. You have to dedicate yourself to music with unrelenting focus, holding onto it until the day you die," she stressed. "Among today's younger musicians, I think of someone like (Lim) Yunchan. He's walking that path through his training, and it will be interesting to watch where it leads."
Kenner, a laureate of the 1990 International Chopin Piano Competition where he received second prize (no first prize was awarded) and the Polonaise Prize, offered advice for young musicians. "Wide-ranging interest in all kinds of music and your ability to transcend simply playing an instrument" is what he would recommend to the next generation. "In today's generation, which is so competitive, especially with competitions like the Chopin Competition, there's a strong temptation to focus only on playing pieces as perfectly as possible. But in truth, what makes an artist isn't perfection or technical skill alone—it's something more comprehensive, more all-encompassing," added Kenner, who will serve as a judge at the competition in October.
The duo has embarked on an extensive tour that began with their Korean performances on September 13. After completing shows in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on September 21, Seoul on September 24, and Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province on September 26, they are now preparing for their North American tour. Their Carnegie Hall performance on November 7 will be accompanied by other prestigious venue appearances, including Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts on November 2, McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey on November 5, and Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada on November 9. This tour represents not only a celebration of their musical partnership but also a testament to Chung's resilience and continued dedication to her craft following her recovery from injury.
