Additional Information
We continue our interviews with the last three finalists of the CMIM. Here’s what South Korean SongHa Choi and SooBeen Lee, performing respectively Prokoviev’s Concerto No. 2 and Tchaikovsky’s Concerto No. 1, and Kazakh Ruslan Talas, who will perform Paganini’s Concerto No. 1, had to share after their dress rehearsal with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Payare.
PAN M 360 : What is your state of mind right now, a few hours before your final event?
SongHa Choi : I have to say, I think more than before the rehearsal, my excitement level just went extremely high. I didn’t know they could get even higher! But I have complete trust in the conductor and the orchestra, and I think there can be a lot of fun and spontaneous moments that we can create. I should be nervous, but then it’s more of an adrenaline thing. I keep treating it like a concert because it’s such a beautiful hall and audiences. I felt like that in the earlier rounds also. It was just about just being in the moment and just reacting to what’s happening at the moment, rather than thinking, oh, juries are sitting there. No, they’re just part of the audience.
SooBeen Lee : Well, the interesting part is that in this competition, of course, I feel nervous, but for some reason, it’s more like excitement rather than nervousness. This hall is very nice to play in and very beautiful, and especially the orchestra and Rafael is very great and very easy to work with. So I’m just very excited to play tonight.
Ruslan Talas : I am looking forward to play. It’s an amazing orchestra, one of the best orchestras I’ve ever played with. Maestro Rafael Payare is very delicate. He helps a lot. I’ve never played the whole piece with the orchestra. Tonight will be my first time! I’m very excited to play. I’m feeling good.
PAN M 360 : Of all the available concertos in the repertoire, why did you choose this one and why? What are the challenges of the piece?
SongHa Choi : Actually, I don’t think even though it’s a very popular concerto, it’s not really used for the favorite concerto final of a competition. But I just personally really like Prokofiev as a composer because of his absolutely mad imaginations and creativity for his character stories, and fairy tales. I get to write my own story each time I perform. I like the amount of colors and the enchanting stories of it.
SooBeen Lee : Well, the challenge is obvious that everyone knows this piece. So I want to make this as satisfying as it should be for everyone. But also, it’s just so much fun to play. The reason I chose this concerto is because it was actually the first concerto that I learned when I was eleven years old. Since then, whenever I got to play this with an orchestra, I just loved the moment so much. Since this final round is such a big stage for me, I just wanted to choose something that I can have the most fun with.
Ruslan Talas : You know, I fell in love with this piece when I was a little boy. I love this music for its lyrical phrases, for its passion, love and operatic sense. It’s very near to my heart. I just love this music.
PAN M 360 : What does it mean to you to be at CMIM and how is this competition different from others you have participated in?
SongHa Choi : To be honest, I really had no idea that I would be in the finals. So it’s a very pleasant surprise. It really means a lot because I’ve been following this competition for probably over ten years. And my friends have been prize winners and laureates, and I’ve seen them competing. It is such an honor to be also competing against five other really great friends and young musicians that I’ve met. This competition is really special because of the atmosphere that the team creates. It’s so friendly and extremely well organized. Also the fact that we can stay with host families, I think we’re able to experience it differently, especially with my host mom. She’s telling me all about the Montreal culture. I get to experience all the little things and it’s really nice.
SooBeen Lee : Well, the special thing I felt from this competition was that the audience was very warm. Even from my first and second round, I already could feel a lot of support from the audience. For some reason I just didn’t feel like playing a competition, I just felt like I’m just performing for people. And those people are so nice here. I met the best host family here too. I’m having such a great time in Montreal so far..
Ruslan Talas : For me, it’s a great honor because I’ve heard about this competition many times when I was nine. Violinists like Gidon Kremer and Spivakov won this competition. It’s such a prestigious and very famous competition and one of the best in the world. Just that I played in the competition is already a big victory for me. I’m just happy to play with these amazing musicians and amazing violinists.
The grand prize winner and the special prize winners will be announced tonight at the closing ceremony at the Maison symphonique.
You can view the final live here.
