Pianist Paik Kun-woo releases first of three albums in Mozart project

“Mozart: Piano Works 1” is the first part in the 78-year-old musician’s Mozart trilogy project. Paik has never before recorded Mozart in his 68-year career.

“Mozart: Piano Works 1” by Paik Kun-woo [UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP]

Pianist Paik Kun-woo released his first Mozart recording album on Tuesday.

“Mozart: Piano Works 1” is the first part in the 78-year-old musician’s Mozart trilogy project. Paik has never before recorded Mozart in his 68-year career.

The studio album reflects “a child’s innocence,” Universal Music Group said in a press release.

“Mozart’s pieces are extremely different,” Paik was quoted as saying by Universal Music. “After much consideration about how I was going to reinterpret them, I found that a child’s innocence is what makes Mozart’s music what it is.”

He quoted the words of Austrian-American classical pianist Artur Schnabel (1882-1951), that playing Mozart’s music is too easy for a child but too difficult for an adult.

Even the album cover for “Mozart: Piano Works 1” is a portrait of Paik drawn by a child, which was selected through a contest.

The album is comprised of Mozart’s compositions like "Fantasia in D Minor, K. 397," "Rondo in D Major, K. 485" and "Piano Sonata No. 12 in F Major, K. 332."

Paik is set to hold recitals nationwide, starting at the Bucheon Arts Center on May 18, and continuing until next month.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]