For her Steinway & Sons label debut, the acclaimed pianist Kay Kyung Eun Kim invites listeners on a transformative journey into the boundless realm of contemporary piano compositions.

Field’s "Three Passions for our Tortured Planet" was written for Kim in 2019 and was composed to spread the word about climate change through music.
 

On January 5, 2024, renowned pianist Kay Kyung Eun Kim releases her highly anticipated Steinway & Sons debut album (STNS 30230).  Aptly titled Soundscape , this exceptional collection showcases the artistry of Ms. Kim as she interprets the masterful works of three contemporary composers. With a unifying vision, these compositions converge to form a harmonious and evocative sonic landscape.

Born in 1936, Philip Glass's “Metamorphosis I and “Metamorphosis II” are quintessential examples of minimalist music. Written in 1988 as part of a five-movement piano suite, these pieces exemplify Glass's trademark repetitive patterns and gradual harmonic shifts. “Metamorphosis I” begins with a gentle, mesmerizing melody that evolves incrementally, inviting listeners into a trance-like state. In contrast, “Metamorphosis II” possesses a more subdued and introspective character, with cascading arpeggios and simple yet poignant harmonies. Glass's minimalist approach encourages listeners to immerse themselves in the subtle nuances of repetition and gradual transformation.

John Corigliano (b 1938), on the other hand, takes us on a strikingly different journey with "Fantasia on an Ostinato" and "Etude Fantasies 1-5." "Fantasia on an Ostinato," composed in 1985, is an emotionally charged work that borrows the relentless repeating bass line from Beethoven's Symphony No. 7. Corigliano reimagines this ostinato with a contemporary twist, crafting a piece that builds tension and intensity through rhythmic and harmonic variations. The result is a captivating exploration of a timeless motif within a modern context.

“Etude Fantasies 1-5” further exemplify Corigliano's inventive prowess. These etudes, composed between 1979 and 1985, reflect a diverse range of moods and techniques. From the playful and quirky character of the first etude to the introspective and introspective nature of the third, Corigliano showcases his ability to seamlessly blend traditional piano etude forms with contemporary expressions. Each etude offers a unique narrative and technical challenge for the performer, making them a fascinating exploration of the piano's capabilities.

Concluding the album, Brian Field (b. 1967) offers a further unique perspective on the sonic landscape in his three-movement suite “Three Passions for our Tortured Planet” – a work focused on themes of global climate change. The first movement (“…fire…”) is a reflection on the forest fires raging across California and the American West on a recurring, and increasingly alarming basis. The work starts with an ostinato “spark,” that flickers and quickly spreads, growing more complicated. The fire begins to rage loudly, and across register, building to a climax which eventually becomes more controlled, as it burns itself out and dies.

The second movement (“…glaciers…”) is a distant, stately movement that depicts the enormous ices on earth’s poles. These slow, ponderous moments are sporadically interrupted by rapidly falling, thundering episodes, depicting the shearing of the glacial ice with ever-warming temperatures.

Concluding the suite is the third movement (“…winds…”). This virtuosic finale begins with running winds that become increasingly intense and hurricane/typhoon-like in their destructiveness before dissipating into a barely noticeable breeze.

This exciting program presents a compelling juxtaposition of three composers, each with their distinctive musical language. Philip Glass's “Metamorphosis I” and “Metamorphosis II” invite us to contemplate the beauty of minimalism and gradual transformation, while John Corigliano's "Fantasia on an Ostinato" and “Etude Fantasies 1-5” push the boundaries of contemporary expression and reinterpretation. Brian Field’s “Three Passions for our Tourtured Planet” suite fuses a multiplicity of styles to bring listeners into a more programmatic journey in climate change themes. Together, these works offer a rich tapestry of musical exploration, demonstrating the enduring power of contemporary classical music to evolve and adapt to new creative horizons.
 

 

“A chic, stylish and modern pianist”

International Piano
 

“A warm and sensitive, dynamic and fearless pianist.”

Piano Magazine
 

“Kay’s performance and interpretation of my piano suite ‘Three Passions for our Tortured Planet’ on her latest album, Soundscape, captures all of the nuances and emotions I intended. Her dazzling technical skill and sensitivity to the music will surely make this a definitive recording of the work.”

Brian Field

“Kay Kim is a virtuoso pianist who plays my music with appropriate abandon and a keen sense of style. Her performance of my ‘Fantasia On An Ostinatio’ is particularly special.”

John Corigliano 

“Brian Field's programmatic Three Passions...  is accessible and thoroughly pianistic, with sensitive applications of colour and striking contrasts of dynamics... Kim's playing throughout is exciting, passionate and meticulously controlled, as well as beautifully recorded.”

Gramophone

ALBUM CREDITS

Soundscape / Kay Kyung Eun Kim • STNS 30230

Release Date: 1/5/2024

Recorded September 5-7, 2023 at Bucheon Art Center, South Korea

Producer: Jin Choi

Recording/Mastering:Sempre la musica
Recording Engineers: Kyung-Wook Kim, Jongwon Shin
Editing: Hari Yim
Piano: Steinway Model D #615547

Executive Producers: Eric Feidner, Jon Feidner

Art Direction: Jackie Fugere

Design: Cover to Cover Design, Anilda Carrasquillo

Photography: Cheol H. Park

Project Coordinator: Renée Oakford

About the Artist

“Champion of contemporary works… Kim’s playing is exciting, passionate, and meticulously controlled.” — Gramophone

Praised by International Piano Magazine as “a refined and modern pianist” and by The Piano Magazine as “warm, sensitive, dynamic, and fearless,” pianist Kay Kyung Eun Kim has established herself as one of the most distinctive artists of her generation.

Born in Seoul, Kim moved to London at the age of six and entered the gifted young artist program at the Yehudi Menuhin School at age seven. She later studied at the Purcell School as a full scholarship student. At sixteen, she became one of the youngest students admitted to Juilliard School, where she earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. She subsequently completed the Artist Diploma and Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Manhattan School of Music. Her doctoral dissertation focused on Unsuk Chin’s Piano Concerto.

A defining influence on Kim’s artistic development was her work with the legendary pianist Vlado Perlemuter, the last surviving student of Maurice Ravel. Perlemuter described her playing as creating “musical emotion and profound resonance born from human warmth.” This artistic connection inspired her six-year project, Ravel Complete Piano Works, presenting Ravel’s complete works for piano—including solo, duo, and concerto repertoire—which culminated in the release of her Sony Classical album, RAVEL. Her second Sony Classical release, Dreams, reimagines beloved piano classics through Kim’s personal artistic lens, accompanied by a series of cinematic music videos that expand the listening experience beyond the concert stage.

A prizewinner of the Mozart International Piano Competition, Kim has appeared with orchestras including the Hong Kong Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Orchestra, Moravian Philharmonic, and Albany Symphony. She has given recitals at venues such as Carnegie Hall, Seoul Arts Center, and Buckingham Palace. Deeply committed to contemporary music, she has introduced Korean audiences to works by composers including Philip Glass, Henry Cowell, and George Crumb.

In 2024, Kim released the album Soundscape on the Steinway & Sons label, featuring works by Brian Field, John Corigliano, and Philip Glass. The recording became the starting point for her self-curated contemporary piano series exploring new modes of listening in contemporary music. The series—Soundscape, Sound Gates, and the upcoming Sound Memory in 2026—progressively expands themes of sonic space, movement, and memory through time, reflecting Kim’s distinctive artistic vision and deep engagement with modern repertoire.

Kim is currently performing the complete cycle of Beethoven’s 32 Piano Sonatas under the title The Path to Silence. The project is also being documented as a three-volume recording series, to be released sequentially on Warner Classics, beginning with Volume I in 2027, marking the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s death.

Kim is also recognized as the first piano teacher of Yunchan Lim, winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, having guided his early musical training during his years at the Seoul Arts Center Academy and Yewon School.

Currently on the faculty of The Catholic University of Korea, Kim also serves as Artistic Director of the Young Artists Forum, Hudson Ensemble, and the Chopin’s World Piano Competition. A Steinway & Sons Artist, she continues to expand her artistic world through performance, education, and contemporary music.
 

About Steinway & Sons label

The STEINWAY & SONS music label produces exceptional albums of solo piano music across all genres. The label — a division of STEINWAY & SONS, maker of the world’s finest pianos — is a perfect vessel for producing the finest quality recordings by some of the most talented pianists in the world.