Review of Steinway Artist, Klara Min at New York’s Symphony Space

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A One Night Only Concert Event with Steinway Artist, Klara Min at New York’s Symphony Space

By: Anne Akers; Founder/Editor in Chief, GLOW Beauty Health Wellness Magazine

In a city known for its cultural offerings, what are the elements that makes one night special and different from all others?

SYMPHONY SPACE

Symphony Space, located on Manhattan’s West Side, is known to many as a national and internationally recognized performing Arts Center, offering diverse programming in art, music, film and theatre at affordable prices. But did you know of the many iterations of this space, starting in 1915 when Vincent Astor spent $750,000 of his personal fortune to build the Astor Market, meant to sell fruit, meat, fish, produce and flowers at inexpensive prices.When the market proved a failure, the stalls were demolished and the space was converted into the Crystal Palace, a skating rink, and a restaurant. As time progressed, the rink became Symphony Theatre and the restaurant was turned into Thalia Theatre. After World War II, The Thalia gained a reputation as an arts reportory theatre with patrons including Martin Scorcese and Woody Allen. The Thalia was eventually closed, and under new management, was reopened as the Leonard Nimoy Thalia, acknowleding the actor’s financing, and now presenting productions as diverse as Nelson Mandela at 100 and An American in Paris.

Symphony Space now hosts 600 or move events annually and as I took my seat in the 160-seat Leonard Nimoy theatre, I felt not only the sense of history that preceded but the importance of the arts to society at large and an even greater appreciation for the creative minds that made the evening possible, including Steinway artist Klara Min, the New York Concert Artists and Associates and David Dubal, former Musical Director of the storied New York City classical music radio station, WNCN-FM.

KLARA MIN’s NEW CD: MUSICAL YING AND YANG, LIGHT AND SHADOW

A native of South Korea, who makes her home in New York and Berlin, is not only an internationally acclaimed Steinway artist but a thought leader and Founder of the New York Concert Artists and Associates which is a modern day realization of Robert Schumann’s “Alliance of David”, a spiritual fraternity, led by musicians for musicians and for the musical public. Based on this belief system, musicians, managers and presenters gather to promote young artists internationally through their concert series and collaborations with other organizations, such as the evening’s presentation of Klara Min, joined by David Dubal in a discussion of her new release.

Entering the stage in a flowing and ethereal gown reminiscent of Korean ceremonial attire, Klara announced that she could not be prouder to launch the selections of her new recording, all of which which were deeply personal and a program that stirs her soul. And indeed, Ms. Min reached her audience in a very special way with offerings from Russian composer Scriabin, Mozart and Messiaen. Of note were “The Bird Songs”, with elements of musical ying and yang, light and shadow, known to compliment Scriabin beautifully. For those unfamiliar with Scriabin, myself included, his works in early life were influenced by Chopin and he in turn had a major impact on the music world and influenced composers such as Stravinsky and Prokofiev.

While interpreting Scriabin’s works with color and a certain feeling of mysticism, Klara Min brought to life the complexity and multi-dimensional aspects of his music. And while I closed my eyes to let my imagination soar, and to be at one with this gifted presentation, I was transported to another place in time, a place where only music and its ability to heal and inspire matters. It was a lovely evening and a concert to be remembered.

TALK BACK WITH DAVID DUBAL, Host of The Piano Matters and Reflections from the KeyBoard.

For the neophyte as well as the more sophisticated members of the musical world, including a talk back in an evening’s concert almost always brings a new dimension to the experience. An author of such highly acclaimed books as The Art of the Piano, Evenings with Horowitz, and The Golden Age of the Piano, David Dubal has judged international competitions, given piano recitals, and taught master classes worldwide. As the former Musical Director of classical music radio station WNCN-FM and the current host of The Piano Matters and Reflections from the Keyboard, his voice is recognizable in and of itself and to his many fans worldwide. Imagine the delight of Ms. Min, and the audience gathered to hear her performance, to have a live conversation with Mr. Dubal, full of insight, wit, perspective, and a level of appreciation and support that can only come from one so totally devoted to his craft.

So, to answer my question above, what makes a New York evening special and different from all others. It is simply: the love of music and the heart and soul to hear it at its best. Thank you to Symphony Space and to these artists for the gifts you share.

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Official Website: www.KlaraMin.com
Internationally celebrated concert pianist and recording artist Klara Min, returns to New York’s Symphony Space for a special one-night-only concert event on Tuesday, June 26 at 7:30PM at New York’s Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th Street, NYC 10025) in the Thalia Theater. Tickets, priced at $30 ($20 for students & seniors), are available at the Symphony Space box office, by calling (212) 864-5400, or online at www.SymphonySpace.org.
Presented by New York Concert Artists and Associates, the evening celebrates Min’s latest album. Featuring works by Scriabin, Mozart and Messiaen, the new album will be released on the Steinway & Sons label in August 2018. In addition to Min’s performances of selections from the new CD, she will be joined on stage by pianist, author and WWFM Radio host David Dubal to discuss her latest release.

“I could not be more thrilled to celebrate the launch of my new CD this summer,” says Min. “The selections on the new recording – and to be performed in concert – are particularly special to me. I’ve always found Scriabin’s music to be complex and multi-dimensional in its expression. Mozart’s ‘Fantasy’ and Messiaen’s ‘Oiseaux Exotiques (The Bird Songs)’ contains the element of musical ying and yang, light and shadow, which compliments Scriabin’s music beautifully. This is a program that stirs my soul. I am very grateful to Steinway & Sons’ for their support, and to David Dubal for giving me the opportunity to discuss this deeply personal music on stage at Symphony Space.”

World-renowned concert pianist Klara Min is a Steinway Artist who makes her home in Berlin and New York. Respected also as a thought-leader in music industry, Ms. Min is the founder and artistic director of New York Concert Artists and Associates (NYCA). NYCA serves as a networking organization for musicians to collaborate and create dynamic partnerships with managers, presenters, and other artists. A native of South Korea, Ms. Min has performed extensively throughout North America and Europe as well as in her home country of South Korea, in some of the world’s most important concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Munich’s Gasteig, the Berlin Philharmonie, Berlin’s Konzerthhaus, Laeiszhalle, Wigmore Hall, Vienna’s Konzerthaus, and South Korea’s KBS Broadcast Hall. She has performed with prestigious orchestras such as Hamburger Kammerphilharmonie, Munich Kammerphilharmonie, Seoul Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonie Orchester Berlin, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, American Chamber Orchestra, St. Petersburg State Symphony, and Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra among others. Gramophone magazine describes Ms. Min’s recent recording of Scriabin work on the Steinway & Sons record label as, “In short, Min’s finest performances on this gorgeously engineered release will make Scriabin fans sit up and take notice.” Klara Min’s first album Ripples on Water features modern Korean piano music; it was released on Naxos and complimented for “mak(ing) every note count” (All Music). Her second release of a selection of Chopin’s Mazurkas was released on Delos. American Record Guide selected the album as one of six critics’ choices in 2013 raving, “her dynamic control is out of this world”. In the 2017-2018 season, Ms. Min will have her debut recital in Paris at Salle Cortot and in Seoul at Lotte Concert Hall as well as her second Scriabin record release with Steinway & Sons label. Klara Min was the recipient of a Samsung scholarship.
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