EUNTAEK KIM

"Rachmaninoff’s titanic First Sonata in D Minor makes up more than half of the disc’s duration. Kim is equal to its challenges, both technical and musical. He pays good attention to inner voices, and his execution of the second-movement trills and the difficult molto espressivo hand-crossing passage in the third movement is admirable.. .A successful debut... I’ll be curious to hear more from Kim."

Richard A. Kaplan, Fanfare [May/June 2021]

"This is a splendid debut disc, announcing a real pianistic talent, from whom we will surely be hearing more."

MusicWeb International [November 2020]

"In a music collection, debut recordings by rising stars become pure treasure. Pianist Euntaek Kim’s first recording “Russian Piano” for MSR Classics is no exception... Kim demonstrates his mastery of the keyboard with colorful, poetic and skillful performances."

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [October 2020]

"This is Kim’s solo recording debut, and he certainly takes the measure of both these rather sprawling sonatas... this CD is quite satisfying."

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [November 2020]

"[Euntaek’s playing is ] nimble and colorful”

The New York Times

Korean-born American pianist Euntaek Kim is receiving worldwide recognition for his work. Kim began his piano lessons at the age of three and was admitted to the preparatory division of the Korean National University of Arts when he was nine. At twelve, he took his first conducting lesson and gave his first public piano recital in Seoul. A year later, Kim immigrated to the United States in order to continue his piano studies at The Juilliard School Pre-College Division. As a pianist, Kim has made solo appearances in countries all around the world, including Belgium, Italy, China, South Korea, Canada and the United States. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with members of the Enso, Escher, Parker and Ying string quartets. An active proponent of contemporary music, Kim is a collaborator on numerous prestigious and critically-acclaimed projects, including New York’s Heartbeat Opera and Cantata Profana in their modernized rendition of Beethoven’s Fidelio in 2018 and appearances in June 2018 at the catacomb of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York, in the world premiere performance of David Hertzberg’s chamber opera The Rose Elf. Kim holds his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance from The Juilliard School and the Artist Diploma from Yale University. His instructors include Boris Berman and Jerome Lowenthal in piano, Audrey Axinn in fortepiano and Jeffrey Milarsky in orchestral conducting.
 

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The Center for Musical Excellence (CME) provides high-caliber training and individually-tailored assistance to gifted young musicians – regardless of their age, background, and nationality – who wish to pursue their advanced education in the United States. In doing so, the CME ultimately aims to inspire, guide and mentor aspiring young artists toward a meaningful and successful career in music; one that enriches both the artist and the community through the gift of music. Euntaek Kim is the winner of the 2018 CME International Performing Arts Grant, and is currently a CME Artist.
 

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Recorded 4, 8 and 11 October 2019 at Morse Recital Hall at Sprague Memorial Hall, Yale School of Music, New Haven, Connecticut. Producer and recording engineer: Matt LeFevre. SERGEI PROKOFIEV (1891-1953)
PIANO SONATA NO.2 IN D MINOR, OP.14 (1912)
I. Allegro ma non troppo
II. Scherzo. Allegro marcato
III. Andante
IV. Vivace

ALEXANDER SCRIABIN (1872-1915)
PIANO SONATA NO.8, OP.66 (1913)

SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873-1943)
PIANO SONATA NO.1 IN D MINOR, OP.28 (1908)
I. Allegro moderato
II. Lento
III. Allegro molto



MSR Classics