Acclaimed South Korean violinist Bomsori joins Deutsche Grammophon

“… this violinist is ready for anything: with virtuosity, presence, clarity and a warm, rich tone, Bomsori Kim is adept at making each moment her own.”

Crescendo

Berlin, 22 February 2021. Deutsche Grammophon is delighted to announce the signing of an exclusive agreement with Bomsori Kim. The 31-year-old South Korean violinist already enjoys superstar status in her homeland and is in high demand worldwide. Bomsori’s debut solo album for the Yellow Label captures the full range of her expressive artistry. Violin on Stage, set for international release in June, features pieces originally written for or inspired by opera or ballet, some in brand-new arrangements for violin and orchestra.

“I feel truly honoured to join Deutsche Grammophon and follow in the footsteps of so many legendary artists,” says Bomsori Kim. “The Yellow Label stands for excellence and the best of tradition. It is also committed to reaching new audiences and connecting as many people as possible via the powerful emotions of great music. I share that commitment and want to communicate to the world through music. I hope my new album for DG will touch and inspire listeners of all ages.”

“It’s my great pleasure to welcome Bomsori to the Yellow Label,” comments Dr Clemens Trautmann, President Deutsche Grammophon. “Her extraordinary virtuosity is matched by an ability to make the violin sing. We love the way she’s prepared to take risks in the moment of performance and the heartfelt poetry of her playing. Bomsori’s DG debut solo album is a tremendous showcase for her artistry and we look forward to creating many more recordings with her in future.”

Bomsori Kim travelled to Poland to record Violin on Stage with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and its Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero. The violinist’s affection for the country, reciprocated by its audiences, has grown since she won a clutch of prizes at the International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition in 2016 and deepened thanks to her duo partnership with fellow DG artist Rafał Blechacz.

“There’s something deeply personal about Bomsori’s playing,” notes Angelika Meissner, DG’s Director Classical, Artists & Repertoire. “Her interpretations hold audiences spellbound with their epic power and poetic beauty. Violin on Stage shows why she’s regarded by fellow musicians and leading critics as one of today’s star performers.”

Hailed by Bachtrack.com for her “natural musicality and effortless technique”, Bomsori Kim launched her career with a series of prize-winning performances at the world’s most prestigious violin competitions, the ARD, Queen Elisabeth, Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Wieniawski among them. She was praised by the New York Times for the “fierce dramatic commitment” of her US premiere of Tan Dun’s violin concerto Fire Ritual with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Her duo recording for Deutsche Grammophon with Blechacz, released in January 2019, also earned critical plaudits.

Forthcoming highlights include the broadcast on DG Stage (5 March 2021) of a concert with the NFM Wrocław Philharmonic and Guerrero featuring works by Wieniawski and Waxman which will also appear on Violin on Stage; a seven-concert artist residency at the 2021 Rheingau Festival; and two dates at this summer’s Gstaad Menuhin Festival as one of its 2021 Menuhin’s Heritage Artists.

Born to musical parents in the city of Daegu in 1989, Bomsori Kim studied music at Seoul National University before completing her training at New York’s Juilliard School. Her first name, rare in Korea, means “Sound of Spring”. She has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to Vienna’s Musikverein, the Berlin Philharmonie and Suntory Hall in Tokyo. Bomsori received the 2018 Young Artist Award from the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Music Association’s 2019 Young Artist Award. In 2020 she was presented with the 4th G.rium Artists Award by the Foundation Academia Platonica and, together with Rafał Blechacz, won the Fryderyk Music Award for “Best Polish Album Abroad” for their DG recording of French and Polish repertoire.