He may be a classical star on his own but for violist Richard Yongjae
O’Neill, his latest album “Duo” shows the power two musicians can
create.
“If I am a soloist on a stage, it’s like I am an actor
delivering a monologue, and that’s very wonderful. You think of all
monologues in Shakespeare, they are very profound and complete. But most
stage drama has to have at least two characters,” he said during a
press meeting in Seoul on Monday to promote the album. “I think this
album is a great example. I think an album like this really gets to
listeners. (The listeners) can really can get to know each one of us
individually as well as together.”
Mastering for the album was completed on March 11, and it was released
Monday, featuring classical and contemporary duets performed with
musicians from Korea, cellist Mun Tae-guk, violist Lee Soo-min and
violinist Shin Hyun-su, also known as Zia Shin.
“I think this album is an interesting look at how some of the great
composers have showed how virtuosic they are. It’s very soloistic album
because listeners can hear everyone’s voice very clearly throughout the
album. The viola is sort of in the middle of everything. I am sort of
the hinge between all of the duos,” O’Neill added.
Included in
the album are Halvorsen‘s Passacaglia in G minor for Violin and Viola,
Mozart’s Duo for Violin and Viola in B flat Major K. 424, Franz Anton
Hoffmeister’s Duo Op. 19 No 2 for Violin and Viola, Beethoven’s Duo in E
flat Major for Viola and Cello, WoO 32, Paul Hindemith’s Scherzo for
Viola and Cello, Frank Bridge’s “Lament for 2 Violas” H. 101/2 and
George Benjamin’s “Viola, Viola.” (Shim Woo-hyun)
