Clara-Jumi Kang & Sunwook Kim

Once in a rare while, a special synergy between artists breathes new life into familiar repertoire, and the duo of Clara-Jumi Kang and Sunwook Kim is a perfect case in point. Garnering top laurels over the last decade—the Indianapolis, Seoul and Sendai International Competitions for Kang; Ettlingen, Clara Haskil and Leeds for Kim—the duo’s exquisite sense of phrasing and synchronised sensitivity are requisite ingredients for the violin sonata’s highly intimate format. The responsibility of creating a definitive recording of an entire oeuvre is substantial, and the special magic of these two virtuosi hasn’t gone unnoticed by the likes of Fanfare, who declared that “If you’re looking for a set of Beethoven’s sonatas for violin and piano that is well-nigh ideal, this one by Clara-Jumi Kang and Sunwook Kim is it”. Fresh from the recent release of this highly-acclaimed 4-CD compendium, the extraordinary duo showcases their outstanding musicianship in a programme of violin sonatas from the Romantic through to the present day: Beethoven, Respighi, Franck, and an exciting new Music Network commission entitled Duo by Irish composer John Buckley.

“Clara-Jumi Kang’s playing has constant poise”  The Strad

“His technique and the extensive range of his tone colours allowed him to grasp every single nuance in the score with poise and natural ease”  The Guardian, on Sunwook Kim

“I was immediately taken by the simplicity, directness, responsiveness, and communicativeness of Kang’s playing. It was like a breath of fresh air.”  Fanfare

“Exceptional”  Pizzicato, on Kang & Kim’s 2021 Beethoven CD