Universal Music said Thursday that flutist Han Ji-hee will release her debut album, “Carl Reinecke: Works for Flute,” on April 24.
The album features three works by Carl Reinecke. Han recorded the “Flute Concerto in D major” and the “Ballade in D minor for Flute and Orchestra” with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko. She also recorded the flute-and-piano sonata “Undine” with pianist Lang Lang. The album will be released on the Deutsche Grammophon label, and the first movement of “Undine” will be released for streaming on April 3.
Han said she “fell in love with Reinecke’s music” at 13 and that the flute concerto and “Undine” were among her most important student works. She said her master’s thesis also focused on Reinecke’s flute concerto. While planning her first recording, she said she thought of pairing those pieces with Reinecke’s final work, the “Ballade,” leading to an album devoted entirely to his music.
Lang Lang, who recorded with Han in Paris, said, “Han Ji-hee poured her whole heart into this challenging repertoire,” adding, “I’m very happy to be part of this wonderful project.”
Han said the experience strengthened her resolve to introduce classical music, art and culture to people, “especially today’s youth,” adding that she believes helping others come to love “this wonderful art” will be her most important work.
Han is an artist under SM Classics, the classical and jazz label of SM Entertainment. She studied at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and earned a doctoral degree from Seoul National University’s graduate school. She continues to perform actively as a member of the chamber ensemble PACE and as a soloist, and is scheduled to hold a concert April 29 to mark the album’s release.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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