V o lume T h i rt y S ix , N umber 5
O ctober 2022
David Kim and Friends Return By Richard Lange. Photos by Linda Madara. Collaboration was shared this evening at a concert by David Kim and associates. Violinist David Kim, the concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra since 1999, performed on September 27 in the Beaumont Room accompanied by Jefferey DeVault, piano.
David Kim and Jeffery DeVault
Mr. Kim began with Brahms's Sonatensatz, one of Brahms's earliest instrumental works. Although initially a collaboration, with the first movement written by Albert Dietrich and the third and fourth by Robert Schumann, the piece was not completed. Only Brahms's Scherzo section survives. Mr. Kim's interpretation was full of the light, brightness, and joy that Brahms can evoke in his compositions. In addition, Mr. Kim had complete command of the piece, clearly emphasizing Beethoven’s influence on the music.
As for collaborations, Mr. Kim appears to have many with residents at Beaumont. For example, the violin he plays at the orchestra is on loan from Eugenio and Guliana Calabi. In addition, Mr. Kim developed a strong friendship with Jean Bodine, dedicating the evening's performance to her memory. Finally, Mr. Kim told a touching story about how he, during the COVID pandemic, would drive to Beaumont and walk through the woods to Jean's home, where they
would have long talks with Mr. Kim standing in the yard while Jean stood on her deck.
For the second selection, Mr. Kim invited the flutist Olivia Staton, a new member of the Philadelphia Orchestra, to perform Cesar Cui's five petits duos for flute, violin, and piano. Cui, a Russian composer, is not well known or performed. However, the selection was perfect for the evening as it was bright and full of incredible dancelike rhythms and an interplay between the flute and violin.
The concert returned to Brahms for the Olivia Staton final selection. Mr. Kim selected the Horn Trio in EЬ major, Op. 40. Brahms composed this work to commemorate Brahms’s mother’s passing, so it was an appropriate selection for a concert dedicated to Ms. Bodine. Mr. Kim was joined by another new Orchestra member, hornist Ernesto Tovar Torres. One immediately could hear the influence of Swiss music, especially in the first movement. Brahms claimed Ernesto Tovar Torres that he created the first theme while walking through the woods. In the first movement, Mr. Kim and Mr. Torres, especially in the horn sections, brought out the composition's bright and cheery tones. Next, the Adagio expressed the mournfulness of grief, followed by a lively Allegro, which pulled the work and the evening to its conclusion.